1st Advantage MortgageThe median Garfield County household earns $62,804, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Garfield County
- Housing costs in Garfield County
- Income in Garfield County compared with Nebraska
- Work, industries and travel time in Garfield County
- The communities that make up Garfield County
- Regional comparison for Garfield County
- A Garfield County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Garfield County borrowers
- Who lives in Garfield County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
- Four steps for Garfield County borrowers
- More guides for Garfield County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Garfield County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Garfield County's population at 1,718; only 77 of Nebraska's 93 county-level areas are larger. It covers 569 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Burwell, with about 848 residents, or 49% of the county. With so few households sampled, Garfield County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Housing costs in Garfield County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $490 in Garfield County versus $1,072 statewide. By the Census definition, 31% of Garfield County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $176,600, or 2.8 years of median income. 76% of Garfield County households own their home and 24% rent.
| Home costs | Garfield County | Nebraska | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $490/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $176,600 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 13.1% | 2.9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Garfield 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.
Income in Garfield County compared with Nebraska
Garfield County households have a median income of $62,804 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 71st of 93 in Nebraska.
| Household income | Garfield County | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.8% | +5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.9% | +9.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.5% | -8.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.7 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 8.8% of Garfield County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. A household earning below the $62,804 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Garfield County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 14% locally and 4% for Nebraska. The survey's unemployment rate for Garfield County averages 2.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home. 6.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Garfield County share | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | +0.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.4% | +10.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 9.7% | +5.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.6% | -2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -0.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Garfield County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The communities that make up Garfield County
Burwell is the only Census place mainly inside Garfield County, with about 848 of the county's 1,718 residents. Live in one of these Garfield County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burwell | city | 848 | $51,250 | $460 | 13 mi |
Regional comparison for Garfield County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Garfield County's, from 22 to 41 miles away. Loup County leads the group on income ($71,667), Rock County trails ($58,125), and Garfield County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield County | - | $62,804 | $490/mo | 76% |
| Wheeler County, NE | 22 mi | $70,250 | $509/mo | 78% |
| Valley County, NE | 24 mi | $61,852 | $626/mo | 74% |
| Loup County, NE | 29 mi | $71,667 | $688/mo | 73% |
| Greeley County, NE | 32 mi | $63,929 | $613/mo | 82% |
| Holt County, NE | 39 mi | $68,513 | $714/mo | 72% |
| Rock County, NE | 41 mi | $58,125 | $644/mo | 69% |
A Garfield County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Garfield County's medians:
- $62,804 a year is $5,234 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $490 uses 9%
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,342 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,865 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Garfield County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Garfield County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Garfield County borrowers.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Garfield County's median age is 47.7. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Who lives in Garfield County, in numbers
College graduates make up 30% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.6%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| People and households | Garfield County | Nebraska | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.7% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.3% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.6% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Garfield County borrowers answers to the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
Four steps for Garfield County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Nebraska borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Garfield County
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Garfield County earn?
The median is $62,804; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Garfield County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $490 a month; 31% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Garfield County?
By population: Burwell. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Can Garfield County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Nebraska county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Garfield County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Nebraska it is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance.