Boys Town is a village in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 410 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 649 in 2024. The village houses the national headquarters of Boys Town, homes for the youth served and the families that care for them, a church, a museum (The Hall of History), a school, a post office, a fire station, visitor’s center, cafe and other buildings. The village is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which is land and (4.22%) is water.
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<br>2020 Census
As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 8 estimated households in Boys Town with an average of 2.63 persons per household. The village has a median household income of $73,750. Approximately 66.3% of the village's population lives at or below the poverty line. Boys Town has an estimated 27.7% employment rate, with 31.4% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 100.0% holding a high school diploma. There were 29 housing units at an average density of .
The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (86.3%), Spanish (13.7%), Indo-European (0.0%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.0%), and Other (0.0%).
The median age in the village was 18.5 years.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+<big>Boys Town, Nebraska – racial and ethnic composition</big><br><small></small>
! Race / ethnicity <small>(NH = non-Hispanic)</small>
! Pop. 2000
! Pop. 2010
!
! % 2000
! % 2010
!
|-
| White alone (NH)
| 524
| 433
| style='background: #ffffe6; |232
| 64.06%
| 58.12%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |56.59%
|-
| Black or African American alone (NH)
| 167
| 190
| style='background: #ffffe6; |99
| 20.42%
| 25.50%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |24.15%
|-
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
| 9
| 26
| style='background: #ffffe6; |14
| 1.10%
| 3.49%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |3.41%
|-
| Asian alone (NH)
| 4
| 3
| style='background: #ffffe6; |5
| 0.49%
| 0.40%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1.22%
|-
| Pacific Islander alone (NH)
| 0
| 1
| style='background: #ffffe6; |2
| 0.00%
| 0.13%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.49%
|-
| Other race alone (NH)
| 4
| 6
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0
| 0.49%
| 0.81%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH)
| 48
| 11
| style='background: #ffffe6; |7
| 5.87%
| 1.48%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1.71%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (any race)
| 62
| 75
| style='background: #ffffe6; |51
| 7.58%
| 10.07%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |12.44%
|-
|Total
|818
|745
|style='background: #ffffe6; |410
|100.00%
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 410 people, 15 households, and 15 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 46 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 56.59% White, 24.15% African American, 3.41% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.49% Pacific Islander, 11.71% from some other races and 2.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 12.44% of the population.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 745 people, 6 households, and 2 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 15 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 66.04% White, 26.17% African American, 3.49% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from some other races and 2.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 10.07% of the population.
There were 6 households 16.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.3% were married couples living together, and 66.7% were non-families. 66.7% of households were one person and 16.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.17 and the average family size was 3.00.
The median age in the village was 16.7 years. 72.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 13.2% were from 25 to 44; 2.8% were from 45 to 64; and 0.1% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the village was 57.2% male and 42.8% female.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 818 people, 57 households, and 53 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 58 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 66.01% White, 21.15% African American, 1.34% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 5.01% from some other races and 5.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.58% of the population.
There were 57 households 68.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 93.0% were married couples living together, and 7.0% were non-families. 7.0% of households were one person and 5.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.32 and the average family size was 3.47.
The age distribution was 78.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 11.0% from 25 to 44, 0.7% from 45 to 64, and 0.5% 65 or older. The median age was 16 years. For every 100 females, there were 219.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 150.7 males.
The median household income was $51,442, and the median family income was $51,944. Males had a median income of $31,563 versus $21,042 for females. The per capita income for the village was $3,048. None of the families and 6.1% of the population were living below the poverty line, including none under 18 and none of those over 64.
Education
The village of Boys Town contains its own private school system, Boys Town Schools. This school system consists of both a middle school and high school (housed in the same building, the Boys Town Education Center), as well as a Day School, all located on the main Boys Town Home Campus. In addition, Boys Town operates a Day School located in Duncan, Nebraska.
See also
- List of municipalities in Nebraska