1st Advantage MortgageIn Fillmore County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $76,295 a year and the typical rent is $716. 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 Fillmore County
- What Fillmore County households earn
- Housing costs in Fillmore County
- The Fillmore County job picture
- Fillmore County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Fillmore County
- Budget math at the Fillmore County median
- More Fillmore County figures
- What the numbers mean for Fillmore County borrowers
- Four steps for Fillmore County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Fillmore County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Fillmore County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Fillmore County's population at 5,541; only 49 of Nebraska's 93 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 575 square miles, that works out to roughly 9.6 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Fillmore County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Fillmore County, Geneva leads by population with about 2,193; 8 of the 8 are incorporated. Because Fillmore County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What Fillmore County households earn
At $76,295, the typical Fillmore County household income is 16% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 19th of 93.
| Yearly household income | Fillmore County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.5% | -0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.0% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.0% | -0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -1.9 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.8%, 2 points lower than the state's 10.6%. For a borrower in Fillmore 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.
Housing costs in Fillmore County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $716 in Fillmore County versus $1,072 statewide. By the Census definition, 23% of Fillmore County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $151,000, about 2.0 times the median household income. 80% of Fillmore County households own their home and 20% rent.
| Measure | Fillmore County | Nebraska | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $716/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $151,000 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 23% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.8% | 2.9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Fillmore 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.
The Fillmore County job picture
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 12%. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (12% against 4%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 0.4% in Fillmore County. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 2.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Fillmore County workers | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.0% | -3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.3% | +1.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.0% | +7.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.2 pts |
| Other services | 8.4% | +3.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.9% | +0.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Fillmore County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Clay County at 24 miles out to Nuckolls County at 34. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Fillmore County; Hamilton County is highest at $83,994 and Thayer County lowest at $66,213.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fillmore County | - | $76,295 | $716/mo | 80% |
| Clay County, NE | 24 mi | $78,986 | $645/mo | 82% |
| York County, NE | 24 mi | $77,757 | $877/mo | 76% |
| Thayer County, NE | 24 mi | $66,213 | $766/mo | 78% |
| Saline County, NE | 24 mi | $79,910 | $914/mo | 76% |
| Hamilton County, NE | 33 mi | $83,994 | $794/mo | 83% |
| Nuckolls County, NE | 34 mi | $73,976 | $585/mo | 83% |
The communities that make up Fillmore County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Fillmore County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 4,361 people, so roughly 21% of residents live outside any named place. Geneva has the highest median household income on the list ($80,398) and Exeter the lowest ($62,917), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Fairmont ($685) and steepest in Exeter ($936). Live in one of these Fillmore County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva | city | 2,193 | $80,398 | $734 | 0 mi |
| Fairmont | village | 635 | $73,750 | $685 | 8 mi |
| Exeter | village | 562 | $62,917 | $936 | 11 mi |
| Shickley | village | 387 | $72,708 | $875 | 10 mi |
| Milligan | village | 296 | $65,357 | $650 | 11 mi |
| Grafton | village | 160 | $71,667 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Ohiowa | village | 105 | $42,500 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Strang | village | 23 | $100,000 | n/a | 8 mi |
Budget math at the Fillmore County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Fillmore County's medians:
- $6,358 a month: gross income for a household at the Fillmore County median
- Housing at the median rent of $716 uses 11%
- $1,509: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $2,145 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Fillmore County figures
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. 4.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Fillmore County | Nebraska | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.9% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.2% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.4% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Fillmore County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
What the numbers mean for Fillmore County borrowers
A few patterns in the Fillmore County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Fixed incomes. Fillmore County's median age is 46.1. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Four steps for Fillmore County borrowers
Quick steps for Fillmore County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Nebraska.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Fillmore County
Consumer lenders serving Fillmore County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Nebraska that is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
Related local guides
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Fillmore County earn?
The median is $76,295; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Fillmore County rent compare with Nebraska?
$716 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 33% below.
I live in a small Fillmore County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Geneva, Fairmont, Exeter, Shickley, Milligan and 3 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Fillmore County or elsewhere in Nebraska, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Fillmore 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.