1st Advantage MortgageThe median Boone County household earns $74,947, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Boone County
- Household income in Boone County
- Renting and owning in Boone County
- Employment and commuting in Boone County
- Places inside Boone County
- How Boone County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Boone County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Boone County
- Boone County households compared
- Licensing and complaints for Boone County
- A Boone County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Boone County
With an estimated 5,356 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Boone County ranks 52nd of 93 in Nebraska for population. Spread over 687 square miles, that works out to roughly 7.8 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Boone County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (5 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Albion, with about 1,822 residents, or 34% of the county. With so few households sampled, Boone County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Household income in Boone County
The median household income in Boone County is $74,947; statewide it is $76,475, so Boone County runs 2% below Nebraska as a whole. Only 21 Nebraska counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Boone County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.7% | -2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.9% | +5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | -1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -2.8 pts |
Some 19% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 9.6% of Boone County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.433 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Boone County median.
Renting and owning in Boone County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $850 in Boone County versus $1,072 statewide. 35% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 11% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $173,700, about 2.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 82%. Median construction year: 1957.
| Cost | Boone County | Nebraska figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $850/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $173,700 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.6% | 2.9% | n/a |
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).
Employment and commuting in Boone County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 20%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 20% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Boone County workers | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | -2.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 20.4% | +16.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | -0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.1% | -1.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Places inside Boone County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Boone County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 3,459 people, so roughly 35% of residents live outside any named place. No Boone County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion | city | 1,822 | $74,492 | $705 | 4 mi |
| St. Edward | city | 588 | $53,587 | $914 | 14 mi |
| Cedar Rapids | village | 493 | $54,519 | $768 | 11 mi |
| Petersburg | village | 397 | $87,625 | $800 | 10 mi |
| Loretto | CDP | 99 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Primrose | village | 60 | $75,625 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Raeville | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
How Boone County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 21 to 33 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Platte County leads the group on income ($71,552), Madison County trails ($63,128), and Boone County out-earns 6 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | - | $74,947 | $850/mo | 82% |
| Nance County, NE | 21 mi | $65,179 | $807/mo | 73% |
| Greeley County, NE | 26 mi | $63,929 | $613/mo | 82% |
| Wheeler County, NE | 28 mi | $70,250 | $509/mo | 78% |
| Madison County, NE | 28 mi | $63,128 | $881/mo | 65% |
| Platte County, NE | 30 mi | $71,552 | $897/mo | 72% |
| Antelope County, NE | 33 mi | $66,105 | $692/mo | 79% |
What a median Boone County budget can carry
How much room does a median Boone County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,246 before taxes
- 14% goes to median rent ($850)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,398 a month
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,836 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Boone County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Boone County borrowers.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Boone County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Boone County households compared
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. About 3% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Boone County | Nebraska | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.7% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.4% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.2% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Boone County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Licensing and complaints for Boone County
Consumer lenders serving Boone County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Nebraska that is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Nebraska guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Boone County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Boone County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Boone County household make?
About $74,947 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 2% below the Nebraska median.
What do renters pay in Boone County?
$850 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Boone County?
By population: Albion, St. Edward, Cedar Rapids, Petersburg, Loretto. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Will a Boone County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Nebraska as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Boone 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.