Fastest-growing counties in Nebraska

Written by:
July 1, 2022
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Fastest-growing counties in Nebraska

Why do people move from one county or region to another? The usual suspects are jobs, family, significant others, and overall cost of living, but there are other elements at play. For those with children, moving within close proximity of a highly rated school district is a key contributing factor. For younger adults just starting out, living someplace with a vibrant social scene might be a top priority. And for those whose careers have wound down after a lifetime of work, finding retirement-friendly communities is the goal—communities deemed to be safe, offer accessibility to medical resources and leisure activities in equal measure, and be affordable for those on a limited income.

This is, of course, by no means an exhaustive list. People's reasons for choosing to live where they do are as diverse as people themselves.

As far as why certain counties across the U.S. have experienced growth, relocation is not the sole, or even primary, reason why. While more than 1,800 counties saw population gains in 2021, approximately 73% of all U.S. counties saw what the U.S. Census Bureau characterizes as a natural decrease. This was a significant jump from 2020, when 55.5% of countries experienced such a decrease. According to the Bureau, natural decrease is the simple result of "when there are more deaths than births in a population over a given time period." In 2021, the conflation of fewer births with an aging population that was also absorbing a higher-than-usual mortality rate due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to this "increased decrease."

Nonetheless, as stated 1,800 counties nationwide have grown larger over the last year, and a sizable percentage of them are in Nebraska. Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in Nebraska using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020, based on the U.S. Decennial Census.

#50. Garden County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -183
--- #1,744 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -8.9%
--- #75 among counties in Nebraska, #2,779 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,874
--- #75 largest county in Nebraska, #3,051 largest county nationwide

#49. Merrick County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -177
--- #1,739 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.3%
--- #33 among counties in Nebraska, #1,886 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,668
--- #38 largest county in Nebraska, #2,602 largest county nationwide

#48. Sioux County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -176
--- #1,736 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -13.4%
--- #88 among counties in Nebraska, #3,007 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,135
--- #81 largest county in Nebraska, #3,100 largest county nationwide

#47. Nemaha County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -174
--- #1,733 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.4%
--- #38 among counties in Nebraska, #1,911 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,074
--- #41 largest county in Nebraska, #2,652 largest county nationwide

#46. Thurston County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -167
--- #1,723 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.4%
--- #39 among counties in Nebraska, #1,912 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,773
--- #42 largest county in Nebraska, #2,675 largest county nationwide

#45. Adams County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -159
--- #1,718 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.5%
--- #28 among counties in Nebraska, #1,573 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 31,205
--- #11 largest county in Nebraska, #1,391 largest county nationwide

#44. Gosper County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -151
--- #1,700 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -7.4%
--- #71 among counties in Nebraska, #2,659 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,893
--- #74 largest county in Nebraska, #3,048 largest county nationwide

#43. McPherson County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -140
--- #1,683 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -26.0%
--- #93 among counties in Nebraska, #3,135 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 399
--- #93 largest county in Nebraska, #3,138 largest county nationwide

#42. Burt County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -136
--- #1,681 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.0%
--- #32 among counties in Nebraska, #1,845 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,722
--- #43 largest county in Nebraska, #2,680 largest county nationwide

#41. Boone County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -126
--- #1,664 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.3%
--- #34 among counties in Nebraska, #1,891 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,379
--- #52 largest county in Nebraska, #2,789 largest county nationwide

#40. Cuming County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -126
--- #1,664 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.4%
--- #30 among counties in Nebraska, #1,724 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,013
--- #30 largest county in Nebraska, #2,487 largest county nationwide

#39. Perkins County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -112
--- #1,646 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.8%
--- #48 among counties in Nebraska, #2,128 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,858
--- #69 largest county in Nebraska, #2,969 largest county nationwide

#38. Hayes County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -111
--- #1,643 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -11.5%
--- #86 among counties in Nebraska, #2,945 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 856
--- #82 largest county in Nebraska, #3,111 largest county nationwide

#37. Deuel County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -103
--- #1,632 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.3%
--- #57 among counties in Nebraska, #2,367 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,838
--- #76 largest county in Nebraska, #3,056 largest county nationwide

#36. Chase County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -73
--- #1,590 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.8%
--- #31 among counties in Nebraska, #1,812 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,893
--- #61 largest county in Nebraska, #2,897 largest county nationwide

#35. Keya Paha County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -55
--- #1,566 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.7%
--- #69 among counties in Nebraska, #2,574 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 769
--- #84 largest county in Nebraska, #3,118 largest county nationwide

#34. Blaine County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -47
--- #1,550 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -9.8%
--- #79 among counties in Nebraska, #2,849 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 431
--- #92 largest county in Nebraska, #3,137 largest county nationwide

#33. Logan County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -47
--- #1,550 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.2%
--- #65 among counties in Nebraska, #2,495 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 716
--- #85 largest county in Nebraska, #3,123 largest county nationwide

#32. Wheeler County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -44
--- #1,547 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.4%
--- #59 among counties in Nebraska, #2,382 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 774
--- #83 largest county in Nebraska, #3,117 largest county nationwide

#31. Keith County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -33
--- #1,530 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.4%
--- #26 among counties in Nebraska, #1,557 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,335
--- #35 largest county in Nebraska, #2,552 largest county nationwide

#30. Arthur County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -26
--- #1,524 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.7%
--- #60 among counties in Nebraska, #2,423 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 434
--- #91 largest county in Nebraska, #3,136 largest county nationwide

