County housing intelligence
Nebraska Housing Market by County
Nebraska is not one housing market. Across 93 counties, the median county home value is $146,300 and the median county rent is $772/mo. The useful question is not whether Nebraska is cheap. It is which county fits your income, tax tolerance, and buy-versus-rent plan.
County median home value
$146,300
Median of county medians, less distorted by the largest metros.
County median rent
$772/mo
Gross rent includes rent plus utilities where Census reports it.
Counties compared
93
Every county with available ACS housing data in this state.
Fast answers
Start with the housing question.
Market brief
The state-level housing signal
These benchmarks use the median county in the state, not one metro-weighted average. That makes the brief better for county comparison and rural-to-urban screening.
Purchase price
State county median vs national benchmark
Rent
State county median vs national benchmark
Owner cost
State county median vs national benchmark
Income base
State county median vs national benchmark
Tax rate
State county median vs national benchmark
The Nebraska Pattern
These are the signals a statewide average hides. Start here before choosing counties to compare.
Price geography
Sarpy County, Washington County, Lancaster County sit at the top of the purchase market, while Pawnee County, Hooker County, Greeley County anchor the lower-cost end.
Rent reality
Sarpy County, Douglas County, Dakota County lead on rent, while Hayes County, Garfield County, Wheeler County show where monthly lease costs are lowest.
Decision lens
Nuckolls County, Pawnee County, Furnas County screen best for purchase affordability when home values are measured against local household income.
Best Counties by Housing Goal
Different households need different rankings. Price alone is not enough, so these groups compare rent, income, owner costs, and tax exposure.
Cheapest to buy
Lowest median home values. Useful for purchase-price screening.
- 1. Pawnee County
$74,800
- 2. Hooker County
$85,400
- 3. Greeley County
$87,800
- 4. Hitchcock County
$88,800
- 5. Nuckolls County
$90,900
Best buy affordability
Lowest home-value-to-income ratios. Better than price alone.
- 1. Nuckolls County
1.3x home-value-to-income
- 2. Pawnee County
1.4x home-value-to-income
- 3. Furnas County
1.5x home-value-to-income
- 4. Greeley County
1.5x home-value-to-income
- 5. Colfax County
1.6x home-value-to-income
Cheapest to rent
Lowest median gross rent among counties with ACS rent data.
- 1. Hayes County
$419/mo
- 2. Garfield County
$519/mo
- 3. Wheeler County
$525/mo
- 4. Hooker County
$581/mo
- 5. Dundy County
$588/mo
Lowest rent burden
Where typical renters spend the smallest share of income on rent.
- 1. Thomas County
13.0% rent burden
- 2. Wheeler County
13.0% rent burden
- 3. Hayes County
14.0% rent burden
- 4. Loup County
14.0% rent burden
- 5. Sioux County
14.0% rent burden
Lowest tax-rate signal
Lowest effective property-tax rates in the state data.
- 1. Grant County
0.75% effective tax rate
- 2. Loup County
0.80% effective tax rate
- 3. Dundy County
0.82% effective tax rate
- 4. Arthur County
0.83% effective tax rate
- 5. Wheeler County
0.91% effective tax rate
Owner-cost advantage
Counties where median owner costs are furthest below median rent.
- 1. Keya Paha County
$317/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 2. Brown County
$255/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 3. Banner County
$182/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 4. Grant County
$173/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 5. Blaine County
$156/mo cheaper to own than rent
Income-backed value
Higher-income counties that still hold a reasonable value-to-income profile.
- 1. Nuckolls County
$70,201 income, 1.3x value-to-income
- 2. Colfax County
$79,720 income, 1.6x value-to-income
- 3. Thomas County
$72,708 income, 1.6x value-to-income
- 4. Fillmore County
$76,354 income, 1.7x value-to-income
- 5. Grant County
$69,063 income, 1.6x value-to-income
Tradeoffs to Check
The best page is not the one that crowns a winner. It is the one that shows where a county can surprise you after the headline price looks attractive.
