City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Gothenburg, NE

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

3,436
Residents
$79,519
Median income
$173,200
Median home
$995
Median rent (state)

Gothenburg - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Gothenburg places in the 61st percentile for household income and the 94th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

61st
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
19th
percentile, median rent
94th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Gothenburg, NE

3,436 people live in Gothenburg, Nebraska - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Gothenburg households earn a median of $79,519 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.0%. Typical homes in Gothenburg are valued around $173,200, and the median resident age is 39.6 years. 23.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 68.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 4 residential building permits were authorized in Gothenburg (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Gothenburg reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 263.6 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 51.0°F with 24.1 inches of precipitation per year.

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $995 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Nebraska's average monthly utility costs around $207 (state average). Commute times here average 17.0 minutes, with 81.6% driving alone and 2.9% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 65.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

3,436 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$79,519 /yr

Poverty 4.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does Gothenburg compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 61% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 19% pricier than other cities
Safety 94% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Nebraska alone, Gothenburg ranks #3 of 44 Nebraska cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

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 Gothenburg'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.

61stIncome percentile
94thSafety percentile

61st percentile nationally for median household income · 94th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Gothenburg's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Gothenburg's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 76 Avg. percentile National median
Gothenburg's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Gothenburg's home value compares nationally

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

$173,200 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. Gothenburg $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 - Gothenburg, NE Gothenburg, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Gothenburg, 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 Gothenburg, NE median $79,519/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%
Gothenburg, 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 Gothenburg, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.0%

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

Population
3,436
Median Income
$79,519
Median Home Value
$173,200
Median Age
39.6
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Labor force participation
68.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
263.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
263.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
51.0°F
Annual Precipitation
24.1"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

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 →
3,400 residents3,420 residents3,440 residents3,460 residents3,480 residents3,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,475 residents 3,430 residents ▼ -1.3%
Gothenburg's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 1
2021 12
2022 8
2023 8
2024 4

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.0 minutes
Drive Alone
81.6%
Carpool
8.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.3%
Work from Home
2.9%
Other
2.6%

Based on 1,857 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 Gothenburg sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$995/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
65.3 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

Auburn
3,468 people
West Point
3,479 people
Broken Bow
3,524 people
O'Neill
3,574 people
Valley
3,113 people
Ashland
3,083 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Gothenburg's 3,436 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Tashua, CT
3,436 people
Melody Hill, IN
3,435 people
West Nyack, NY
3,437 people
Sleepy Eye, MN
3,438 people
Wallace, NC
3,438 people
Slippery Rock, PA
3,434 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Gothenburg's $79,519 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Middleborough Center, MA
$79,520 median income
Mason, MI
$79,521 median income
Terrace Heights, WA
$79,525 median income
Portage, MI
$79,529 median income
Palm Desert, CA
$79,508 median income
Northglenn, CO
$79,530 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Gothenburg, 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 Gothenburg, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.5% 8.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.7% White 90.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.7% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 8.4% 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 Gothenburg 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
Gothenburg (this city) 3,436 $79,519
Auburn 3,468 $58,674
West Point 3,479 $63,977
Broken Bow 3,524 $56,438
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Gothenburg, NE?

What is the population of Gothenburg, NE? +

3,436 people live in Gothenburg, NE according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Gothenburg is $79,519 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Gothenburg? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Gothenburg; 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.

Is Gothenburg, NE safe? +

Gothenburg has a total crime rate of 263.6 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

The median home value in Gothenburg is $173,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Gothenburg? +

Gothenburg has an average annual temperature of 51.0°F, 24.1 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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