City · Nebraska
Grand Island, Nebraska
Grand Island, city, in Hall County, Nebraska. Grand Island had 53,943 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 53,131 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 52,884 (±27). GEOID 3119595.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
53,943
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 53,131 · ACS 2020-2024: 52,884 ±27
Median household income
$63,795
±$4,094 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475
Median home value
$218,600
±$7,365 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600
Median gross rent
$947
±$38 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072
Where is Grand Island and what county is it in?
Grand Island is a city in Hall County, Nebraska. It covers 30.1 square miles of land, 1,764 residents per square mile in 2020.
Grand Island is in the Grand Island, NE metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Grand Island, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 53,943 people lived in Grand Island on July 1, 2025, up 1.5% since 2020, slower than Nebraska (+2.9%). The 2020 Census counted 53,131 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 52,884 (±27).
| Measure | Grand Island | Hall County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 52,884 ±27 | 62,536 | +1,737 |
| Households | 20,765 ±295 | 24,587 | +1,522 |
| Average household size | 2.51 ±0.04 | 2.51 | −0.10 |
| Housing units | 21,503 ±198 | 25,569 | +931 |
Grand Island's population since 2000
From 42,940 in 2000 to 53,943 in 2025: up 25.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Grand Island as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Grand Island?
The median resident of Grand Island is 34.7 years old; 28.2% are under 18 and 14.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 55.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 36.4%. 19.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Grand Island | Hall County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 ±0.7 | 36.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 28.2% ±0.5 pts | 27.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.8% ±0.5 pts | 15.7% | – |
| Male | 51.1% ±0.5 pts | 51.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 36.4% ±0.6 pts | 32.4% | +4.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 55.8% ±1.0 pts | 60.5% | −6.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±0.3 pts | 3.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±0.3 pts | 1.0% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±0.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 19.4% ±1.4 pts | 16.9% | +3.4 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 31.6% ±1.7 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.4% ±0.9 pts | 5.5% | – |
| With a disability | 12.9% ±1.5 pts | 12.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 14.5% ±1.7 pts | 12.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 83.5% ±1.6 pts | 85.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.9% ±1.7 pts | 21.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.6% ±1.1 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 82.0% ±2.6 pts | 84.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8% ±0.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Grand Island earn?
Half of Grand Island's 20,765 households earn less than $63,795 a year (±$4,094), against $69,251 in Hall County and $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $67,645 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Grand Island | Hall County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,795 ±$4,094 | $69,251 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $86,240 ±$5,210 | $89,848 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,902 ±$1,884 | $35,502 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.2% ±2.3 pts | 14.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.8% ±4.0 pts | 18.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.5% ±1.9 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.5% ±1.4 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.5% ±1.8 pts | 89.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Grand Island?
Owners occupy 57.8% of Grand Island's occupied homes and renters 42.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $218,600 by its owner (±$7,365). The median renter pays $947 a month including utilities, and 34.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Grand Island | Hall County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $218,600 ±$7,365 | $224,600 | +$45,318 |
| Median gross rent | $947 ±$38 | $943 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.1% ±4.8 pts | 33.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,613 ±$60 | $1,618 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.8% ±2.3 pts | 62.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 42.2% ±2.3 pts | 38.0% | – |
| Housing units | 21,503 ±198 | 25,569 | +931 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.2% ±1.5 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.7% ±2.2 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.5% ±1.2 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9% ±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.4% ±1.5 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 15.2% ±2.1 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.3% ±1.6 pts | 6.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Grand Island building?
Builders took permits for 180 new housing units in Grand Island in 2025 (56 in single-family houses), 3.3 per 1,000 residents against 5.3 across Nebraska.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Grand Island work and get to work?
78.5% of Grand Island's workers drive alone and 4.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.6%.
| Measure | Grand Island | Hall County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.3% ±1.7 pts | 68.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% ±1.1 pts | 4.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.5% ±2.7 pts | 79.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.3% ±2.6 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.2% ±1.3 pts | 4.4% | +1.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.9 min ±1.2 | 17.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Grand Island?
11 census tracts lie mostly in Grand Island, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $45,932 (Tract 7) to $89,417 (Tract 5).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3Hall County | 6,106 | $73,326 |
| Tract 5Hall County | 6,174 | $89,417 |
| Tract 9Hall County | 5,337 | $51,652 |
| Tract 6Hall County | 6,379 | $86,104 |
| Tract 2Hall County | 5,298 | $60,386 |
| Tract 7Hall County | 4,864 | $45,932 |
| Tract 4Hall County | 4,613 | $74,443 |
| Tract 10Hall County | 4,897 | $72,961 |
| Tract 11Hall County | 4,694 | $62,724 |
| Tract 12Hall County | 3,554 | $72,723 |
| Tract 8Hall County | 2,954 | $65,982 |
| Tract 13Hall County | 2,971 | $90,500 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Grand Island) · Census block assignment files
How does Grand Island compare with other places in Nebraska?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Grand Island is the 764th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 4th-most populous of 528 in Nebraska.
Grand Island ranks 89th of 136 places in Nebraska with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 4th | 528 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 43rd | 132 |
| Residents per square mile | 34th | 136 |
| Median household income | 89th | 136 |
| Per capita income | 86th | 136 |
| Median home value | 37th | 135 |
| Median gross rent | 42nd | 129 |
| Poverty rate | 19th | 109 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 97th | 135 |
| Median age | 108th | 136 |
| Owner-occupied share | 120th | 135 |
| Work from home | 75th | 84 |
| Travel time to work | 84th | 135 |
Grand Island's figures with every place in Nebraska (CSV)
Every place in Nebraska, sortable · Compare Grand Island with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Grand Island?
6 of the 57 figures for Grand Island on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Grand Island are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Grand Island.