Surrounded by Wyoming, Colorado, and South Dakota, the Western Nebraska Panhandle boasts abundant natural beauty. Though agriculture is the backbone of this area, our industry strengths include manufacturing, transportation and logistics, bio-medical, energy, education, and recreation.
As of 2025 the population of Western Nebraska Panhandle is 43,244. The population is expected to shrink to 42,357 by 2030 - a growth rate of -0.41%.
The median age of Western Nebraska Panhandle residents is 42.
The diversity index of Western Nebraska Panhandle is 58.6, meaning that there is a 59% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.
The average household income in Western Nebraska Panhandle is $83,932 and projected to be $92,840 in 2030. Per capita income is $34,909, projected to be $38,900 in 2030. 2.32% of households – 1,002 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $837,386 and the average disposable income is $64,170.
There are 20,579 housing units in Western Nebraska Panhandle; 12,343 are owner-occupied, 5,609 are rented, and 2,627 are vacant. The average home value is $210,217, with 908 homes built in 2010 or later, and 4,326 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 2,281 businesses in Western Nebraska Panhandle, employing 24,001 workers and pulling from a labor force of 20,393 age 16 and above. 1,458 workers commute into Western Nebraska Panhandle from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
18,500 residents both live and work in/around Western Nebraska Panhandle. The average travel time is 0.0 minutes. 10.94% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 1.23% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 16,408 drive alone, 1,967 carpool, and 7 take public transportation. 782 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 1,229 residents work from home.
8,846 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 3,663 have associates degrees, 5,253 have bachelor’s degrees, and 2,530 hold a graduate or professional degree.
