City · Nebraska
Chadron, Nebraska
Chadron, city, in Dawes County, Nebraska. Chadron had 4,975 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,206 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,160 (±16). GEOID 3108605.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,975
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,206 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,160 ±16
Median household income
$54,590
±$4,167 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475
Median home value
$153,800
±$52,097 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600
Median gross rent
$881
±$141 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072
Where is Chadron and what county is it in?
Chadron is a city in Dawes County, Nebraska. It covers 3.9 square miles of land, 1,334 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Chadron, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 4,975 people lived in Chadron on July 1, 2025, down 4.4% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. The 2020 Census counted 5,206 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,160 (±16).
| Measure | Chadron | Dawes County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,160 ±16 | 8,140 | −431 |
| Households | 2,097 ±168 | 3,453 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.12 ±0.16 | 2.12 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,456 ±148 | 4,037 | no clear change |
Chadron's population since 2000
From 5,634 in 2000 to 4,975 in 2025: down 11.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Chadron as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Chadron?
The median resident of Chadron is 30.5 years old; 18.0% are under 18 and 15.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 6.5%.
| Measure | Chadron | Dawes County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.5 ±2.6 | 35.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.0% ±2.6 pts | 18.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.6% ±2.6 pts | 19.7% | – |
| Male | 48.1% ±2.4 pts | 48.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.0% ±2.0 pts | 5.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.4% ±2.4 pts | 85.8% | +4.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.9 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±1.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±2.1 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.5% ±2.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.5% ±1.7 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.4% ±1.3 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.3% ±2.5 pts | 5.5% | – |
| With a disability | 15.7% ±4.0 pts | 14.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.6% ±4.1 pts | 9.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.6% ±5.2 pts | 95.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 43.6% ±10.4 pts | 36.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 20.8% ±7.6 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 77.3% ±6.3 pts | 82.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 8.9% ±3.5 pts | 7.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Chadron earn?
Half of Chadron's 2,097 households earn less than $54,590 a year (±$4,167), against $56,280 in Dawes County and $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $58,197 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Chadron | Dawes County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,590 ±$4,167 | $56,280 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $70,693 ±$9,918 | $76,200 | – |
| Per capita income | $29,737 ±$3,771 | $32,306 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.2% ±3.8 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.8% ±5.8 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.2% ±5.5 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.9% ±6.0 pts | 84.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Chadron?
Owners occupy 56.2% of Chadron's occupied homes and renters 43.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $153,800 by its owner (±$52,097). The median renter pays $881 a month including utilities, and 44.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Chadron | Dawes County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $153,800 ±$52,097 | $150,900 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $881 ±$141 | $900 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.0% ±18.4 pts | 43.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,169 ±$137 | $1,219 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.2% ±8.8 pts | 61.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 43.8% ±8.8 pts | 38.2% | – |
| Housing units | 2,456 ±148 | 4,037 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.3% ±9.9 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.8% ±8.0 pts | 73.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.3% ±2.7 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.5% ±1.8 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 36.0% ±9.3 pts | 32.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.1% ±4.0 pts | 4.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Chadron building?
Builders took permits for 3 new housing units in Chadron in 2025 (3 in single-family houses), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 5.3 across Nebraska.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Chadron work and get to work?
75.5% of Chadron's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 13.7 minutes.
| Measure | Chadron | Dawes County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.9% ±4.7 pts | 63.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.8% ±1.6 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 75.5% ±7.9 pts | 72.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.9% ±6.2 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 10.1% ±4.3 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.8% ±2.6 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 13.7 min ±3.0 | 15.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Chadron?
1 census tract lies mostly in Chadron (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9507Dawes County | 5,789 | $53,485 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Chadron) · Census block assignment files
How does Chadron compare with other places in Nebraska?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Chadron is the 4,911th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 33rd-most populous of 528 in Nebraska.
Chadron ranks 122nd of 136 places in Nebraska with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 33rd | 528 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 125th | 132 |
| Residents per square mile | 68th | 136 |
| Median household income | 122nd | 136 |
| Per capita income | 115th | 136 |
| Median home value | 89th | 135 |
| Median gross rent | 57th | 129 |
| Poverty rate | 33rd | 109 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7th | 135 |
| Median age | 129th | 136 |
| Owner-occupied share | 125th | 135 |
| Travel time to work | 109th | 135 |
Chadron's figures with every place in Nebraska (CSV)
Every place in Nebraska, sortable · Compare Chadron with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Chadron?
19 of the 57 figures for Chadron on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Chadron are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Chadron.