County · Nebraska

Pawnee County, Nebraska

Pawnee County, Nebraska. Pawnee County had 2,510 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.4% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. It holds 6 places (6 cities, villages and boroughs) and 1 census tract. GEOID 31133.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,510

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,544 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,530

Median household income

$62,188

±$7,222 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475

Median home value

$79,400

±$13,858 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600

Median gross rent

$706

±$51 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072

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

The 2020 Census counted 2,544 residents in Pawnee County. The Census Bureau estimates 2,510 for July 1, 2025, down 1.4% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 2,530 over 431 square miles of land.

  • July 2020→2021 −2 (2,534)
  • 2021→2022 −7 (2,527)
  • 2022→2023 −30 (2,497)
  • 2023→2024 +20 (2,517)
  • 2024→2025 −7 (2,510)
Pawnee County in Nebraska. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.
Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
MeasurePawnee CountyNebraskaChange since 2015-2019
Total population2,5301,978,707−119
Households1,090±65797,847−132
Average household size2.29±0.142.42no clear change
Housing units1,409±24863,444−218

Pawnee County's population since 2000

From 3,087 in 2000 to 2,510 in 2025: down 18.7%. 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.

  • 2000 Census 3,087
  • 2005 (estimate) 2,884
  • 2010 Census 2,773
  • 2015 (estimate) 2,693
  • 2020 Census 2,544
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,510

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 Pawnee County?

Pawnee County holds 6 places: 6 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Pawnee City with 836 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 Pawnee County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.
Pawnee Citycity865801±116$45,096$64,00017.6%100%
Table Rockvillage233255±67$49,844$73,30026.1%100%
Du BoisGEOID 3113750village122145±50not published$55,00017.5%100%
BurchardGEOID 3107065village76119±65$64,688$56,7002.5%100%
SteinauerGEOID 3147080village5973±28$48,125$65,00023.9%100%
LewistonGEOID 3126875village5542±22$41,250$48,30019.0%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 Pawnee County?

The median resident of Pawnee County is 44.9 years old; 24.5% are under 18 and 28.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.1%.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasurePawnee CountyNebraskaChange since 2015-2019
Median age44.9±2.437.2−5.1
Under 18 years24.5%±0.8 pts24.5%–
65 years and over28.4%±0.4 pts16.7%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1.9%12.7%+0.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic93.9%±0.6 pts75.3%−1.5 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.1%±0.2 pts4.6%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.0 pts2.6%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.0 pts0.6%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.0 pts0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic4.1%±0.6 pts3.8%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.0 pts0.4%–
Born outside the United States0.9%±0.6 pts8.0%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)8.7%±5.1 pts12.8%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)9.7%±2.4 pts6.9%–
With a disability16.8%±3.2 pts12.3%–
No health insurance coverage13.0%±5.3 pts7.2%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)85.6%±5.2 pts92.2%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)21.2%±3.7 pts34.6%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)8.2%±2.1 pts12.3%–
Moved from another state in the past year2.5%±1.6 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 Pawnee County earn?

Half of Pawnee County's 1,090 households earn less than $62,188 a year (±$7,222), against $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $57,168 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasurePawnee CountyNebraskaChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$62,188±$7,222$76,475no clear change
Mean household income$74,355±$7,923$102,399–
Per capita income$31,792±$3,326$41,751no clear change
People below the poverty line13.5%±2.9 pts10.6%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line7.7%±4.7 pts12.0%−29.0 pts
Households receiving SNAP5.9%±2.4 pts8.2%–
Households with a broadband subscription79.9%±5.1 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 Pawnee County?

Owners occupy 80.2% of Pawnee County's occupied homes and renters 19.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $79,400 by its owner (±$13,858). The median renter pays $706 a month including utilities, and 18.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasurePawnee CountyNebraskaChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$79,400±$13,858$238,600no clear change
Median gross rent$706±$51$1,072no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent18.5%±10.3 pts35.9%−24.9 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,427±$332$1,736–
Owner-occupied homes80.2%±3.9 pts66.5%no clear change
Housing units1,409±24863,444−218
Homeowner vacancy rate0.6%±0.8 pts0.6%–
Rental vacancy rate6.5%±6.9 pts4.3%–
Single-family detached homes90.9%±2.8 pts71.3%–
Mobile homes5.3%±2.1 pts2.9%–
Built 2020 or later1.6%±1.6 pts1.8%–
Built 1939 or earlier41.2%±5.8 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 Pawnee County building?

Builders took permits for 7 new housing units across Pawnee County in 2025 (7 single-family), 2.8 per 1,000 residents.

  • 2019 3 units
  • 2020 6 units
  • 2021 0 units
  • 2022 4 units
  • 2023 2 units
  • 2024 7 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 Pawnee County get to work?

70.1% of Pawnee County's workers drive alone and 13.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.4 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasurePawnee CountyNebraskaChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)54.7%±3.4 pts68.6%–
Unemployment rate2.2%±2.3 pts3.0%–
Drove alone to work70.1%±6.6 pts76.1%–
Carpooled9.3%±4.9 pts8.7%–
Public transportation0.0%±2.5 pts0.5%–
Walked6.2%±2.5 pts2.3%–
Worked from home13.1%±3.8 pts11.0%no clear change
Mean travel time to work22.4 min±3.919.2 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 Pawnee County's census tracts?

Pawnee County is a single census tract.

Census tracts of Pawnee County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column
Tract 967831133967800Pawnee City (18%)2,5442,530$62,188$79,400$70613.5%

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

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

Pawnee County's rank among Nebraska's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
MeasureRank
Population72nd of 93
Growth 2020-202557th of 93
Residents per square mile57th of 93
Median household income72nd of 93
Median home value93rd of 93
Median gross rent67th of 93
Poverty rate11th of 92
Bachelor's degree or higher72nd of 93
Median age32nd 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 Pawnee 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.