1st Advantage MortgageBrown County households have a median income of $54,676 and median rent of $876 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Brown County
- Income in Brown County compared with Nebraska
- Jobs and commutes in Brown County
- Brown County housing compared with Nebraska
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Brown County towns compared
- What a median Brown County budget can carry
- Brown County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Brown County
- Lender oversight for Brown County
- Steps before you apply in Brown County
- More guides for Brown County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Brown County
Roughly 2,869 residents live in Brown County, Nebraska, 66th by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 1,221 square miles, that works out to roughly 2.3 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Brown County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 3 Census places inside Brown County, Ainsworth leads by population with about 1,697; 3 of the 3 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Brown County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Brown County compared with Nebraska
Half of Brown County households take in less than $54,676 a year and half take in more, 29% below the Nebraska median of $76,475. In the state ranking that is 89th of 93.
| Household income | Brown County | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +11.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.5% | +5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.6% | -14.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -2.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Brown County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. Census counts 13.4% of Brown County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. A household earning below the $54,676 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Brown County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 21%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 21% locally and 4% for Nebraska. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.7% in Brown County. 4% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.7% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | Brown County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 21.2% | +17.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.9% | -2.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Brown County housing compared with Nebraska
Renters in Brown County pay a median of $876 a month, 18% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. By the Census definition, 58% of Brown County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $113,900, or 2.1 years of median income. The ownership rate is 74%. The median home was built in 1959, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Brown County | Nebraska | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $876/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $113,900 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 23% | 8% | 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). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (26 to 59 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Brown County; Loup County is highest at $71,667 and Rock County lowest at $58,125.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown County | - | $54,676 | $876/mo | 74% |
| Rock County, NE | 26 mi | $58,125 | $644/mo | 69% |
| Blaine County, NE | 30 mi | $69,583 | $873/mo | 74% |
| Keya Paha County, NE | 37 mi | $64,000 | $875/mo | 81% |
| Loup County, NE | 38 mi | $71,667 | $688/mo | 73% |
| Thomas County, NE | 46 mi | $65,000 | $638/mo | 68% |
| Holt County, NE | 59 mi | $68,513 | $714/mo | 72% |
Brown County towns compared
3 Census places fall mainly inside Brown County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 2,072 residents, leaving about 28% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Brown County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ainsworth | city | 1,697 | $53,490 | $807 | 13 mi |
| Long Pine | city | 363 | $45,625 | $931 | 17 mi |
| Johnstown | village | 12 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
What a median Brown County budget can carry
Brown County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $54,676 a year is $4,556 of gross monthly income
- 19% goes to median rent ($876)
- $764: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $1,959 total minus rent leaves $1,083
If your rent is above $876, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Brown County households compared
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.5%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Brown County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.0% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.7% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Brown County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 75.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 2.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.6% |
| 60+ min | 3.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Brown County
Where the Brown County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Fixed incomes. Brown County's median age is 45.7. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent squeeze. 58% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Brown County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Lender oversight for Brown County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Brown County resident can confirm its license with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Brown County
Quick steps for Brown County:
- Price the Brown County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Brown County
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Brown County household make?
About $54,676 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 29% below the Nebraska median.
What do renters pay in Brown County?
$876 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
I own my home in Brown County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Brown County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Ainsworth, Long Pine, Johnstown.
Are Brown County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.