City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Emerson, NE

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

912
Residents
$58,125
Median income
$100,700
Median home
$1,154
Median rent (state)

Emerson - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Emerson places in the 32nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

32nd
percentile, household income
10th
percentile, home value
33rd
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: Emerson, NE

Nebraska's Emerson is a small town, with 912 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Emerson households earn a median of $58,125 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.4%. Emerson's housing stock carries a median value of $100,700, and the median resident age is 41.8 years. 5.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 67.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits).

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,154 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $207 across Nebraska, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 36.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

912 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$58,125 /yr

Poverty 9.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does Emerson compare to other US cities?

Where Emerson sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 32% higher than other cities
Home value 10% pricier than other cities
Median rent 33% 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 Emerson against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Nebraska only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Nebraska-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Emerson near the bottom of Nebraska's cities

Among the 450 Nebraska cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Emerson ranks #432 - the 4th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Emerson only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#285 of 439
35th percentile in Nebraska
Median Gross Rent
#42 of 450
90th percentile in Nebraska
Median Home Value
#269 of 438
39th percentile in Nebraska
Poverty Rate
#135 of 450
69th percentile in Nebraska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#432 of 450
4th 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.

32ndIncome percentile

32nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Emerson's home value compares nationally

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

$100,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 90% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Emerson $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 - Emerson, NE Emerson, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Emerson, 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 Emerson, NE median $58,125/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%
Emerson, 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 Emerson, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 5.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.0%

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

Population
912
Median Income
$58,125
Median Home Value
$100,700
Median Age
41.8
Poverty Rate
9.4%
Labor force participation
67.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
5.4%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
800 residents810 residents820 residents830 residents840 residents 202020212022202320242025 830 residents 825 residents ▼ -0.6%
Emerson'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 1
2021 0
2022 1
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.0%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.4%
Work from Home
5.8%

Based on 463 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 Emerson sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,154/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
36.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

Doniphan
910 people
Franklin
908 people
Henderson
918 people
Crofton
920 people
Randolph
903 people
Pawnee City
930 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Emerson's 912 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Converse, IN
912 people
Las Ollas comunidad, PR
912 people
Minor, AL
911 people
Powell, AL
911 people
Chokoloskee, FL
911 people
Hoboken, GA
913 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Emerson's $58,125 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Horn Hill, AL
$58,125 median income
Manokotak, AK
$58,125 median income
Pinal, AZ
$58,125 median income
Lewiston, CA
$58,125 median income
Hotchkiss, CO
$58,125 median income
Chesterfield, IN
$58,125 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Emerson, 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 Emerson, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.2% 7.3% 6.3% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.1% White 77.2% Black or African American 1.3% Asian 1.6% American Indian 7.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 6.3% Two or more races 6.3% 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 Emerson 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
Emerson (this city) 912 $58,125
Doniphan 910 $77,250
Franklin 908 $51,121
Henderson 918 $76,538
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Emerson, NE?

What is the population of Emerson, NE? +

Emerson, NE counts 912 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Emerson households earn a median of $58,125 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Emerson? +

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

Homes in Emerson carry a median value of $100,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.