County · Nebraska
Brown County, Nebraska
Brown County, Nebraska. Brown County had 2,826 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.6% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. It holds 3 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs) and 1 census tract. GEOID 31017.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,826
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,903 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,869 ±111
Median household income
$54,676
±$6,999 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475
Median home value
$113,900
±$17,597 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600
Median gross rent
$876
±$137 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072
How many people live in Brown County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 2,903 residents in Brown County. The Census Bureau estimates 2,826 for July 1, 2025, down 2.6% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 2,869 over 1,221 square miles of land.
| Measure | Brown County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,869±111 | 1,978,707 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,275±80 | 797,847 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.23±0.15 | 2.42 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,656±54 | 863,444 | −237 |
Brown County's population since 2000
From 3,525 in 2000 to 2,826 in 2025: down 19.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Brown County?
Brown County holds 3 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Ainsworth with 1,585 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Brown County?
The median resident of Brown County is 45.7 years old; 20.1% are under 18 and 27.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.2%. 3.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Brown County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7±1.1 | 37.2 | −3.7 |
| Under 18 years | 20.1%±1.4 pts | 24.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 27.5%±1.3 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.2%±1.5 pts | 12.7% | +4.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.5%±1.7 pts | 75.3% | −7.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 2.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.4%±1.0 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.3%±1.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.0%±2.1 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5%±2.0 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 15.0%±3.2 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.5%±2.7 pts | 7.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.3%±2.7 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.0%±4.9 pts | 34.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.4%±3.1 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.4%±0.3 pts | 2.4% | – |
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 Brown County earn?
Half of Brown County's 1,275 households earn less than $54,676 a year (±$6,999), against $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $53,040 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Brown County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,676±$6,999 | $76,475 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $79,390±$14,692 | $102,399 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,877±$6,108 | $41,751 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.4%±4.0 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.2%±9.1 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.0%±2.6 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.5%±4.1 pts | 90.6% | – |
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 Brown County?
Owners occupy 74.2% of Brown County's occupied homes and renters 25.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $113,900 by its owner (±$17,597). The median renter pays $876 a month including utilities, and 54.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Brown County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $113,900±$17,597 | $238,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $876±$137 | $1,072 | +$225 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 54.2%±12.6 pts | 35.9% | +27.2 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $968±$37 | $1,736 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.2%±5.0 pts | 66.5% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,656±54 | 863,444 | −237 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5%±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 19.1%±13.7 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 83.4%±4.8 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.3%±2.2 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±1.5 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 29.3%±4.5 pts | 18.7% | – |
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 Brown County building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units across Brown County in 2025 (1 single-family), 0.4 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Brown County get to work?
70.9% of Brown County's workers drive alone and 8.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 11.9 minutes.
| Measure | Brown County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.7%±3.3 pts | 68.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.7%±1.9 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 70.9%±6.7 pts | 76.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.0%±3.6 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.8 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 7.0%±4.2 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.6%±3.7 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 11.9 min±2.9 | 19.2 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 are Brown County's census tracts?
Brown County is a single census tract.
| Tract 975031017975000 | 2,869±111 | $54,676 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Brown County compare with Nebraska's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 66th of 93 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 67th of 93 |
| Residents per square mile | 75th of 93 |
| Median household income | 89th of 93 |
| Median home value | 78th of 93 |
| Median gross rent | 27th of 93 |
| Poverty rate | 12th of 92 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48th of 93 |
| Median age | 28th of 93 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Brown County 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' school search.