1st Advantage MortgageFurnas County households have a median income of $61,048 and median rent of $763 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Nebraska before sharing details.
On this page
- Furnas County by the numbers
- Furnas County housing compared with Nebraska
- What Furnas County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Furnas County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Furnas County
- How Furnas County compares with nearby counties
- Furnas County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Furnas County borrowers
- What a median Furnas County budget can carry
- Licensing and complaints for Furnas County
- Four steps for Furnas County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Furnas County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Furnas County's population at 4,568; only 56 of Nebraska's 93 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 719 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 6 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Furnas County is not part of any metropolitan area. Cambridge is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 1,082 people (24% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Furnas County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Furnas County housing compared with Nebraska
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $763 in Furnas County versus $1,072 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. With a median value of $98,400, a typical Furnas County house costs 1.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 76%. The median home was built in 1949, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Furnas County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $763/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $98,400 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Furnas 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.
What Furnas County households earn
Furnas County households have a median income of $61,048 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 74th of 93 in Nebraska.
| Band | Furnas County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.9% | +11.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.3% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.4% | -7.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Furnas County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.0%, 2 points higher than the state's 10.6%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Furnas County
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 17%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Furnas County averages 1.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Furnas County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.7% | +3.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 16.9% | +12.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +1.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.8% | -1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 5.5% | -1.6 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Furnas County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Furnas County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 3,161 people, so roughly 31% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $56,354 in Beaver City to $61,528 in Cambridge. Rent is cheapest in Beaver City ($703) and steepest in Arapahoe ($838). No Furnas County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | city | 1,082 | $61,528 | $771 | 15 mi |
| Arapahoe | city | 993 | $57,188 | $838 | 8 mi |
| Beaver City | city | 547 | $56,354 | $703 | 6 mi |
| Holbrook | village | 273 | $63,750 | $1,089 | 9 mi |
| Edison | village | 147 | $60,063 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Wilsonville | village | 98 | $61,250 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Hendley | village | 21 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
How Furnas County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Gosper County at 22 miles out to Frontier County at 35. Income ranges from $54,050 in Norton County to $77,500 in Gosper County; 5 of these neighbors top Furnas County's median. The list crosses into Kansas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furnas County | - | $61,048 | $763/mo | 76% |
| Gosper County, NE | 22 mi | $77,500 | $664/mo | 81% |
| Harlan County, NE | 27 mi | $70,625 | $657/mo | 86% |
| Norton County, KS | 28 mi | $54,050 | $609/mo | 76% |
| Red Willow County, NE | 30 mi | $63,697 | $819/mo | 73% |
| Phelps County, NE | 35 mi | $68,919 | $815/mo | 68% |
| Frontier County, NE | 35 mi | $70,132 | $666/mo | 74% |
Furnas County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Furnas County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.9% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.2% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.0% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Furnas County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
What the numbers mean for Furnas County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Furnas County borrowers.
- Retirees. At a median age of 47.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Consolidating cards in Furnas County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
What a median Furnas County budget can carry
How much room does a median Furnas County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,087 gross per month ($61,048 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $763, takes 15% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $1,831 total minus rent leaves $1,068
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,425 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Licensing and complaints for Furnas County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Furnas County resident can confirm its license with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Nebraska guide.
Four steps for Furnas County borrowers
A short checklist for Furnas County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Furnas County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Nebraska license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Furnas County?
$61,048 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,475 for Nebraska. It ranks 74th of 93 in the state.
Is Furnas County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $763 against $1,072 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Cambridge?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Furnas County, such as Arapahoe, Beaver City, Holbrook.
Are Furnas County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Furnas County residents?
The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance licenses consumer lenders in Nebraska; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.