| Signal | County | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap price, weaker income base | Pawnee County $74,800 home value, $54,926 income | Low purchase prices can still feel tight when local wages are also low. |
| Affordable homes, higher tax rate | Pawnee County $74,800 home value, 1.59% tax rate | A low home price can be offset by the annual property-tax bill. |
| Renter pressure | Brown County $932/mo rent, 38.00% rent burden | Monthly rent alone does not show whether renters can comfortably absorb the cost. |
| Expensive, but income-supported | Sarpy County $287,600 home value, $101,402 income | Some high-price counties also have stronger incomes, so affordability depends on both sides of the equation. |
Lowest home values
Best value-to-income
Compare Every Nebraska County
Sorted by home-value-to-income ratio so the first rows are not just cheap counties, but counties where purchase prices look smaller relative to local income.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Income | Value/Income | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuckolls County | $90,900 | $616/mo | $70,201 | 1.3x | 1.28% |
| Pawnee County | $74,800 | $616/mo | $54,926 | 1.4x | 1.59% |
| Furnas County | $91,800 | $805/mo | $60,625 | 1.5x | 1.45% |
| Greeley County | $87,800 | $643/mo | $58,894 | 1.5x | 1.56% |
| Colfax County | $128,800 | $902/mo | $79,720 | 1.6x | 1.25% |
| Deuel County | $97,200 | $827/mo | $61,438 | 1.6x | 1.50% |
| Grant County | $113,900 | $883/mo | $69,063 | 1.6x | 0.75% |
| Thomas County | $113,000 | $685/mo | $72,708 | 1.6x | 1.09% |
| Thurston County | $105,100 | $698/mo | $64,838 | 1.6x | 1.52% |
| Webster County | $102,000 | $673/mo | $65,197 | 1.6x | 1.44% |
| Blaine County | $102,100 | $786/mo | $61,250 | 1.7x | 1.19% |
| Fillmore County | $131,200 | $667/mo | $76,354 | 1.7x | 1.13% |
| Franklin County | $99,100 | $613/mo | $57,692 | 1.7x | 1.13% |
| Hitchcock County | $88,800 | $715/mo | $52,016 | 1.7x | 1.24% |
| Richardson County | $96,500 | $692/mo | $55,578 | 1.7x | 1.38% |
| Thayer County | $106,200 | $738/mo | $63,095 | 1.7x | 1.14% |
| Antelope County | $116,900 | $746/mo | $63,750 | 1.8x | 1.22% |
| Boyd County | $104,000 | $650/mo | $58,984 | 1.8x | 1.22% |
| Keya Paha County | $108,800 | $867/mo | $60,313 | 1.8x | 1.14% |
| Kimball County | $109,900 | $853/mo | $59,438 | 1.8x | 1.73% |
| Knox County | $116,900 | $692/mo | $64,821 | 1.8x | 1.22% |
| Sheridan County | $102,900 | $771/mo | $56,900 | 1.8x | 1.38% |
| Brown County | $100,200 | $932/mo | $51,538 | 1.9x | 1.08% |
| Clay County | $146,300 | $701/mo | $75,938 | 1.9x | 1.29% |
| Hayes County | $112,800 | $419/mo | $60,313 | 1.9x | 1.27% |
| Hooker County | $85,400 | $581/mo | $45,854 | 1.9x | 1.43% |
| Jefferson County | $117,600 | $659/mo | $60,568 | 1.9x | 1.45% |
| Morrill County | $112,000 | $744/mo | $59,773 | 1.9x | 1.30% |
| Nance County | $122,800 | $776/mo | $65,438 | 1.9x | 1.20% |
| Butler County | $165,700 | $753/mo | $82,603 | 2.0x | 1.17% |
| Dixon County | $141,400 | $661/mo | $69,156 | 2.0x | 1.21% |
| Frontier County | $138,800 | $605/mo | $68,207 | 2.0x | 1.43% |
| Loup County | $120,700 | $650/mo | $60,156 | 2.0x | 0.80% |
| McPherson County | $124,200 | $653/mo | $61,316 | 2.0x | 1.06% |
| Cherry County | $136,000 | $873/mo | $63,750 | 2.1x | 1.01% |
| Dundy County | $118,200 | $588/mo | $56,563 | 2.1x | 0.82% |
| Garden County | $95,500 | $675/mo | $44,777 | 2.1x | 1.18% |
| Garfield County | $144,900 | $519/mo | $68,611 | 2.1x | 1.44% |
| Harlan County | $147,200 | $708/mo | $70,536 | 2.1x | 1.15% |
| Nemaha County | $125,100 | $727/mo | $60,132 | 2.1x | 1.41% |
| Valley County | $122,200 | $616/mo | $58,902 | 2.1x | 1.55% |
