1st Advantage MortgageHall County households have a median income of $69,251 and median rent of $943 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
- Getting oriented in Hall County
- Household income in Hall County
- The Hall County job picture
- Hall County housing compared with Nebraska
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Hall County
- Regional comparison for Hall County
- What a median Hall County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Hall County
- Hall County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Who licenses lenders for Hall County residents
- Checklist for Hall County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Hall County
Hall County is home to about 62,536 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 4th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Land area is 547 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 114 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Grand Island, NE metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Grand Island is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 52,884 people (85% of the county total).
Household income in Hall County
At $69,251, the typical Hall County household income is 5% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 42 Nebraska counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Hall County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.1% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -2.6 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. 14.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.454 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $69,251 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Hall County job picture
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Hall County residents work in manufacturing and 19% in education and health care. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 10%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Hall County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 20.0% | +9.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.9% | -5.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +2.2 pts |
| Construction | 9.2% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.8% | -3.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Hall County housing compared with Nebraska
A typical Hall County rental runs $943 a month including utilities, which is 12% below Nebraska. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. With a median value of $224,600, a typical Hall County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 62% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1975.
| Measure | Hall County | Nebraska | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $943/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $224,600 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.8% | 2.9% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Hall County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Hall County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 58,436 people, so roughly 7% of residents live outside any named place. Doniphan has the highest median household income on the list ($87,212) and Cairo the lowest ($54,511), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Wood River ($811) and steepest in Shelton ($1,114). No Hall County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island | city | 52,884 | $63,795 | $947 | 8 mi |
| Wood River | city | 1,494 | $75,417 | $811 | 6 mi |
| Shelton | village | 1,389 | $81,278 | $1,114 | 13 mi |
| Cairo | village | 1,035 | $54,511 | $821 | 11 mi |
| Doniphan | village | 983 | $87,212 | $950 | 9 mi |
| Alda | village | 651 | $57,500 | $958 | 2 mi |
Regional comparison for Hall County
Distances run center to center, from Adams County at 24 miles out to Clay County at 33. Hamilton County leads the group on income ($83,994), Merrick County trails ($68,354), and Hall County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hall County | - | $69,251 | $943/mo | 62% |
| Adams County, NE | 24 mi | $68,365 | $857/mo | 70% |
| Howard County, NE | 24 mi | $76,767 | $777/mo | 78% |
| Hamilton County, NE | 25 mi | $83,994 | $794/mo | 83% |
| Buffalo County, NE | 30 mi | $75,911 | $936/mo | 66% |
| Merrick County, NE | 32 mi | $68,354 | $750/mo | 82% |
| Clay County, NE | 33 mi | $78,986 | $645/mo | 82% |
What a median Hall County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Hall County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,771 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $943 uses 16%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,365 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $943, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Hall County
Based on the Hall County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 13% of Hall County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Rent squeeze. 47% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Hall County residents: age, schooling, coverage
21% of Hall County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Hall County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.5% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.8% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.9% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Hall County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Who licenses lenders for Hall County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Hall County borrowers answers to the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Nebraska guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Hall County applicants
A short checklist for Hall County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Hall County earn?
The median is $69,251; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Hall County rent compare with Nebraska?
$943 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 12% below.
Which towns does the Hall County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Grand Island, Wood River, Shelton, Cairo, Doniphan.
Is the fit check different in Hall County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Hall 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.