1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Colfax County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $82,530. 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
- Colfax County by the numbers
- Employment and commuting in Colfax County
- Paychecks and income spread in Colfax County
- Renting and owning in Colfax County
- Colfax County towns compared
- The counties around Colfax County
- Colfax County households compared
- Reading the Colfax County data as a borrower
- A Colfax County household budget, worked through
- Four steps for Colfax County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Colfax County by the numbers
Colfax County is home to about 10,641 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 23rd most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. It covers 411 square miles of land, or about 26 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Colfax County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Schuyler, with about 6,578 residents, or 62% of the county.
Employment and commuting in Colfax County
By the Census industry count, 39% of employed Colfax County residents work in manufacturing and 14% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 39% of workers here, versus 10% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 77% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 0.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Colfax County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 39.4% | +29.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.3% | -10.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.8% | -1.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.1% | +2.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.2% | -0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 4.8% | -2.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Colfax County
Half of Colfax County households take in less than $82,530 a year and half take in more, 8% above the Nebraska median of $76,475. That places it 6th among Nebraska's 93 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Colfax County | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.2% | -7.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.2% | +8.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.6% | +1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | -2.5 pts |
Some 13% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 6.9% of Colfax County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.381 (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 Colfax County median.
Renting and owning in Colfax County
A typical Colfax County rental runs $980 a month including utilities, which is 9% below Nebraska. By the Census definition, 16% of Colfax County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $144,700, or 1.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 76% of homes. Median construction year: 1967.
| Colfax County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $980/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $144,700 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 16% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 22% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Colfax 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.
Colfax County towns compared
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 78% of Colfax County residents live in one of the 6. Howells has the highest median household income on the list ($80,938) and Clarkson the lowest ($60,682), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schuyler | city | 6,578 | $80,399 | $1,049 | 9 mi |
| Clarkson | city | 600 | $60,682 | $488 | 10 mi |
| Howells | village | 517 | $80,938 | $588 | 11 mi |
| Leigh | village | 443 | $63,500 | $805 | 12 mi |
| Rogers | village | 99 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Richland | village | 55 | $50,625 | n/a | 12 mi |
The counties around Colfax County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Saunders County leads the group on income ($94,066), Cuming County trails ($71,104), and Colfax County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colfax County | - | $82,530 | $980/mo | 76% |
| Platte County, NE | 22 mi | $71,552 | $897/mo | 72% |
| Dodge County, NE | 23 mi | $74,329 | $1,060/mo | 67% |
| Stanton County, NE | 23 mi | $80,687 | $902/mo | 78% |
| Butler County, NE | 24 mi | $79,268 | $776/mo | 80% |
| Cuming County, NE | 28 mi | $71,104 | $789/mo | 69% |
| Saunders County, NE | 34 mi | $94,066 | $960/mo | 82% |
Colfax County households compared
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Colfax County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.8% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 20.6% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.2% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 0.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.3% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Colfax County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.2% |
Reading the Colfax County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Colfax County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 12% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Colfax County borrower sees (free reports).
A Colfax County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Colfax County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $82,530 a year is $6,878 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $980 uses 14%
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,427 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $2,115 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Four steps for Colfax County borrowers
A short checklist for Colfax County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Nebraska license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Colfax County, check the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Nebraska state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Colfax County earn?
The median is $82,530; 37% earn $100,000 or more and 13% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Colfax County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $980 against $1,072 statewide, and 16% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Colfax County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Colfax County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Colfax County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Schuyler, Clarkson, Howells, Leigh, Rogers.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Colfax County or elsewhere in Nebraska, the same rules apply.