City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Decatur, NE

Decatur's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

552
Residents
$49,028
Median income
$78,800
Median home
$1,001
Median rent (state)
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See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Decatur.

Place dossier plate

Sheet NE-DECATUR-NE · Decatur, NE 552 pop · income 18th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-MID · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 552
  • INC-MID $49,028
  • COL-BELOW 90.1
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 18th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ La Harpe
  • HOME-LOW $78,800
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: La Harpe, IL (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Decatur

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Decatur on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Decatur on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 552.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $49,028. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

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
15th
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. Households in Decatur report a median income of $49,028 per year, 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 $1,001 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 25.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Decatur's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from work and mobility to comparison shortlist to population change to housing and income; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Decatur, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares, annual population history, local building permits. No matched row is reported here for FBI reported-crime rates, matched public-school count, within-city Census tract profiles; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

1. Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in Decatur?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 72.2%. The reported mean trip to work is 25.0 minutes.

Compare commute patterns →

Question 2

Which cities make useful reference points for Decatur?

Within Nebraska, the closest population matches are Stuart (553 residents, $72,386 income); Valparaiso (553 residents, $72,750 income); Pleasanton (554 residents, $68,194 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Pinedale, AZ (552 residents); Sugar City, CO (552 residents); Alapaha, GA (552 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

3. Population change

Is Decatur growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

The recent population line is broadly flat. That makes the composition of change more important than the headline count: housing turnover, household size, and age structure can shift even when the total barely moves.

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +1 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +0.2% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 2 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

See the national growth ranking →

Question 4

How far does income reach against housing in Decatur?

The home-value-to-income reference is relatively compact: the ACS median home value is 1.6 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 10.4%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. The ratio makes housing the clearest place to start this profile, but a low multiple can coexist with slow demand, older stock, or household-level hardship. Compare the home-value distribution and same-state peer table before treating it as an advantage.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Population

552 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$49,028 /yr

Low income · poverty 10.4% (Above-median poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Affordable · BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

City profile score · Decatur, NE

40/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Cost of living A
90.1 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Poverty rate F
10.4%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Household income F
$49,028

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Bachelor's+ share F
13.3%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Decatur profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Poverty rate, Household income, Bachelor's+ share. Cost of livingPoverty rateHousehold incomeBachelor's+ share 40 D
Decatur profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 85/100 (A) · 90.1 index
  • Poverty rate: 38/100 (F) · 10.4%
  • Household income: 19/100 (F) · $49,028
  • Bachelor's+ share: 15/100 (F) · 13.3%

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 15% 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 #1 - 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
#1 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
How in-state ranks are ordered

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
Gauge source note

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

Show national distribution $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

Decatur's home-value-to-income ratio: 1.6×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
affordable
< 3.0×
National rank
#573 of 15,516
More affordable than 96% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#560 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 1.6×, Decatur sits in the affordable band: national rank #573 of 15,516 and #560 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). The multiple is comparatively compact among tracked cities, but a low ratio can still coexist with slow demand or household-level hardship.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$49,028 Decatur, NE median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Decatur, NE Decatur, NE's median household income ($49,028) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Decatur, NE-specific shares. $ 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 median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Decatur, NE.

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

PEP vintage

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.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 410 residents
2021 410 residents
2022 416 residents
2023 410 residents
2024 411 residents
2025 411 residents

Housing Supply

BPS source

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

Commute source

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

Nebraska statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $207

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Nebraska at $207 (electricity about $100 , water and sewer about $42 ).

These are Nebraska statewide averages, not a meter reading for Decatur. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Nebraska's BEA cost-of-living index is 90.1 (Well Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Decatur is $1,001/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Nebraska statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 25.8 / 100 (Very Low).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Nebraska statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Decatur sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Decatur compares to similar-size Nebraska cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Decatur (this city) 552 $49,028
Stuart 553 $72,386
Valparaiso 553 $72,750
Pleasanton 554 $68,194
Census BPS 2024
Primary sources on this page

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.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

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