County · Nebraska

Thayer County, Nebraska

Thayer County, Nebraska. Thayer County had 4,842 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.8% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. It holds 11 places (11 cities, villages and boroughs) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 31169.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

4,842

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,034 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,901

Median household income

$66,213

±$5,166 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475

Median home value

$122,800

±$11,443 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600

Median gross rent

$766

±$41 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072

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

The 2020 Census counted 5,034 residents in Thayer County. The Census Bureau estimates 4,842 for July 1, 2025, down 3.8% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 4,901 over 574 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −132 (4,890)
2021→2022 −26 (4,864)
2022→2023 −10 (4,854)
2023→2024 +20 (4,874)
2024→2025 −32 (4,842)

Thayer County in Nebraska. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Thayer County	Nebraska	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	4,901	1,978,707	−156
Households	2,087±75	797,847	−157
Average household size	2.29±0.08	2.42	no clear change
Housing units	2,497±30	863,444	−256

Thayer County's population since 2000

From 6,055 in 2000 to 4,842 in 2025: down 20.0%. 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 6,055
2005 (estimate) 5,454
2010 Census 5,228
2015 (estimate) 5,129
2020 Census 5,034
2025 (estimate) 4,842

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 Thayer County?

Thayer County holds 11 places: 11 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Hebron with 1,384 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 Thayer County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Hebron	city	1,458	1,577±133	$65,833	$139,100	9.3%	100%
Deshler	city	752	729±99	$57,188	$102,300	12.8%	100%
Davenport	village	319	257±59	$67,083	$87,800	5.1%	100%
BruningGEOID 3106820	village	281	259±53	$73,750	$132,100	3.9%	100%
Chester	village	224	240±65	$71,875	$76,800	11.3%	100%
AlexandriaGEOID 3100730	village	148	101±31	$56,250	$29,200	20.8%	100%
CarletonGEOID 3107975	village	92	189±92	$81,250	not published	1.1%	100%
ByronGEOID 3107555	village	83	92±30	$50,417	$55,000	14.1%	100%
HubbellGEOID 3123410	village	63	61±26	not published	$41,700	18.0%	100%
BelvidereGEOID 3104160	village	51	35±21	not published	not published	28.6%	100%
GileadGEOID 3118720	village	30	30±14	$62,500	$27,500	0.0%	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 Thayer County?

The median resident of Thayer County is 46.0 years old; 22.7% are under 18 and 25.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.2%. 1.0% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Thayer County	Nebraska	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	46.0±0.6	37.2	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.7%±0.4 pts	24.5%	–
65 years and over	25.3%±0.3 pts	16.7%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3.2%	12.7%	+0.6 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	93.1%±0.5 pts	75.3%	−1.8 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.2 pts	4.6%	–
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	2.6%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.3 pts	0.6%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.5 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.0%±0.6 pts	3.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	1.0%±0.6 pts	8.0%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.5%±0.9 pts	12.8%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.1%±0.9 pts	6.9%	–
With a disability	13.7%±1.4 pts	12.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.2%±1.4 pts	7.2%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.9%±1.4 pts	92.2%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	23.8%±2.5 pts	34.6%	+5.0 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	7.5%±1.6 pts	12.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.3%±0.8 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 Thayer County earn?

Half of Thayer County's 2,087 households earn less than $66,213 a year (±$5,166), against $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $63,776 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Thayer County	Nebraska	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$66,213±$5,166	$76,475	no clear change
Mean household income	$83,392±$4,566	$102,399	–
Per capita income	$35,611±$1,925	$41,751	no clear change
People below the poverty line	9.0%±1.6 pts	10.6%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	9.5%±3.0 pts	12.0%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	7.2%±1.7 pts	8.2%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	87.1%±2.6 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 Thayer County?

Owners occupy 77.5% of Thayer County's occupied homes and renters 22.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $122,800 by its owner (±$11,443). The median renter pays $766 a month including utilities, and 23.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Thayer County	Nebraska	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$122,800±$11,443	$238,600	+$34,928
Median gross rent	$766±$41	$1,072	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	23.0%±6.6 pts	35.9%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,151±$134	$1,736	–
Owner-occupied homes	77.5%±3.4 pts	66.5%	no clear change
Housing units	2,497±30	863,444	−256
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.3%±1.0 pts	0.6%	–
Rental vacancy rate	1.7%±2.2 pts	4.3%	–
Single-family detached homes	94.2%±1.5 pts	71.3%	–
Mobile homes	1.0%±0.5 pts	2.9%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.0%±0.7 pts	1.8%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	36.8%±3.2 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 Thayer County building?

Builders took permits for 4 new housing units across Thayer County in 2025 (4 single-family), 0.8 per 1,000 residents.

2019 6 units
2020 7 units
2021 7 units
2022 14 units
2023 3 units
2024 1 units
2025 4 units

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

How do people in Thayer County get to work?

82.7% of Thayer County's workers drive alone and 5.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.0%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Thayer County	Nebraska	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	63.3%±2.4 pts	68.6%	–
Unemployment rate	2.0%±0.9 pts	3.0%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	82.7%±2.6 pts	76.1%	–
Carpooled	7.8%±2.1 pts	8.7%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Walked	2.9%±1.1 pts	2.3%	–
Worked from home	5.2%±1.4 pts	11.0%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	16.4 min±1.4	19.2 min	+3.6 min

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 Thayer County's census tracts?

Thayer County is divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $63,657 (Tract 9632) to $70,000 (Tract 9631).

Census tracts of Thayer County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 963131169963100	Deshler (8%)	2,657	2,463±115	$70,000	$129,100	$731	8.9%
Tract 963231169963200	Hebron (22%)	2,377	2,438±115	$63,657	$118,500	$770	9.1%

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

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

Thayer County's rank among Nebraska's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	56th of 93
Growth 2020-2025	77th of 93
Residents per square mile	46th of 93
Median household income	57th of 93
Median home value	70th of 93
Median gross rent	53rd of 93
Poverty rate	58th of 92
Bachelor's degree or higher	51st of 93
Median age	25th 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 Thayer 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.