#29. Butler County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -26
--- #1,524 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.3%
--- #25 among counties in Nebraska, #1,548 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,369
--- #34 largest county in Nebraska, #2,547 largest county nationwide

#28. Hooker County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -25
--- #1,519 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.4%
--- #43 among counties in Nebraska, #2,059 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 711
--- #86 largest county in Nebraska, #3,124 largest county nationwide

#27. Loup County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -25
--- #1,519 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.0%
--- #49 among counties in Nebraska, #2,155 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 607
--- #90 largest county in Nebraska, #3,133 largest county nationwide

#26. Banner County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -16
--- #1,510 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.3%
--- #35 among counties in Nebraska, #1,897 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 674
--- #87 largest county in Nebraska, #3,127 largest county nationwide

#25. Grant County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: -3
--- #1,494 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.5%
--- #27 among counties in Nebraska, #1,569 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 611
--- #89 largest county in Nebraska, #3,132 largest county nationwide

#24. Thomas County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +22
--- #1,464 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.4%
--- #10 among counties in Nebraska, #1,003 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 669
--- #88 largest county in Nebraska, #3,128 largest county nationwide

#23. Pierce County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +51
--- #1,431 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.7%
--- #22 among counties in Nebraska, #1,378 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,317
--- #39 largest county in Nebraska, #2,638 largest county nationwide

#22. Colfax County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +67
--- #1,415 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.6%
--- #24 among counties in Nebraska, #1,388 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,582
--- #24 largest county in Nebraska, #2,371 largest county nationwide

#21. Johnson County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +73
--- #1,411 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.4%
--- #18 among counties in Nebraska, #1,264 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,290
--- #53 largest county in Nebraska, #2,797 largest county nationwide

#20. Saline County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +92
--- #1,402 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.6%
--- #23 among counties in Nebraska, #1,387 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 14,292
--- #20 largest county in Nebraska, #2,128 largest county nationwide

#19. Wayne County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +102
--- #1,392 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.1%
--- #21 among counties in Nebraska, #1,327 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,697
--- #27 largest county in Nebraska, #2,437 largest county nationwide

#18. Otoe County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +172
--- #1,345 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.1%
--- #20 among counties in Nebraska, #1,325 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 15,912
--- #19 largest county in Nebraska, #2,035 largest county nationwide

#17. Kearney County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +199
--- #1,333 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.1%
--- #15 among counties in Nebraska, #1,047 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,688
--- #44 largest county in Nebraska, #2,684 largest county nationwide

#16. Howard County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +201
--- #1,331 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.2%
--- #13 among counties in Nebraska, #1,024 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,475
--- #45 largest county in Nebraska, #2,700 largest county nationwide

#15. Hamilton County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +305
--- #1,258 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.3%
--- #12 among counties in Nebraska, #1,012 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,429
--- #29 largest county in Nebraska, #2,458 largest county nationwide

#14. York County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +460
--- #1,166 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.4%
--- #11 among counties in Nebraska, #1,008 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 14,125
--- #21 largest county in Nebraska, #2,143 largest county nationwide

#13. Dodge County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +476
--- #1,155 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.3%
--- #19 among counties in Nebraska, #1,285 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 37,167
--- #6 largest county in Nebraska, #1,244 largest county nationwide

#12. Dakota County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +576
--- #1,125 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.7%
--- #16 among counties in Nebraska, #1,088 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 21,582
--- #16 largest county in Nebraska, #1,733 largest county nationwide

#11. Washington County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +631
--- #1,111 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.1%
--- #14 among counties in Nebraska, #1,041 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 20,865
--- #17 largest county in Nebraska, #1,768 largest county nationwide

#10. Madison County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +709
--- #1,090 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.0%
--- #17 among counties in Nebraska, #1,177 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 35,585
--- #8 largest county in Nebraska, #1,292 largest county nationwide

#9. Seward County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +859
--- #1,043 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.1%
--- #9 among counties in Nebraska, #805 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 17,609
--- #18 largest county in Nebraska, #1,938 largest county nationwide

#8. Cass County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,357
--- #936 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.4%
--- #8 among counties in Nebraska, #786 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 26,598
--- #12 largest county in Nebraska, #1,545 largest county nationwide

#7. Saunders County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,498
--- #905 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.2%
--- #6 among counties in Nebraska, #616 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 22,278
--- #14 largest county in Nebraska, #1,702 largest county nationwide

#6. Platte County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,059
--- #808 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +6.4%
--- #7 among counties in Nebraska, #675 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 34,296
--- #10 largest county in Nebraska, #1,319 largest county nationwide

#5. Buffalo County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,982
--- #629 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.6%
--- #4 among counties in Nebraska, #507 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 50,084
--- #5 largest county in Nebraska, #991 largest county nationwide

#4. Hall County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,288
--- #604 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.3%
--- #5 among counties in Nebraska, #606 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 62,895
--- #4 largest county in Nebraska, #847 largest county nationwide

#3. Sarpy County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +31,764
--- #199 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +20.0%
--- #1 among counties in Nebraska, #121 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 190,604
--- #3 largest county in Nebraska, #353 largest county nationwide

#2. Lancaster County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +37,201
--- #173 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +13.0%
--- #3 among counties in Nebraska, #289 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 322,608
--- #2 largest county in Nebraska, #222 largest county nationwide

#1. Douglas County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +67,416
--- #91 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +13.0%
--- #2 among counties in Nebraska, #287 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 584,526
--- #1 largest county in Nebraska, #117 largest county nationwide

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