City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Friend, NE

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

1,085
Residents
$84,861
Median income
$171,200
Median home
$961
Median rent (state)

Friend - the verdict

Friend ranks in the 66th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

66th
percentile, household income
34th
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: Friend, NE

1,085 people live in Friend, Nebraska - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Friend brings in $84,861 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.6%. Typical homes in Friend are valued around $171,200, and the median resident age is 37.4 years. About 27.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 71.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 1 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Low Activity). NOAA puts Friend's yearly average temperature at 49.7°F with 29.0 inches of precipitation per year and 23.9 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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $961 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $207 across Nebraska, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 42.4 out of 100 (Low).

Population

1,085 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$84,861 /yr

Poverty 3.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does Friend compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 66% higher than other cities
Home value 34% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Friend's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Nebraska, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

66thIncome percentile

66th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Friend's home value compares nationally

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

$171,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Friend $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 - Friend, NE Friend, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Friend, 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 Friend, NE median $84,861/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%
Friend, 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 Friend, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 27.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 71.5%

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

Population
1,085
Median Income
$84,861
Median Home Value
$171,200
Median Age
37.4
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Labor force participation
71.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
27.7%

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.7°F
Annual Precipitation
29.0"
Annual Snowfall
23.9"

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 →
920 residents930 residents940 residents950 residents960 residents 202020212022202320242025 948 residents 950 residents ▲ +0.2%
Friend's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 3
2023 0
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.9%
Carpool
13.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.9%
Work from Home
1.8%

Based on 559 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 Friend 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
42.4 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

Eagle
1,089 people
Hooper
1,078 people
Utica
1,092 people
Cairo
1,117 people
Cambridge
1,036 people
Elm Creek
1,146 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Friend's 1,085 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sacred Heart University, CT
1,085 people
La Harpe, IL
1,085 people
Eddyville, IA
1,085 people
Perry, KS
1,085 people
Lake Waukomis, MO
1,085 people
Bellerose, NY
1,085 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Friend's $84,861 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sigel, IL
$84,861 median income
Cherryland, CA
$84,858 median income
Dutchtown, MO
$84,853 median income
Wallenpaupack Lake Estates, PA
$84,875 median income
North Enid, OK
$84,844 median income
Okawville, IL
$84,881 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Friend, 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 Friend, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.6% White 98.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 0.6% 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 Friend 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
Friend (this city) 1,085 $84,861
Eagle 1,089 $76,500
Hooper 1,078 $75,800
Utica 1,092 $81,797
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Friend, NE?

What is the population of Friend, NE? +

Friend, NE counts 1,085 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Friend runs $84,861, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Friend? +

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

The median home value in Friend is $171,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Friend? +

Friend has an average annual temperature of 49.7°F, 29.0 inches of precipitation, and 23.9 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 Editorial

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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.