1st Advantage MortgageThe median Frontier County household earns $70,132, and 11% 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
- Frontier County by the numbers
- How much Frontier County households make
- Frontier County housing compared with Nebraska
- Employment and commuting in Frontier County
- Regional comparison for Frontier County
- Frontier County towns compared
- People and households in Frontier County
- Local borrowing considerations for Frontier County
- Debt-to-income at Frontier County's medians
- Nebraska rules that apply in Frontier County
- A Frontier County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Frontier County by the numbers
Frontier County is home to about 2,569 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 70th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Land area is 975 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Frontier County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Curtis, with about 769 residents, or 30% of the county. With so few households sampled, Frontier County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How much Frontier County households make
Frontier County households have a median income of $70,132 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 38th of 93 in Nebraska.
| Household income | Frontier County | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.9% | +4.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.8% | -0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -6.7 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 11.4%, 1 point higher than the state's 10.6%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Frontier County median.
Frontier County housing compared with Nebraska
Renters in Frontier County pay a median of $666 a month, 38% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. Home values center on $149,800, or 2.1 years of median income. Owners occupy 74% of homes. Median construction year: 1956.
| Frontier County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $666/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $149,800 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Frontier 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.
Employment and commuting in Frontier County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Frontier County residents work in education and health care and 19% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (19% against 4%). The survey's unemployment rate for Frontier County averages 2.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 2.0% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Frontier County workers | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | -0.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 19.3% | +15.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Public administration | 6.3% | +2.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Regional comparison for Frontier County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Frontier County's, from 25 to 40 miles away. Gosper County leads the group on income ($77,500), Furnas County trails ($61,048), and Frontier County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier County | - | $70,132 | $666/mo | 74% |
| Red Willow County, NE | 25 mi | $63,697 | $819/mo | 73% |
| Gosper County, NE | 31 mi | $77,500 | $664/mo | 81% |
| Hayes County, NE | 34 mi | $69,250 | $508/mo | 68% |
| Furnas County, NE | 35 mi | $61,048 | $763/mo | 76% |
| Dawson County, NE | 39 mi | $69,880 | $925/mo | 66% |
| Lincoln County, NE | 40 mi | $65,148 | $900/mo | 66% |
Frontier County towns compared
5 Census places fall mainly inside Frontier County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 1,545 residents, leaving about 40% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Frontier County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curtis | city | 769 | $58,750 | $590 | 9 mi |
| Eustis | village | 431 | $88,750 | $1,028 | 22 mi |
| Maywood | village | 266 | $71,250 | $825 | 14 mi |
| Moorefield | village | 40 | $36,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Stockville | village | 39 | n/a | n/a | 1 mi |
People and households in Frontier County
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Frontier County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.7% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Frontier County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.5% |
Local borrowing considerations for Frontier County
What the Frontier County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Debt-to-income at Frontier County's medians
Frontier County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,844 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $666 uses 11%
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,672 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Nebraska rules that apply in Frontier County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Frontier County borrowers answers to 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.
A Frontier County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Frontier County residents:
- Price the Frontier County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Nebraska license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Frontier County earn?
The median is $70,132; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Frontier County rent compare with Nebraska?
$666 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 38% below.
I own my home in Frontier County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Curtis?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Frontier County, such as Eustis, Maywood, Moorefield.
Is the fit check different in Frontier County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.