County · Nebraska

Gosper County, Nebraska

Gosper County, Nebraska. Gosper County had 1,803 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.8% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. It holds 2 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs) and 1 census tract. GEOID 31073.

Gosper County is one of the 2 counties of the Lexington, NE micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

1,803

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,893 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,040 ±156

Median household income

$77,500

±$8,692 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475

Median home value

$228,500

±$55,813 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600

Median gross rent

$664

±$109 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072

How many people live in Gosper County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 1,893 residents in Gosper County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,803 for July 1, 2025, down 4.8% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 2,040 over 458 square miles of land.

  • July 2020→2021 −65 (1,830)
  • 2021→2022 +3 (1,833)
  • 2022→2023 +12 (1,845)
  • 2023→2024 −18 (1,827)
  • 2024→2025 −24 (1,803)
Gosper County in Nebraska. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.
Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureGosper CountyNebraskaChange since 2015-2019
Total population2,040±1561,978,707no clear change
Households836±84797,847no clear change
Average household size2.41±0.182.42+0.31
Housing units1,212±84863,444−136

Gosper County's population since 2000

From 2,143 in 2000 to 1,803 in 2025: down 15.9%. 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.

  • 2000 Census 2,143
  • 2005 (estimate) 2,110
  • 2010 Census 2,044
  • 2015 (estimate) 2,025
  • 2020 Census 1,893
  • 2025 (estimate) 1,803

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 Gosper County?

Gosper County holds 2 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Elwood with 615 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Gosper County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.
Elwoodvillage658534±100$66,389$183,3008.4%100%
SmithfieldGEOID 3145575village60108±50$51,118$82,50024.1%100%

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 Gosper County?

The median resident of Gosper County is 48.4 years old; 20.7% are under 18 and 23.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.4%.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureGosper CountyNebraskaChange since 2015-2019
Median age48.4±1.937.2−5.0
Under 18 years20.7%±2.6 pts24.5%–
65 years and over23.9%±2.3 pts16.7%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)7.4%±1.5 pts12.7%no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic89.8%±1.8 pts75.3%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.2 pts4.6%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.6%±0.5 pts2.6%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.3%±0.4 pts0.6%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.2 pts0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic1.9%±1.0 pts3.8%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.2 pts0.4%–
Born outside the United States0.3%±0.5 pts8.0%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)4.0%±2.5 pts12.8%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)5.3%±2.1 pts6.9%–
With a disability11.5%±3.0 pts12.3%–
No health insurance coverage9.4%±4.7 pts7.2%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)97.9%±1.2 pts92.2%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)27.4%±5.2 pts34.6%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)8.5%±2.9 pts12.3%–
Moved from another state in the past year0.9%±1.0 pts2.4%–

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 Gosper County earn?

Half of Gosper County's 836 households earn less than $77,500 a year (±$8,692), against $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $78,830 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.3% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureGosper CountyNebraskaChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$77,500±$8,692$76,475no clear change
Mean household income$102,828±$15,812$102,399–
Per capita income$44,286±$6,990$41,751no clear change
People below the poverty line10.3%±5.5 pts10.6%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line19.9%±16.7 pts12.0%–
Households receiving SNAP7.4%±3.3 pts8.2%–
Households with a broadband subscription83.1%±6.8 pts90.6%–

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 Gosper County?

Owners occupy 81.0% of Gosper County's occupied homes and renters 19.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $228,500 by its owner (±$55,813). The median renter pays $664 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureGosper CountyNebraskaChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$228,500±$55,813$238,600+$72,202
Median gross rent$664±$109$1,072no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent19.6%±15.0 pts35.9%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,609±$200$1,736–
Owner-occupied homes81.0%±4.8 pts66.5%+10.5 pts
Housing units1,212±84863,444−136
Homeowner vacancy rate0.4%±1.0 pts0.6%–
Rental vacancy rate17.6%±14.4 pts4.3%–
Single-family detached homes86.9%±4.8 pts71.3%–
Mobile homes8.9%±4.3 pts2.9%–
Built 2020 or later1.8%±1.8 pts1.8%–
Built 1939 or earlier19.0%±4.3 pts18.7%–

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 Gosper County building?

Builders took permits for 7 new housing units across Gosper County in 2025 (7 single-family), 3.9 per 1,000 residents.

  • 2019 5 units
  • 2020 10 units
  • 2021 11 units
  • 2022 7 units
  • 2023 8 units
  • 2024 8 units
  • 2025 7 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Gosper County get to work?

72.9% of Gosper County's workers drive alone and 6.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.1 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureGosper CountyNebraskaChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)61.1%±5.1 pts68.6%–
Unemployment rate2.4%±1.6 pts3.0%–
Drove alone to work72.9%±7.0 pts76.1%–
Carpooled11.9%±5.3 pts8.7%–
Public transportation1.3%±1.6 pts0.5%–
Walked2.8%±2.0 pts2.3%–
Worked from home6.9%±3.5 pts11.0%no clear change
Mean travel time to work22.1 min±2.619.2 minno 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 Gosper County's census tracts?

Gosper County is a single census tract.

Census tracts of Gosper County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column
Tract 967631073967600Elwood (8%)1,8932,040±156$77,500$228,500$66410.3%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Gosper County compare with Nebraska's other counties?

Gosper County's rank among Nebraska's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
MeasureRank
Population74th of 93
Growth 2020-202583rd of 93
Residents per square mile65th of 93
Median household income17th of 93
Median home value10th of 93
Median gross rent77th of 93
Poverty rate43rd of 92
Bachelor's degree or higher24th of 93
Median age13th of 93

Every county in Nebraska

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 Gosper 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.