| Burt County | $125,400 | $688/mo | $57,303 | 2.2x | 1.45% |
| Cheyenne County | $129,100 | $912/mo | $57,594 | 2.2x | 1.74% |
| Johnson County | $131,500 | $777/mo | $59,457 | 2.2x | 1.52% |
| Logan County | $160,000 | $725/mo | $71,650 | 2.2x | 1.00% |
| Perkins County | $149,200 | $783/mo | $67,500 | 2.2x | 1.01% |
| Rock County | $124,400 | $608/mo | $57,500 | 2.2x | 1.02% |
| Sherman County | $135,000 | $866/mo | $61,935 | 2.2x | 1.22% |
| Banner County | $166,300 | $975/mo | $71,250 | 2.3x | 1.51% |
| Boone County | $164,700 | $734/mo | $71,367 | 2.3x | 1.02% |
| Box Butte County | $161,100 | $771/mo | $68,778 | 2.3x | 1.49% |
| Dakota County | $168,100 | $1,053/mo | $71,655 | 2.3x | 1.59% |
| Holt County | $152,000 | $724/mo | $67,225 | 2.3x | 1.14% |
| Otoe County | $185,000 | $905/mo | $81,430 | 2.3x | 1.44% |
| Saline County | $180,700 | $833/mo | $77,027 | 2.3x | 1.35% |
| Cedar County | $175,500 | $683/mo | $73,977 | 2.4x | 1.04% |
| Custer County | $160,500 | $794/mo | $66,310 | 2.4x | 1.15% |
| Dawson County | $157,800 | $861/mo | $65,383 | 2.4x | 1.26% |
| Pierce County | $182,700 | $850/mo | $75,938 | 2.4x | 1.16% |
| Red Willow County | $143,500 | $778/mo | $60,000 | 2.4x | 1.26% |
| Stanton County | $184,300 | $817/mo | $78,275 | 2.4x | 1.31% |
| Wheeler County | $135,900 | $525/mo | $55,893 | 2.4x | 0.91% |
| York County | $175,900 | $885/mo | $74,058 | 2.4x | 1.20% |
| Cuming County | $174,900 | $800/mo | $70,708 | 2.5x | 1.04% |
| Polk County | $177,800 | $692/mo | $71,771 | 2.5x | 0.98% |
| Dodge County | $188,100 | $985/mo | $71,294 | 2.6x | 1.38% |
| Gage County | $167,100 | $770/mo | $64,426 | 2.6x | 1.44% |
| Gosper County | $202,700 | $797/mo | $79,145 | 2.6x | 1.19% |
| Phelps County | $173,300 | $724/mo | $65,988 | 2.6x | 1.38% |
| Scotts Bluff County | $161,400 | $889/mo | $60,960 | 2.6x | 1.49% |
| Sioux County | $141,700 | $743/mo | $54,076 | 2.6x | 1.21% |
| Dawes County | $146,500 | $1,014/mo | $54,381 | 2.7x | 1.34% |
| Keith County | $157,000 | $772/mo | $58,132 | 2.7x | 1.40% |
| Merrick County | $168,000 | $772/mo | $62,849 | 2.7x | 1.17% |
| Saunders County | $241,100 | $930/mo | $89,395 | 2.7x | 1.35% |
| Adams County | $185,800 | $853/mo | $65,680 | 2.8x | 1.44% |
| Arthur County | $188,800 | $850/mo | $67,500 | 2.8x | 0.83% |
| Cass County | $247,200 | $987/mo | $88,255 | 2.8x | 1.43% |
| Chase County | $178,700 | $749/mo | $62,782 | 2.8x | 1.21% |
| Howard County | $205,200 | $811/mo | $74,508 | 2.8x | 1.13% |
| Kearney County | $218,300 | $787/mo | $79,167 | 2.8x | 1.23% |
| Lincoln County | $183,100 | $867/mo | $64,342 | 2.8x | 1.48% |
| Sarpy County | $287,600 | $1,284/mo | $101,402 | 2.8x | 1.79% |
| Platte County | $207,800 | $867/mo | $72,335 | 2.9x | 1.34% |
| Seward County | $232,400 | $969/mo | $81,122 | 2.9x | 1.20% |
| Hamilton County | $238,700 | $776/mo | $79,884 | 3.0x | 0.96% |
| Madison County | $196,000 | $851/mo | $64,637 | 3.0x | 1.34% |
| Wayne County | $203,700 | $732/mo | $67,687 | 3.0x | 1.19% |
| Douglas County | $245,800 | $1,162/mo | $79,081 | 3.1x | 1.75% |
| Hall County | $207,900 | $911/mo | $67,549 | 3.1x | 1.37% |
| Washington County | $278,300 | $958/mo | $90,188 | 3.1x | 1.48% |
| Buffalo County | $236,800 | $911/mo | $74,570 | 3.2x | 1.45% |
| Lancaster County | $258,900 | $1,045/mo | $72,625 | 3.6x | 1.57% |
Questions This Page Answers
Each answer is generated from the current county dataset, so it changes when the underlying ACS data changes.
What is the typical home value in Nebraska by county?
What is the typical rent in Nebraska by county?
Which Nebraska counties are most affordable to buy in?
Why do cheap counties still need a closer look?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.