1st Advantage MortgageIn Box Butte County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $68,892 a year and the typical rent is $752. 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
- Box Butte County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Box Butte County
- Household income in Box Butte County
- Renting and owning in Box Butte County
- Box Butte County and the counties next door
- Places inside Box Butte County
- More Box Butte County figures
- Before borrowing in Box Butte County
- Budget math at the Box Butte County median
- Who licenses lenders for Box Butte County residents
- Four steps for Box Butte County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Box Butte County by the numbers
Roughly 10,714 residents live in Box Butte County, Nebraska, 22nd by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 1,075 square miles, that works out to roughly 10.0 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Box Butte County is not part of any metropolitan area. Alliance is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 8,075 people (75% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Box Butte County
Education and health care employs 18% of working residents, the largest share; transportation, warehousing and utilities is next with 15%. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward transportation, warehousing and utilities (15% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.6% in Box Butte County. Long commutes are the exception here: 4% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Box Butte County workers | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.7% | -6.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 14.9% | +8.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.7% | +3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -1.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Box Butte County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Household income in Box Butte County
Box Butte County households have a median income of $68,892 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 47th of 93 in Nebraska.
| Household income | Box Butte County | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.8% | +5.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.6% | +5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -4.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -6.0 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. 10.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Box Butte County median.
Renting and owning in Box Butte County
Renters in Box Butte County pay a median of $752 a month, 30% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. Home values center on $166,600, or 2.4 years of median income. 77% of Box Butte County households own their home and 23% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1965.
| Cost | Box Butte County | Nebraska figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $752/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $166,600 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.4% | 2.9% | n/a |
Because most Box Butte County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Box Butte County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 33 to 57 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $41,882 in Garden County to $63,614 in Scotts Bluff County; none of these neighbors top Box Butte County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Butte County | - | $68,892 | $752/mo | 77% |
| Morrill County, NE | 33 mi | $58,500 | $768/mo | 77% |
| Dawes County, NE | 35 mi | $56,280 | $900/mo | 62% |
| Sioux County, NE | 38 mi | $53,929 | $745/mo | 60% |
| Scotts Bluff County, NE | 40 mi | $63,614 | $909/mo | 69% |
| Sheridan County, NE | 42 mi | $60,121 | $738/mo | 74% |
| Garden County, NE | 57 mi | $41,882 | $700/mo | 79% |
Places inside Box Butte County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Box Butte County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 8,798 residents, leaving about 18% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | city | 8,075 | $65,160 | $694 | 13 mi |
| Hemingford | village | 714 | $70,667 | $813 | 8 mi |
| Berea | CDP | 9 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
More Box Butte County figures
19% of Box Butte County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Box Butte County | Nebraska | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.6% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.6% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Box Butte County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 74.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 1.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.3% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Before borrowing in Box Butte County
Where the Box Butte County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Budget math at the Box Butte County median
How much room does a median Box Butte County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $68,892 a year is $5,741 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $752, takes 13% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,257 a month
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,831 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who licenses lenders for Box Butte County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Box Butte County resident can confirm its license with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
Four steps for Box Butte County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Nebraska borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Box Butte County?
$68,892 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,475 for Nebraska. It ranks 47th of 93 in the state.
How does Box Butte County rent compare with Nebraska?
$752 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 30% below.
I live in a small Box Butte County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Alliance, Hemingford, Berea.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Box Butte County or elsewhere in Nebraska, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Box Butte County residents?
The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance licenses consumer lenders in Nebraska; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.