Living in Grand Island, Nebraska
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Grand Island · Census data 2020–2024
Grand Island has 52,884 residents with a median age of 34.7. The median household income is $63,795 (17% lower than the Nebraska median), the median home value is $218,600, the median rent is $947/month.
Grand Island at a glance
- Population
- 52,884
- Median age
- 34.7State: 37.2
- Median household income
- $63,795State: $76,475
- Median home value
- $218,600State: $238,600
- Median rent
- $947/moState: $1,072
- Homeowners
- 57.8%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 20.9%
- Average commute
- 17 min
Is Grand Island a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 8% lower than the state median; an average commute of 17 minutes.
Cons: Median household income 17% lower than the Nebraska median; unemployment of 4.6%; a poverty rate of 15.2%.
The weather is best in May–June and August–September.
Cost of living in Grand Island
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Grand Island the median home value is $218,600, 34% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $947 per month, which is 29% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,613 a month in housing costs.
Grand Island median household income
The median household income in Grand Island is $63,795 and the income per person is $33,902. 15.2% of residents live below the poverty line (Nebraska: 10.6%).
Housing in Grand Island: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 21,503
- Owner-occupied
- 57.8%
- Renter-occupied
- 42.2%
- Vacant
- 3.4%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1975
- Average household size
- 2.51
Grand Island demographics
- Population
- 52,884
- Median age
- 34.7
- Under 18
- 28.2%
- 65 and older
- 14.8%
- Households
- 20,765
- Foreign-born
- 19.4%
- Veterans
- 5.4%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Grand Island ›
Education in Grand Island
20.9% of adults 25 and older in Grand Island have a bachelor's degree or higher (Nebraska: 34.6%), and 7.6% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Grand Island
- Unemployment rate
- 4.6%State: 3%
- Average commute
- 17 minState: 19 min
- Work from home
- 4.2%
- Drive alone
- 78.5%
- Public transit
- 0.6%
- Walk to work
- 0.5%
- Homes with broadband
- 89.5%
Grand Island vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island | 52,884 | $63,795 | $218,600 | $947 |
| Alda | 651 | $57,500 | $106,500 | $958 |
| Phillips | 382 | $86,607 | $147,000 | $1,075 |
| Doniphan | 983 | $87,212 | $211,100 | $950 |
| Chapman | 290 | $86,250 | $113,800 | $1,250 |
| Cairo | 1,035 | $54,511 | $193,000 | $821 |
| Wood River | 1,494 | $75,417 | $151,200 | $811 |
| Giltner | 457 | $73,250 | $184,900 | $817 |
| Dannebrog | 235 | $63,250 | $127,500 | $813 |
More for people moving to Grand Island
Grand Island ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Grand Island: FAQ
What is the median household income in Grand Island, NE?
The median household income in Grand Island is $63,795, 17% lower than the Nebraska median of $76,475 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Grand Island?
The median home value in Grand Island is $218,600, compared with $238,600 in Nebraska.
How much is rent in Grand Island?
The median gross rent in Grand Island is $947 per month, about 29% of household income.
Is Grand Island, NE a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 8% lower than the state median; an average commute of 17 minutes. Minuses: median household income 17% lower than the Nebraska median; unemployment of 4.6%; a poverty rate of 15.2%.
What is the median age in Grand Island?
The median age in Grand Island is 34.7 years (Nebraska: 37.2).
How long is the commute in Grand Island?
The average commute to work in Grand Island is 17 minutes; 4.2% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Grand Island?
The unemployment rate in Grand Island is 4.6% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Grand Island?
20.9% of adults in Grand Island have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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