1st Advantage MortgageHolt County households have a median income of $68,513 and median rent of $714 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
- Holt County, NE: the basics
- Where Holt County households live
- Holt County's most unusual numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Holt County
- Employment and commuting in Holt County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Holt County
- Holt County, Boyd County and other neighbors
- Room for a loan payment in Holt County
- People and households in Holt County
- Before borrowing in Holt County
- Steps before you apply in Holt County
- Lender oversight for Holt County
- Other Nebraska guides
- Frequently asked questions
Holt County, NE: the basics
Holt County is home to about 10,102 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 26th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Density: about 4.2 residents per square mile across 2,412 square miles of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Largest place: O'Neill, about 3,570 residents (35% of Holt County); 8 Census places in all.
Where Holt County households live
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $714 in Holt County versus $1,072 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 28% of renter households here. With a median value of $165,100, a typical Holt County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 72% of Holt County households own their home and 28% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1966. Nationally, Holt County's $714 rent is 19% below the middle county.
| Home costs | Holt County | Nebraska | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $714/mo | $1,072/mo | 33% lower |
| Median home value | $165,100 | $238,600 | 31% lower |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | +5.7 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 28% | 45% | -16.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 22% | +5.7 pts |
| Vacant units | 17% | 8% | +9.7 pts |
Because most Holt 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.
Holt County's most unusual numbers
The 2 Holt County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Nebraska, and what each means for a borrower:
- Holt County ranks 13th lowest of 90 Nebraska counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 0.9%, against 3.0% statewide. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
- Holt County ranks 19th lowest of 93 Nebraska counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 6%, against 7% statewide. Less driving means fewer surprise repair bills.
Paychecks and income spread in Holt County
At $68,513, the typical Holt County household income is 4% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 48th among Nebraska's 93 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Holt County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.0% | +4.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -4.2 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 11.7%, 1 point higher than the state's 10.6%. Holt County scores 0.490 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. For a borrower in Holt 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.
Employment and commuting in Holt County
Education and health care employs 25% 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. Averaged over the five survey years, 0.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 6%; under 15 minutes: 61%. 3.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Holt County share | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 17.1% | +12.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.4% | +3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | +0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.4% | -4.0 pts |
Self-employed in Holt County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Holt County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Holt County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 6,664 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $22,865, Atkinson over O'Neill. Median rent ranges from $655 in Atkinson to $697 in O'Neill. Live in one of these Holt County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Neill | city | 3,570 | $56,510 | $697 | 7 mi |
| Atkinson | city | 1,377 | $79,375 | $655 | 11 mi |
| Stuart | village | 628 | $62,361 | $695 | 21 mi |
| Chambers | village | 424 | $73,333 | $1,087 | 18 mi |
| Ewing | village | 372 | $61,667 | $688 | 26 mi |
| Inman | village | 153 | $71,250 | $775 | 14 mi |
| Page | village | 120 | $56,250 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Emmet | village | 20 | $63,750 | n/a | 2 mi |
Holt County, Boyd County and other neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Boyd County at 30 miles out to Knox County at 47. Income ranges from $58,125 in Rock County to $70,250 in Wheeler County; 1 of these neighbors top Holt County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holt County | - | $68,513 | $714/mo | 72% |
| Boyd County, NE | 30 mi | $67,045 | $713/mo | 86% |
| Rock County, NE | 33 mi | $58,125 | $644/mo | 69% |
| Garfield County, NE | 39 mi | $62,804 | $490/mo | 76% |
| Wheeler County, NE | 39 mi | $70,250 | $509/mo | 78% |
| Antelope County, NE | 42 mi | $66,105 | $692/mo | 79% |
| Knox County, NE | 47 mi | $64,636 | $647/mo | 78% |
Room for a loan payment in Holt County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Holt County's medians:
- Start: $5,709 gross per month ($68,513 / 12)
- 13% goes to median rent ($714)
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,570 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $714, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Holt County
College graduates make up 29% of the adult population. 6.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Holt County | Gap to Nebraska | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.1% | -5.5 pts | +6.9 pts |
| Median age | 41.6 | +4.4 yrs | +0.1 yrs |
| Work from home | 7.4% | -3.6 pts | -1.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.6% | -2.2 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.9% | -2.2 pts | -3.6 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | -1.7 pts | -1.7 pts |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | +1.1 pts | -1.5 pts |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | -0.6 pts | -1.2 pts |
| Commute length | Holt County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 60.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.9% |
Before borrowing in Holt County
Based on the Holt County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Holt County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Steps before you apply in Holt County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Holt County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Nebraska license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Holt County
Consumer lenders serving Holt County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Nebraska that is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
Other Nebraska guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Holt County household make?
About $68,513 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% below the Nebraska median.
How does Holt County rent compare with Nebraska?
$714 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 33% below.
Should Holt County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Holt County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live near O'Neill. Which guide is mine?
This one. O'Neill and the rest of Holt County have no separate city guide.
Are Holt 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.