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 2026 the population of Western Nebraska Panhandle is 43,017. The population is expected to shrink to 42,389 by 2031 - a growth rate of -0.29%.
The median age of Western Nebraska Panhandle residents is 42.
The diversity index of Western Nebraska Panhandle is 59.3, 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 $86,122 and projected to be $98,026 in 2031. Per capita income is $36,333, projected to be $41,749 in 2031. 2.34% of households – 1,007 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $834,476 and the average disposable income is $65,504.
There are 20,641 housing units in Western Nebraska Panhandle; 12,563 are owner-occupied, 5,428 are rented, and 2,650 are vacant. The average home value is $216,884, with 937 homes built in 2010 or later, and 4,588 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 2,278 businesses in Western Nebraska Panhandle, employing 23,917 workers and pulling from a labor force of 20,842 age 16 and above. 1,589 workers commute into Western Nebraska Panhandle from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
18,689 residents both live and work in/around Western Nebraska Panhandle. The average travel time is 0.0 minutes. 11.16% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 2.04% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 17,005 drive alone, 1,803 carpool, and 10 take public transportation. 753 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 1,271 residents work from home.
8,781 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 3,429 have associates degrees, 5,032 have bachelor’s degrees, and 2,673 hold a graduate or professional degree.
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
