1st Advantage MortgageIn Boyd County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $67,045 a year and the typical rent is $713. 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
- Boyd County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Boyd County
- Household income in Boyd County
- Jobs and commutes in Boyd County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Boyd County
- Regional comparison for Boyd County
- Budget math at the Boyd County median
- Boyd County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Boyd County
- A Boyd County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Boyd County
- More guides for Boyd County
- Frequently asked questions
Boyd County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Boyd County's population at 1,688; only 78 of Nebraska's 93 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 539 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Boyd County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 8 Census places inside Boyd County, Spencer leads by population with about 312; 8 of the 8 are incorporated. Because Boyd County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Renting and owning in Boyd County
Renters in Boyd County pay a median of $713 a month, 33% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. 30% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. With a median value of $104,000, a typical Boyd County house costs 1.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 86%.
| Boyd County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $713/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $104,000 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 42% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 38% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Boyd County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Household income in Boyd County
Boyd County households have a median income of $67,045 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 54th of 93 in Nebraska.
| Households earning | Boyd County | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.9% | 0.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.6% | +0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -4.3 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 9.7%, 1 point lower than the state's 10.6%. For a borrower in Boyd County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Boyd County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 18% locally and 4% for Nebraska. The survey's unemployment rate for Boyd County averages 2.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). About 72% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Boyd County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | +1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 18.0% | +13.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 13.4% | +7.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Other services | 6.0% | +1.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Boyd County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Boyd County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 917 residents, leaving about 46% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Boyd County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer | village | 312 | $58,667 | $713 | 4 mi |
| Butte | village | 273 | $54,063 | $613 | 4 mi |
| Lynch | village | 137 | $38,214 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Naper | village | 117 | $36,250 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Bristow | village | 55 | $48,125 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Anoka | village | 11 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Gross | village | 10 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Monowi | village | 2 | n/a | n/a | 23 mi |
Regional comparison for Boyd County
Charles Mix County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Rock County, is 48 miles off. Income ranges from $58,125 in Rock County to $86,442 in Douglas County; 2 of these neighbors top Boyd County's median. The list crosses into South Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyd County | - | $67,045 | $713/mo | 86% |
| Charles Mix County, SD | 23 mi | $64,038 | $704/mo | 72% |
| Gregory County, SD | 29 mi | $62,917 | $614/mo | 77% |
| Holt County, NE | 30 mi | $68,513 | $714/mo | 72% |
| Douglas County, SD | 40 mi | $86,442 | $877/mo | 77% |
| Bon Homme County, SD | 45 mi | $64,435 | $646/mo | 80% |
| Rock County, NE | 48 mi | $58,125 | $644/mo | 69% |
Budget math at the Boyd County median
How much room does a median Boyd County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Boyd County: $5,587
- Median rent: $713, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,242 a month
- Under a 45% cap, $2,514 total minus rent leaves $1,801
If your rent is above $713, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Boyd County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 7.3%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Boyd County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.3% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.6% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.3% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 0.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
Before borrowing in Boyd County
Based on the Boyd County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Mobile home upkeep. 15% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Older households. A 52.2 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
A Boyd County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Nebraska.
- Ask a Boyd County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Boyd County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Boyd County, check the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
More guides for Boyd County
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Boyd County household make?
About $67,045 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 12% below the Nebraska median.
How much is rent in Boyd County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $713 a month; 30% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Boyd County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Spencer, Butte, Lynch, Naper, Bristow.
Will a Boyd County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Nebraska as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Boyd 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.