Thomas 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 | Thomas County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 651 | 1,957,609 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 0.9 | 25.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.94% | 0.63% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 45.7 | 38.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 318 | 786,867 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Thomas County declined by 5.4% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 626 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Thomas County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Thomas County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,000 | $74,987 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 2.80% | 4.57% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 1.1% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Thomas County is about 12% lower than in Nebraska.
Housing
| Metric | Thomas County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $94,166 | $167,658 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $684 | $1,035 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.8% | 66.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Thomas County is about 11.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $684 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Thomas County spend about 18 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 75 hours, about 3.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Thomas County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 8.9 | 16.9 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 17.9 | 33.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 75 | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $2,311 | $4,376 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 10.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 645 | 5,179 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 61 | 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 Thomas 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
Thomas County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Thomas County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 30.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 1.97 | 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
| Metric | Thomas County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | — | 79.5 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 11.0% | 12.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 14.7% | 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 Thomas County, Nebraska.
What is the population of Thomas County, Nebraska?
The population of Thomas County, Nebraska is 651, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Thomas County, Nebraska?
The population density of Thomas County, Nebraska is 0.9 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Thomas County, Nebraska?
The median household income in Thomas County, Nebraska is $66,000, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Thomas County, Nebraska?
The median home price in Thomas County, Nebraska is $94,166, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Thomas County, Nebraska?
The unemployment rate in Thomas County, Nebraska is 1.1%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.