Red Willow County, Nebraska Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
Red Willow County, NE Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
-
B
Health Around average
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C
Income Below average
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D
Education Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Red Willow County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,557 | 1,978,686 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 14.7 | 25.6 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.38% | 0.63% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 42.7 | 38.3 | 37.3 |
| Households | 4,504 | 797,835 | 130,235,071 |
Population in Red Willow County declined by 1.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 10,557 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in Red Willow County is Gen Z, aged 13–28, at 20.5% of residents. That is 2.2 points below Nebraska as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 2,167 20.5% -2.2 pts
- Millennials 29–44 1,869 17.7% -3.3 pts
- Gen X 45–60 2,122 20.1% +1.7 pts
- Boomers 61–79 2,048 19.4% +3.1 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below Nebraska, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 50.8% of the people living in Red Willow County and men 49.2%.
- Women 50.8% Nebraska 49.9%
- Men 49.2% Nebraska 50.1%
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Residents matching this profile
100% of everyone living in Red Willow County
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Economy
Red Willow County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Red Willow County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,898 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.09% | 4.27% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 1.4% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Red Willow County is about 15% lower than in Nebraska.
Housing
| Metric | Red Willow County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $172,628 | $175,282 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $819 | $1,071 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.0% | 66.5% | 65.2% |
The median home price in Red Willow County is about 17.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $819 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Red Willow County spend about 17 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 71 hours, about 3.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Red Willow County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 8.5 | 17.0 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 17.0 | 34.0 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 71 | 142 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $2,200 | $4,390 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 695 | 5,179 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 436 | 691 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Nebraska:
Hooker County (7.4 min), Cherry County (8.0 min), Box Butte County (8.0 min).
Slowest:
Cass County (28.0 min), Banner County (27.2 min), Saunders County (26.9 min).
The average commute time in Red Willow County is 9 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
Red Willow County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Red Willow County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 30.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.28 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
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
Red Willow County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Red Willow County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.5 | 79.5 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.1% | 12.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 18.0% | 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 Red Willow County, Nebraska.
How many people live in Red Willow County, Nebraska?
About 10,557 people live in Red Willow County, Nebraska, in 4,504 households of 2.3 people on average. The median age is 42.7, so residents are older than the U.S. median of 37.3 by about 5 years.
How densely populated is Red Willow County, Nebraska?
Averaged over its land area, Red Willow County, Nebraska has 15 people per square mile, a density typical of rural areas. That is about 17% of the U.S. average of 86.
How affordable is housing in Red Willow County, Nebraska?
The median home costs 2.7 times the median household income ($172,628 against $64,898), compared with 3.1 times nationally. That is within the traditional rule of thumb of about 3 times income. Median rent of $819 a month takes about 15% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
Is it hard to find a job in Red Willow County, Nebraska?
Unemployment in Red Willow County, Nebraska is only 1.4%, well below the U.S. rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What share of adults in Red Willow County, Nebraska have a college degree?
22.4% of adults in Red Willow County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher (about 1 in 4), well below the U.S. share of 31.6%.
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