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Phelps County, NE
5 cities and towns and 4 ZIP codes in Phelps County, Nebraska.
Population
9,009
Land area
540sq mi
People per sq mi
17
ZIP codes
4
Cities and towns in Phelps County
Phelps County at a glance
- Phelps County is 35% less dense than Nebraska as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $68,919 a year, 10% less than the Nebraska figure of $76,475.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $194,900 (18% below Nebraska) and median rent is $815 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Holdrege (5,546), Bertrand (718) and Loomis (375).
Local data for Phelps County, NE
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Phelps County, NE, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$68,919
Poverty rate
12.2%
Median home value
$194,900
Prices +3.3% in a year
Median rent
$815/mo
Homeownership
68.3%
Bachelor's or higher
29.9%
Median age
41.4
Average commute
14.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (3,033), Swedish Americans (1,339), Irish Americans (893).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.0%
Sep 2026, -0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$58,826
4,856 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$71,624
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$68.5M
FY 2026, $7,642 per person
PPP loans
$39.3M
900 loans, 4,315 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$39.5K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Phelps County, NE, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone82.9%
- Carpooled7.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked3.1%
- Bicycle0.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
- Worked from home5.6%
Average one-way commute: 14.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Phelps County, NE, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
597
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
6
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 13°F
27.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone4 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Phelps County, NE, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.6%
U.S. 33.3% +5.3 pts
Diabetes
11.5%
U.S. 12.1% -0.6 pts
Smoking
14.5%
U.S. 12.8% +1.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.3%
U.S. 11.1% -1.8 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Phelps County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Phelps County, NE?
- Holdrege is the largest city or town in Phelps County, with about 5,546 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Phelps County?
- Phelps County includes 4 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 68923, 68940, 68949, 68958.
- What is the population of Phelps County, NE?
- About 9,009 people live in Phelps County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Phelps County?
- Phelps County borders Buffalo County, Dawson County, Kearney County, Furnas County, Harlan County, Franklin County, Gosper County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023