1st Advantage MortgageBurt County households have a median income of $63,685 and median rent of $708 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Who lives in Burt County
- Household income in Burt County
- What it costs to live in Burt County
- Work, industries and travel time in Burt County
- Counties near Burt County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Burt County
- Room for a loan payment in Burt County
- Reading the Burt County data as a borrower
- More Burt County figures
- Steps before you apply in Burt County
- Lender oversight for Burt County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Burt County
Burt County is home to about 6,740 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 42nd most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Spread over 492 square miles, that works out to roughly 13.7 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 5 Census places inside Burt County, Tekamah leads by population with about 1,690; 5 of the 5 are incorporated. Because Burt County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Household income in Burt County
The median household income in Burt County is $63,685; statewide it is $76,475, so Burt County runs 17% below Nebraska as a whole. That places it 67th among Nebraska's 93 county-level areas.
| Household income | Burt County | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.2% | +6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.4% | +1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.9% | -4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -4.0 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. 13.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). For a borrower in Burt 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.
What it costs to live in Burt County
Renters in Burt County pay a median of $708 a month, 34% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 11% spend half or more. Home values center on $147,000, or 2.3 years of median income. Owners occupy 75% of homes.
| Housing | Burt County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $708/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $147,000 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.3% | 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).
Work, industries and travel time in Burt County
The biggest employer of Burt County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 13% locally and 4% for Nebraska. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 71% drive to work alone and 23% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 5.8% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Top industries | Burt County share | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | -2.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.4% | +9.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.8% | 0.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near Burt County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Burt County's, from 23 to 29 miles away. Washington County leads the group on income ($94,396), Monona County trails ($68,377), and Burt County out-earns 0 of the six. Some neighbors are in Iowa. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Burt County resident follows Nebraska rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burt County | - | $63,685 | $708/mo | 75% |
| Washington County, NE | 23 mi | $94,396 | $965/mo | 83% |
| Thurston County, NE | 23 mi | $69,177 | $699/mo | 61% |
| Cuming County, NE | 24 mi | $71,104 | $789/mo | 69% |
| Monona County, IA | 24 mi | $68,377 | $855/mo | 76% |
| Dodge County, NE | 25 mi | $74,329 | $1,060/mo | 67% |
| Harrison County, IA | 29 mi | $79,535 | $849/mo | 77% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Burt County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Burt County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 4,737 people, so roughly 30% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $45,129 in Lyons to $68,900 in Oakland. Live in one of these Burt County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tekamah | city | 1,690 | $57,074 | $638 | 8 mi |
| Oakland | city | 1,552 | $68,900 | $720 | 7 mi |
| Lyons | city | 900 | $45,129 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Decatur | village | 482 | $55,313 | $595 | 11 mi |
| Craig | village | 113 | $46,071 | n/a | 5 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Burt County
How much room does a median Burt 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: $5,307 before taxes
- Median rent: $708, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $1,857 total minus rent leaves $1,149
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,680 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Reading the Burt County data as a borrower
Where the Burt County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 23% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 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).
More Burt County figures
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 7.5%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Measure | Burt County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.9% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.9% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.1% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Burt County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.3% |
| 60+ min | 9.1% |
Steps before you apply in Burt County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Burt County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Nebraska borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Burt County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Burt County, check the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Nebraska guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Burt County household make?
About $63,685 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 17% below the Nebraska median.
Is Burt County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $708 against $1,072 statewide, and 39% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Burt County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Burt County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Burt County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Tekamah, Oakland, Lyons, Decatur, Craig.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Burt County or elsewhere in Nebraska, the same rules apply.