City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Wood River, NE

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

1,426
Residents
$76,591
Median income
$131,400
Median home
$1,215
Median rent (state)

Wood River - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Wood River lands in the 58th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

58th
percentile, household income
21st
percentile, home value
37th
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: Wood River, NE

1,426 people live in Wood River, Nebraska - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Wood River households earn a median of $76,591 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.4%. Home values in Wood River run a median of $131,400, and the median resident age is 36.9 years. Educational attainment runs 19.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 65.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 3 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Nebraska run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Nebraska at 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,215 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $207 across Nebraska, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 74.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

1,426 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$76,591 /yr

Poverty 9.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does Wood River compare to other US cities?

Wood River measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 58% higher than other cities
Home value 21% pricier than other cities
Median rent 37% 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 Wood River 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 is Wood River's strongest outlier among Nebraska cities

Among the 450 Nebraska cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Wood River ranks #36 - the 91st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wood River only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#108 of 439
75th percentile in Nebraska
Median Gross Rent
#36 of 450
91st percentile in Nebraska
Median Home Value
#180 of 438
59th percentile in Nebraska
Poverty Rate
#135 of 450
69th percentile in Nebraska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#243 of 450
46th 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.

58thIncome percentile

58th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wood River's home value compares nationally

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

$131,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 79% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Wood River $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 - Wood River, NE Wood River, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wood River, 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 Wood River, NE median $76,591/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%
Wood River, 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 Wood River, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.7%

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

Population
1,426
Median Income
$76,591
Median Home Value
$131,400
Median Age
36.9
Poverty Rate
9.4%
Labor force participation
65.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.4%

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 →
1,150 residents1,160 residents1,170 residents1,180 residents1,190 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,178 residents 1,169 residents ▼ -0.8%
Wood River's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.6%
Carpool
7.6%
Public Transit
1.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
3.1%
Other
0.7%

Based on 701 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 Wood River sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,215/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
74.2 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

Atkinson
1,433 people
Wisner
1,436 people
Arlington
1,437 people
Bridgeport
1,403 people
Louisville
1,393 people
Grant
1,392 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wood River's 1,426 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Canyon Day, AZ
1,426 people
Boulevard Gardens, FL
1,426 people
Cerro Gordo, IL
1,426 people
Fairview Park, IN
1,426 people
Cannonsburg, KY
1,426 people
Oxford, NY
1,426 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wood River's $76,591 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Douglasville, GA
$76,591 median income
Shepherd, MI
$76,591 median income
Solomon, AZ
$76,587 median income
Kimberly, ID
$76,587 median income
Ravalli, MT
$76,582 median income
Fort Worth, TX
$76,602 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wood River, 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 Wood River, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.0% 9.5% 7.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 26.1% White 83.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 9.5% Two or more races 7.3% 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 Wood River 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
Wood River (this city) 1,426 $76,591
Atkinson 1,433 $72,857
Wisner 1,436 $66,875
Arlington 1,437 $95,278
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wood River, NE?

What is the population of Wood River, NE? +

The population of Wood River, NE stands at 1,426 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Wood River, NE? +

Wood River households earn a median of $76,591 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wood River? +

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

The median home value in Wood River is $131,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.