1st Advantage Mortgage34% of Adams County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $68,365 (ACS 2020-24). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Adams County, NE: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Adams County
- How much Adams County households make
- Adams County at the extremes
- Employment and commuting in Adams County
- Adams County next to its neighbors
- Adams County towns compared
- $5,697 a month: the Adams County median budget
- Who lives in Adams County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Adams County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Adams County residents
- Other Nebraska guides
- Frequently asked questions
Adams County, NE: the basics
Adams County is home to about 31,052 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 11th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. It covers 563 square miles of land, or about 55 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 7 Census places inside Adams County, Hastings leads by population with about 25,008; 7 of the 7 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Adams County
Half of Adams County renters pay more than $857 a month and half pay less; the Nebraska midpoint is $1,072. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 52% in Adams County, 45% statewide. Median value $193,100; median income $68,365; ratio 2.8. Owners occupy 70% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1967.
| Measure | Adams County | Nebraska | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $857/mo | $1,072/mo | 20% lower |
| Median home value | $193,100 | $238,600 | 19% lower |
| Owners | 70% | 67% | +3.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 45% | +6.9 pts |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | +0.3 pts |
| Mobile homes | 4.5% | 2.9% | +1.6 pts |
52% of Adams County renters are already past the 30% line; one more payment should leave room for a late paycheck.
How much Adams County households make
At $68,365, the typical Adams County household income is 4% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 49th among Nebraska's 93 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Adams County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.7% | +5.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.7% | -1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -2.4 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.7% of Adams County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. Adams County scores 0.461 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Adams County median.
Adams County at the extremes
Where Adams County lands at the extremes of Nebraska's county rankings:
- Few Nebraska counties match Adams County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 52% here, 45% for the state, ranking 4th highest of 92. Make sure a consolidation loan lowers what you pay each month.
- The share of commutes over 45 minutes: 4% in Adams County. Only 6 of 93 Nebraska counties are lower. Less driving means fewer surprise repair bills.
- Few Nebraska counties match Adams County on population: 31,052 here, 1,978,707 for the state, ranking 11th highest of 93. A big county has more local lenders, so shopping around is easier.
Employment and commuting in Adams County
The biggest employer of Adams County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Relative to Nebraska (10%), manufacturing is 4 points bigger in Adams County (14%). Unemployment in Adams County, ACS five-year: 2.4%; Nebraska: 3.0%. About 82% drive to work alone and 4% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.6% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Sector | Adams County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.5% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.2% | +3.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | -0.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.3% | +2.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Adams County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Adams County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 34 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Adams County; Clay County is highest at $78,986 and Franklin County lowest at $60,195.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | - | $68,365 | $857/mo | 70% |
| Webster County, NE | 23 mi | $64,347 | $647/mo | 81% |
| Kearney County, NE | 24 mi | $78,631 | $857/mo | 77% |
| Clay County, NE | 24 mi | $78,986 | $645/mo | 82% |
| Hall County, NE | 24 mi | $69,251 | $943/mo | 62% |
| Nuckolls County, NE | 34 mi | $73,976 | $585/mo | 83% |
| Franklin County, NE | 34 mi | $60,195 | $691/mo | 83% |
Adams County towns compared
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Adams County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 27,353 people, so roughly 12% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $64,048 in Hastings to $92,639 in Kenesaw. No Adams County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings | city | 25,008 | $64,048 | $858 | 8 mi |
| Kenesaw | village | 902 | $92,639 | $766 | 11 mi |
| Juniata | village | 750 | $64,500 | $835 | 5 mi |
| Roseland | village | 306 | $85,156 | $705 | 5 mi |
| Holstein | village | 185 | $69,545 | $500 | 9 mi |
| Ayr | village | 126 | $76,250 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Prosser | village | 76 | $56,250 | n/a | 12 mi |
$5,697 a month: the Adams County median budget
Here is the Adams County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $68,365 a year is $5,697 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $857, takes 15% of that
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,593 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $857, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Adams County, in numbers
Bachelor's degree or higher: 30% of Adams County adults. The uninsured rate is 5.8%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Measure | Adams County | Gap to Nebraska | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 4.6% | -6.5 pts | -4.1 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.6% | -5.0 pts | +7.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | +2.1 pts | -0.5 pts |
| Median age | 38.7 | +1.5 yrs | -2.8 yrs |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | -1.4 pts | -2.1 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | -0.8 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.4% | -0.6 pts | -2.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | -0.4 pts | n/a |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 57.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.6% |
| 60+ min | 2.3% |
What the numbers mean for Adams County borrowers
Adams County-specific points to check:
- 52% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Before you sign
Quick steps for Adams County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Nebraska.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Adams County residents
Adams County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. State-level detail for Adams County borrowers is in the Nebraska guide.
Other Nebraska guides
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Adams County rank on income in Nebraska?
49th of 93, with a median of $68,365. The state median is $76,475.
What do renters pay in Adams County?
$857 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Adams County?
By population: Hastings, Kenesaw, Juniata, Roseland, Holstein. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Adams County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Adams County check a lender's license?
With the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.