1st Advantage MortgageIn Dixon County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $72,454 a year and the typical rent is $689. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Nebraska license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Dixon County
- Household income in Dixon County
- Housing costs in Dixon County
- The Dixon County job picture
- The counties around Dixon County
- Places inside Dixon County
- Room for a loan payment in Dixon County
- Who lives in Dixon County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Dixon County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Dixon County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Dixon County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Dixon County
Dixon County is home to about 5,545 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 49th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Land area is 476 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 12 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Dixon County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (8 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Ponca, with about 727 residents, or 13% of the county. Because Dixon County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Household income in Dixon County
The median household income in Dixon County is $72,454; statewide it is $76,475, so Dixon County runs 5% below Nebraska as a whole.
| Household income | Dixon County | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.2% | +2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.5% | +1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -4.4 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 7.3%, 3 points lower than the state's 10.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.475 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Dixon County median.
Housing costs in Dixon County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $689 in Dixon County versus $1,072 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 33% of renter households here. Home values center on $155,900, or 2.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 77% of homes. The median home was built in 1950, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Dixon County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $689/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $155,900 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.8% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Dixon County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
The Dixon County job picture
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Dixon County residents work in education and health care and 19% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 19% locally and 10% for Nebraska. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.4% in Dixon County. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 1.6% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Dixon County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.2% | +3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.3% | +8.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.4% | +5.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.5% | -4.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.9% | -1.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Dixon County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The counties around Dixon County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (16 to 30 miles). Union County leads the group on income ($89,636), Clay County trails ($56,850), and Dixon County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in South Dakota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Dixon County resident follows Nebraska rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon County | - | $72,454 | $689/mo | 77% |
| Dakota County, NE | 16 mi | $70,329 | $1,069/mo | 64% |
| Cedar County, NE | 22 mi | $73,578 | $716/mo | 80% |
| Wayne County, NE | 23 mi | $66,215 | $800/mo | 61% |
| Union County, SD | 26 mi | $89,636 | $1,069/mo | 73% |
| Thurston County, NE | 28 mi | $69,177 | $699/mo | 61% |
| Clay County, SD | 30 mi | $56,850 | $770/mo | 51% |
Places inside Dixon County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Dixon County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 2,034 people, so roughly 63% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponca | city | 727 | $57,188 | $505 | 9 mi |
| Allen | village | 468 | $59,464 | $644 | 5 mi |
| Newcastle | village | 376 | $83,438 | $713 | 12 mi |
| Concord | village | 143 | $81,429 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Waterbury | village | 95 | $127,750 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Dixon | village | 78 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Maskell | village | 76 | $61,250 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Martinsburg | village | 71 | $57,083 | n/a | 2 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Dixon County
Here is the Dixon County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,038 a month: gross income for a household at the Dixon County median
- 11% goes to median rent ($689)
- Under a 35% cap, $2,113 total minus rent leaves $1,424
- $2,028: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Dixon County, in numbers
23% of Dixon County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Dixon County | All of Nebraska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.4% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.1% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.2% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.4% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
What the numbers mean for Dixon County borrowers
What the Dixon County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- 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).
Lender oversight for Dixon County
Dixon County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Nebraska guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Dixon County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Nebraska license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Dixon County
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dixon County a high-income county?
Its $72,454 median ranks 29th of 93 Nebraska counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Dixon County rent compare with Nebraska?
$689 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 36% below.
I live in a small Dixon County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Ponca, Allen, Newcastle, Concord, Waterbury and 3 more.
Is the fit check different in Dixon County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Dixon County check a lender's license?
With the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.