County · Nebraska
Keith County, Nebraska
Keith County, Nebraska. Keith County had 8,100 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.7% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. It holds 9 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs and 6 census-designated) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 31101.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,100
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,335 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,219
Median household income
$60,645
±$5,115 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475
Median home value
$168,000
±$9,882 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600
Median gross rent
$771
±$52 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072
How many people live in Keith County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 8,335 residents in Keith County. The Census Bureau estimates 8,100 for July 1, 2025, down 2.7% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 8,219 over 1,062 square miles of land.
| Measure | Keith County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,219 | 1,978,707 | +151 |
| Households | 4,051±149 | 797,847 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.01±0.08 | 2.42 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,435±36 | 863,444 | no clear change |
Keith County's population since 2000
From 8,875 in 2000 to 8,100 in 2025: down 8.7%. 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 Keith County?
Keith County holds 9 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 6 census-designated places. The largest is Ogallala with 4,698 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Ogallala | 4,878 | $58,556 |
|---|---|---|
| Paxton | 516 | $66,875 |
| Brule | 331 | $46,750 |
| BelmarGEOID 3104055 | 199 | $24,432 |
| MartinGEOID 3130905 | 76 | not published |
| KeystoneGEOID 3125335 | 73 | not published |
| RoscoeGEOID 3142285 | 44 | $41,339 |
| LemoyneGEOID 3126595 | 44 | $65,529 |
| SarbenGEOID 3143650 | 31 | not published |
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 Keith County?
The median resident of Keith County is 48.4 years old; 20.6% are under 18 and 27.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.1%. 3.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Keith County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4±1.1 | 37.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.6%±0.6 pts | 24.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 27.9%±0.6 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.1% | 12.7% | +1.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.4%±1.4 pts | 75.3% | −4.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.6 pts | 4.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.3 pts | 2.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.6%±1.6 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.1%±1.2 pts | 8.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.5%±2.5 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.2%±1.7 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 16.2%±2.3 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.6%±2.2 pts | 7.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.1%±2.1 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 22.7%±3.3 pts | 34.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.3%±1.7 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.8%±1.9 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 Keith County earn?
Half of Keith County's 4,051 households earn less than $60,645 a year (±$5,115), against $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $62,439 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Keith County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,645±$5,115 | $76,475 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $75,763±$5,419 | $102,399 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,684±$2,930 | $41,751 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.4%±3.2 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.0%±7.7 pts | 12.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.9%±2.8 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.1%±2.9 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 Keith County?
Owners occupy 71.1% of Keith County's occupied homes and renters 28.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,000 by its owner (±$9,882). The median renter pays $771 a month including utilities, and 26.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Keith County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $168,000±$9,882 | $238,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $771±$52 | $1,072 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 26.4%±9.4 pts | 35.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,328±$64 | $1,736 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.1%±3.7 pts | 66.5% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,435±36 | 863,444 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.3%±1.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.6%±4.0 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 18.9%±3.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.6 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 14.7%±2.2 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 Keith County building?
Builders took permits for 38 new housing units across Keith County in 2025 (38 single-family), 4.7 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 Keith County get to work?
79.1% of Keith County's workers drive alone and 10.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 14.9 minutes.
| Measure | Keith County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.5%±2.7 pts | 68.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.0%±1.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 79.1%±4.3 pts | 76.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.4%±2.5 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 4.1%±1.6 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.0%±3.2 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 14.9 min±2.0 | 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 Keith County's census tracts?
Keith County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $56,842 (Tract 1) to $63,563 (Tract 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 Keith County compare with Nebraska's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 35th of 93 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 69th of 93 |
| Residents per square mile | 48th of 93 |
| Median household income | 76th of 93 |
| Median home value | 40th of 93 |
| Median gross rent | 51st of 93 |
| Poverty rate | 42nd of 92 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61st of 93 |
| Median age | 13th 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 Keith 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.