Borrowing in Blaine County, NE: a county-level guide

Blaine County at a glance

The latest five-year Census estimate puts Blaine County's population at 422; only 92 of Nebraska's 93 county-level areas are larger. Blaine County spans 711 square miles; with 422 people, that is 0.6 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Blaine County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 2 Census places inside Blaine County, Dunning leads by population with about 78; 2 of the 2 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Blaine County estimates can move a lot between releases.

Work, industries and travel time in Blaine County

Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 36% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 17%. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (36% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 1.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 46% of Blaine County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 10% need 45 or more. No car: 2.5% of Blaine County households.

If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.

Renting and owning in Blaine County

Half of Blaine County renters pay more than $873 a month and half pay less; the Nebraska midpoint is $1,072. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 23% in Blaine County, 45% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $116,900, about 1.7 times the median household income. In Blaine County, 74% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1962.

Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).

Income in Blaine County compared with Nebraska

Half of Blaine County households take in less than $69,583 a year and half take in more, 9% below the Nebraska median of $76,475. In the state ranking that is 42nd of 93.

About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 20% clear $100,000. Blaine County counts about 38 residents below the poverty line, 9.0% of the population. A household earning below the $69,583 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.

Blaine County at the extremes

Ranked against the other 92 county-level areas in Nebraska, these are the Blaine County figures furthest from the middle.

• Few Nebraska counties match Blaine County on median age: 57.5 here, 37.2 for the state, ranking the highest of 93. Retirement income counts when documented; favor loans with no prepayment penalty.
• On the share of workers who work from home, Blaine County sits near the top of Nebraska at 21.7%, the highest of 93. Remote workers should have W-2s or contracts ready to show income.
• On the share of mobile homes, Blaine County sits near the top of Nebraska at 19.9%, 2nd highest of 93. Repairs on manufactured homes are a common loan purpose; get written quotes.
• Blaine County ranks the lowest of 93 Nebraska counties for population: 422, against 1,978,707 statewide. With few local branches, online lenders and statewide credit unions widen the choice.

The counties around Blaine County

The six counties whose centers lie closest to Blaine County's, from 25 to 43 miles away. Logan County leads the group on income ($74,271), Brown County trails ($54,676), and Blaine County out-earns 4 of the six.

Blaine County towns compared

Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 26% of Blaine County residents live in one of the 2. No Blaine County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.

People and households in Blaine County

Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.0%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.

Budget math at the Blaine County median

Here is the Blaine County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.

• Monthly gross at the median, Blaine County: $5,799
• 15% goes to median rent ($873)
• 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,214 left for all other debt payments
• 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,620 left for all other debt payments

Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Blaine County's.

Before borrowing in Blaine County

A few patterns in the Blaine County data, and the practical point behind each:

• Repairs on manufactured housing. With 20% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
• Fixed incomes. Blaine County's median age is 57.5. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
• Consolidating cards in Blaine County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).

Who licenses lenders for Blaine County residents

The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Nebraska license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Nebraska page has statewide figures to set beside Blaine County's.

Before you sign

Before you apply, wherever you live in Blaine County:

• Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
• Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
• Verify the Nebraska license before giving out your Social Security number.
• Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.

Nearby and statewide guides

The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.

• Nebraska state guide