1st Advantage MortgageHarlan County households have a median income of $70,625 and median rent of $657 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Harlan County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Harlan County
- Housing costs in Harlan County
- Employment and commuting in Harlan County
- Harlan County and the counties next door
- Places inside Harlan County
- Debt-to-income at Harlan County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Harlan County borrowers
- More Harlan County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Harlan County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Harlan County at a glance
Harlan County is home to about 2,847 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 67th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Land area is 553 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 5 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Harlan County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Alma is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 1,154 people (41% of the county total). Because Harlan County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Paychecks and income spread in Harlan County
At $70,625, the typical Harlan County household income is 8% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 34th of 93.
| Households earning | Harlan County | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.6% | +9.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.4% | -8.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.6% | -6.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.4% | +5.0 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. 6.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.506 here. For a borrower in Harlan 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 Harlan County
Renters in Harlan County pay a median of $657 a month, 39% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. By the Census definition, 24% of Harlan County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $145,800, about 2.1 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 86%.
| Housing | Harlan County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $657/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $145,800 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 24% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 36% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Harlan County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Employment and commuting in Harlan County
The biggest employer of Harlan County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (14%). Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (14% against 4%). The survey's unemployment rate for Harlan County averages 1.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Only 1.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Harlan County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | -1.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.3% | +10.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.7% | +0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | 0.0 pts |
| Other services | 7.3% | +2.6 pts |
| Wholesale trade | 5.7% | +3.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Harlan County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 33 miles). Income ranges from $60,195 in Franklin County to $78,631 in Kearney County; 2 of these neighbors top Harlan County's median. The list crosses into Kansas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan County | - | $70,625 | $657/mo | 86% |
| Franklin County, NE | 23 mi | $60,195 | $691/mo | 83% |
| Phelps County, NE | 23 mi | $68,919 | $815/mo | 68% |
| Furnas County, NE | 27 mi | $61,048 | $763/mo | 76% |
| Phillips County, KS | 27 mi | $62,123 | $672/mo | 78% |
| Gosper County, NE | 32 mi | $77,500 | $664/mo | 81% |
| Kearney County, NE | 33 mi | $78,631 | $857/mo | 77% |
Places inside Harlan County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 86% of Harlan County residents live in one of the 7. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alma | city | 1,154 | $75,703 | $641 | 6 mi |
| Oxford | village | 652 | $57,955 | $695 | 13 mi |
| Orleans | village | 337 | $62,250 | $588 | 4 mi |
| Stamford | village | 178 | $29,519 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Republican City | village | 92 | $45,625 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Huntley | village | 24 | $237,917 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Ragan | village | 12 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
Debt-to-income at Harlan County's medians
Here is the Harlan County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,885 a month: gross income for a household at the Harlan County median
- Housing at the median rent of $657 uses 11%
- $1,462: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Harlan County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Harlan County borrowers
Based on the Harlan County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Mobile home upkeep. 22% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Older households. A 47.3 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
More Harlan County figures
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. 8.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Harlan County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.2% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.3% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Harlan County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Licensing and complaints for Harlan County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Harlan County, check the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Nebraska state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Harlan County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Harlan County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Harlan County household make?
About $70,625 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 8% below the Nebraska median.
How much is rent in Harlan County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $657 a month; 24% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Alma?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Harlan County, such as Oxford, Orleans, Stamford.
Does living in Harlan County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Harlan County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Harlan 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.