1st Advantage MortgageIn Dodge County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $74,329 a year and the typical rent is $1,060. 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
- Dodge County by the numbers
- Work, industries and travel time in Dodge County
- What Dodge County households earn
- Housing costs in Dodge County
- Dodge County towns compared
- The counties around Dodge County
- A Dodge County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Dodge County
- Borrowing situations common in Dodge County
- Checklist for Dodge County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
- More guides for Dodge County
- Frequently asked questions
Dodge County by the numbers
Roughly 37,351 residents live in Dodge County, Nebraska, 6th by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 529 square miles, that is close to 71 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (10 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Fremont, with about 27,567 residents, or 74% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Dodge County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Dodge County residents work in education and health care and 20% in manufacturing. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 10%). The survey's unemployment rate for Dodge County averages 3.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.9% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Sector | Dodge County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.9% | -2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.7% | +9.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Dodge County households earn
Dodge County households have a median income of $74,329 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 24th of 93 in Nebraska.
| Households earning | Dodge County | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.5% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.0% | +4.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.1% | +0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -4.0 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.0% of Dodge County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.405 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Dodge County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Dodge County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,060 in Dodge County versus $1,072 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 34% of renter households here. With a median value of $208,600, a typical Dodge County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 67% of Dodge County households own their home and 33% rent.
| Measure | Dodge County | Nebraska | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,060/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $208,600 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.9% | 2.9% | n/a |
Dodge County towns compared
11 Census places fall mainly inside Dodge County; the 11 biggest are below. They account for 32,557 residents, leaving about 13% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $58,889 in Scribner to $155,080 in Nickerson. Median rent ranges from $925 in Nickerson to $1,315 in North Bend. Live in one of these Dodge County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fremont | city | 27,567 | $71,152 | $1,080 | 13 mi |
| North Bend | city | 1,152 | $85,882 | $1,315 | 11 mi |
| Hooper | city | 989 | $77,865 | $931 | 6 mi |
| Scribner | city | 725 | $58,889 | $995 | 6 mi |
| Nickerson | village | 552 | $155,080 | $925 | 10 mi |
| Inglewood | village | 511 | $66,875 | $1,167 | 13 mi |
| Dodge | village | 446 | $59,688 | $575 | 16 mi |
| Snyder | village | 293 | $87,917 | $933 | 11 mi |
| Uehling | village | 244 | $61,429 | $1,308 | 13 mi |
| Winslow | village | 69 | $71,169 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Ames | CDP | 9 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
The counties around Dodge County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Washington County leads the group on income ($94,396), Burt County trails ($63,685), and Dodge County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge County | - | $74,329 | $1,060/mo | 67% |
| Washington County, NE | 22 mi | $94,396 | $965/mo | 83% |
| Colfax County, NE | 23 mi | $82,530 | $980/mo | 76% |
| Saunders County, NE | 24 mi | $94,066 | $960/mo | 82% |
| Cuming County, NE | 25 mi | $71,104 | $789/mo | 69% |
| Burt County, NE | 25 mi | $63,685 | $708/mo | 75% |
| Douglas County, NE | 32 mi | $80,391 | $1,201/mo | 62% |
A Dodge County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Dodge County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $6,194 a month: gross income for a household at the Dodge County median
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,060)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,170 a month
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,603 a month
If your rent is above $1,060, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Dodge County
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 6.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Dodge County | Nebraska | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.0% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.6% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Dodge County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Dodge County
Based on the Dodge County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Dodge County borrower sees (free reports).
Checklist for Dodge County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Dodge County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Nebraska.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
Consumer lenders serving Dodge County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Nebraska that is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Nebraska guide.
More guides for Dodge County
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Dodge County earn?
The median is $74,329; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Dodge County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,060 against $1,072 statewide, and 34% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Fremont?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Dodge County, such as North Bend, Hooper, Scribner.
Will a Dodge County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Nebraska as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Dodge 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.