Harlan County, NE Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Harlan County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,958 | 1,957,609 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 5.2 | 25.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -1.99% | 0.63% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 48.8 | 38.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 1,200 | 786,867 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Harlan County declined by 10.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 3,006 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Harlan County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Harlan County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $69,374 | $74,987 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.56% | 4.57% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 1.6% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Harlan County is about 7% lower than in Nebraska.
Housing
| Metric | Harlan County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $18,845 | $167,658 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $708 | $1,035 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.8% | 66.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Harlan County is about 2.2 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $708 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Harlan County spend about 24 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 102 hours, about 4.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Harlan County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 12.2 | 16.9 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 24.4 | 33.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 102 | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,156 | $4,376 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 10.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,205 | 5,179 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 143 | 691 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Nebraska:
Garfield County (6.8 min), Garden County (7.1 min), Box Butte County (7.8 min).
Slowest:
Cass County (28.7 min), Saunders County (26.4 min), Howard County (25.9 min).
The average commute time in Harlan County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 17 minutes in Nebraska.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Harlan County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Harlan County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 30.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.46 | 2.43 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Nebraska:
Sarpy County (0.3), Lancaster County (0.3), Douglas County (0.3).
Lowest:
Dakota County (0.2), Colfax County (0.2), Dawson County (0.2).
Health
Harlan County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Harlan County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.1 | 79.5 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.8% | 12.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.3% | 16.6% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Nebraska:
Wayne County (0.8), Sarpy County (0.8), Lancaster County (0.8).
Lowest:
Thurston County (0.8), Pawnee County (0.8), Dundy County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Harlan County, Nebraska.
What is the population of Harlan County, Nebraska?
The population of Harlan County, Nebraska is 2,958, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Harlan County, Nebraska?
The population density of Harlan County, Nebraska is 5.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Harlan County, Nebraska?
The median household income in Harlan County, Nebraska is $69,374, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Harlan County, Nebraska?
The median home price in Harlan County, Nebraska is $18,845, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Harlan County, Nebraska?
The unemployment rate in Harlan County, Nebraska is 1.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.