City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Decatur, NE

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Decatur - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

552
Residents
$49,028
Median income
$78,800
Median home
$961
Median rent (state)

Decatur - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Decatur places in the 18th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

18th
percentile, household income
3rd
percentile, home value
11th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Decatur, NE

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 552 residents in Decatur, a small town within Nebraska. Decatur households earn a median of $49,028 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 10.4%. Typical homes in Decatur are valued around $78,800, and the median resident age is 50.5 years. Educational attainment runs 13.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 46.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Decatur (Low Activity), per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Nebraska run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Nebraska scores 90.1 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $961 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $207 across Nebraska, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Decatur report an average commute of 25.0 minutes, with 72.2% driving alone and 5.2% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 20.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

552 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$49,028 /yr

Poverty 10.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does Decatur compare to other US cities?

Here's how Decatur stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 18% higher than other cities
Home value 3% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Decatur against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Nebraska only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Nebraska-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Decatur near the bottom of Nebraska's cities

Among the 450 Nebraska cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Decatur ranks #184 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Decatur only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#378 of 439
14th percentile in Nebraska
Median Gross Rent
#184 of 450
0th percentile in Nebraska
Median Home Value
#350 of 438
20th percentile in Nebraska
Poverty Rate
#111 of 450
75th percentile in Nebraska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#353 of 450
21st percentile in Nebraska

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Nebraska only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

18thIncome percentile

18th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Decatur's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$78,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 97% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Decatur $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Decatur, NE Decatur, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Decatur, NE-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Decatur, NE median $49,028/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Decatur, NE's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Decatur, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
552
Median Income
$49,028
Median Home Value
$78,800
Median Age
50.5
Poverty Rate
10.4%
Labor force participation
46.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.3%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
408 residents410 residents412 residents414 residents416 residents418 residents 202020212022202320242025 410 residents 411 residents ▲ +0.2%
Decatur's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 1
2021 2
2022 0
2023 0
2024 2

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
25.0 minutes
Drive Alone
72.2%
Carpool
11.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.9%
Work from Home
5.2%
Other
7.4%

Based on 230 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Nebraska - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$207
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Nebraska state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Nebraska state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Decatur sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$961/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
20.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

Stuart
553 people
Valparaiso
553 people
Pleasanton
554 people
Elwood
535 people
Nickerson
572 people
Coleridge
531 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Decatur's 552 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pinedale, AZ
552 people
Sugar City, CO
552 people
Alapaha, GA
552 people
Chandlerville, IL
552 people
Parma, MO
552 people
Rocky Mountain, OK
552 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Decatur's $49,028 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

La Harpe, IL
$49,028 median income
Rossmoyne, OH
$49,028 median income
Weber City, VA
$49,028 median income
Central City, KY
$49,025 median income
Caldwell, OH
$49,032 median income
St. Johnsbury, VT
$49,033 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Decatur, NE Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Decatur, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.1% 6.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.6% White 91.1% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 6.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Decatur compares to nearby Nebraska cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Decatur (this city) 552 $49,028
Stuart 553 $72,386
Valparaiso 553 $72,750
Pleasanton 554 $68,194
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Decatur, NE?

What is the population of Decatur, NE? +

Decatur, NE counts 552 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Decatur, NE? +

In Decatur, the typical household earns $49,028 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Decatur? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Decatur; the closest available measure is the Nebraska state average, a cost of living index of 90.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Nebraska vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Decatur, NE? +

The median home value in Decatur is $78,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.