1st Advantage MortgageThe median Dawes County household earns $56,280, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Dawes County by the numbers
- How much Dawes County households make
- How Dawes County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Dawes County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Dawes County
- Debt-to-income at Dawes County's medians
- More Dawes County figures
- Reading the Dawes County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Dawes County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dawes County by the numbers
Roughly 8,140 residents live in Dawes County, Nebraska, 36th by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 1,396 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 6 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Dawes County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 3 Census places inside Dawes County, Chadron leads by population with about 5,160; 3 of the 3 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Dawes County figure on this page as a rough guide.
How much Dawes County households make
At $56,280, the typical Dawes County household income is 14% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 88th of 93.
| Households earning | Dawes County | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.4% | +11.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.6% | -2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.4% | -3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.6% | -5.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Dawes County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. Census counts 13.1% of Dawes County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.466 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Dawes County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 39% of employed Dawes County residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 39% locally and 24% for Nebraska. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.6% in Dawes County. About 72% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Dawes County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 38.7% | +14.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | +1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 8.4% | +4.1 pts |
| Other services | 5.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.7% | +1.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Dawes County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Dawes County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $900 in Dawes County versus $1,072 statewide. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 39% spend half or more. With a median value of $150,900, a typical Dawes County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 62% of Dawes County households own their home and 38% rent. Median construction year: 1958.
| Dawes County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $900/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $150,900 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.3% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 8% | n/a |
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
Six nearby counties, 35 to 66 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Dawes County; Box Butte County is highest at $68,892 and Oglala Lakota County lowest at $41,417. The list crosses into South Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawes County | - | $56,280 | $900/mo | 62% |
| Sioux County, NE | 35 mi | $53,929 | $745/mo | 60% |
| Box Butte County, NE | 35 mi | $68,892 | $752/mo | 77% |
| Fall River County, SD | 40 mi | $67,917 | $931/mo | 72% |
| Sheridan County, NE | 41 mi | $60,121 | $738/mo | 74% |
| Oglala Lakota County, SD | 52 mi | $41,417 | $584/mo | 51% |
| Scotts Bluff County, NE | 66 mi | $63,614 | $909/mo | 69% |
Towns and communities in Dawes County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Dawes County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 6,084 people, so roughly 25% of residents live outside any named place. No Dawes County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chadron | city | 5,160 | $54,590 | $881 | 10 mi |
| Crawford | city | 878 | $51,528 | $625 | 14 mi |
| Whitney | village | 46 | $71,458 | n/a | 8 mi |
Debt-to-income at Dawes County's medians
How much room does a median Dawes County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,690 gross per month ($56,280 / 12)
- Median rent: $900, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,117 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Dawes County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Dawes County figures
College graduates make up 36% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 9.6%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Indicator | Dawes County | All of Nebraska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.2% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.1% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.6% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 70.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 11.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 4.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
Reading the Dawes County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Dawes County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Before you sign
Quick steps for Dawes County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Nebraska.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Dawes County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Dawes County, check the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Nebraska guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Dawes County?
$56,280 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,475 for Nebraska. It ranks 88th of 93 in the state.
How much is rent in Dawes County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $900 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Dawes County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Chadron, Crawford, Whitney.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Dawes County or elsewhere in Nebraska, the same rules apply.
Is there a Dawes County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Nebraska it is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance.