City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Elgin, NE

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

620
Residents
$53,661
Median income
$98,000
Median home
$961
Median rent (state)

Elgin - the verdict

Nationally, Elgin sits in the 25th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

25th
percentile, household income
9th
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: Elgin, NE

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 620 residents in Elgin, a small town within Nebraska. Median household income here is $53,661 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.3%. Typical homes in Elgin are valued around $98,000, and the median resident age is 51.9 years. About 18.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits). NOAA puts Elgin's yearly average temperature at 48.3°F with 27.9 inches of precipitation per year and 29.7 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Nebraska run below the national norm: the state registers 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $961 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Nebraska run around $207, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 19.5 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

620 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$53,661 /yr

Poverty 9.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does Elgin compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 25% higher than other cities
Home value 9% 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 Elgin 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 Elgin near the bottom of Nebraska's cities

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

Median Household Income
#337 of 439
23rd percentile in Nebraska
Median Gross Rent
#184 of 450
0th percentile in Nebraska
Median Home Value
#276 of 438
37th percentile in Nebraska
Poverty Rate
#139 of 450
68th percentile in Nebraska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#252 of 450
44th 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.

25thIncome percentile

25th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Elgin's home value compares nationally

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

$98,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 91% 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. Elgin $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 - Elgin, NE Elgin, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elgin, 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 Elgin, NE median $53,661/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%
Elgin, 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 Elgin, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.5%

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

Population
620
Median Income
$53,661
Median Home Value
$98,000
Median Age
51.9
Poverty Rate
9.3%
Labor force participation
60.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.9%

Climate

Avg Temperature
48.3°F
Annual Precipitation
27.9"
Annual Snowfall
29.7"

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
700 residents705 residents710 residents715 residents720 residents 202020212022202320242025 718 residents 706 residents ▼ -1.7%
Elgin's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

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

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
88.0%
Carpool
4.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.9%
Work from Home
3.6%
Other
1.0%

Based on 308 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 Elgin 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
19.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

Bassett
622 people
Dorchester
622 people
Walton
624 people
Cortland
629 people
Clarkson
609 people
Callaway
608 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elgin's 620 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lizton, IN
620 people
Lecompte, LA
620 people
Eagle Bend, MN
620 people
San Rafael, NM
620 people
Aurora, NC
620 people
Lamar, PA
620 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elgin's $53,661 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Meriden, IA
$53,661 median income
Walnut, KS
$53,661 median income
Edwardsburg, MI
$53,661 median income
Sunset Lake, NJ
$53,663 median income
Mascot, TN
$53,663 median income
Mount Zion, GA
$53,657 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elgin, 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 Elgin, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 98.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.3% 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 Elgin 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
Elgin (this city) 620 $53,661
Bassett 622 $42,125
Dorchester 622 $59,583
Walton 624 $48,725
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elgin, NE?

What is the population of Elgin, NE? +

The population of Elgin, NE stands at 620 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Elgin households earn a median of $53,661 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elgin? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Elgin; 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 Elgin, NE? +

Elgin's median home value sits at $98,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Elgin? +

The average annual temperature in Elgin runs 48.3°F, 27.9 inches of precipitation, and 29.7 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, 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.