1st Advantage MortgageThe median Hooker County household earns $49,464, and 6% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Hooker County by the numbers
- Housing costs in Hooker County
- Paychecks and income spread in Hooker County
- Jobs and commutes in Hooker County
- Hooker County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Hooker County
- Hooker County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Hooker County
- Budget math at the Hooker County median
- Lender oversight for Hooker County
- Checklist for Hooker County applicants
- More guides for Hooker County
- Frequently asked questions
Hooker County by the numbers
Hooker County is home to about 647 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 87th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Land area is 721 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Mullen, with about 478 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Hooker County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Housing costs in Hooker County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $592 in Hooker County versus $1,072 statewide. 4% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $93,800, about 1.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 55%. Half the housing stock was built before 1955.
| Hooker County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $592/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $93,800 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 55% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 4% | 45% | 45% |
| Mobile homes | 6.1% | 2.9% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Hooker County
At $49,464, the typical Hooker County household income is 25% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 92nd among Nebraska's 93 county-level areas.
| Household income | Hooker County | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.9% | +13.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.3% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.3% | -8.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.5% | -7.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Hooker County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. Census counts 6.2% of Hooker County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.371 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Hooker County median.
Jobs and commutes in Hooker County
The biggest employer of Hooker County residents, by industry, is arts, lodging and food service at 22% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (19%). Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (19% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home.
| Where residents work | Hooker County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, lodging and food service | 21.6% | +14.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 19.2% | +15.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +2.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +2.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.2% | +0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hooker County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Hooker County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Hooker County's, from 19 to 45 miles away. All of the six report a higher median household income than Hooker County; Arthur County is highest at $76,250 and McPherson County lowest at $58,684.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hooker County | - | $49,464 | $592/mo | 55% |
| McPherson County, NE | 19 mi | $58,684 | $588/mo | 65% |
| Thomas County, NE | 31 mi | $65,000 | $638/mo | 68% |
| Grant County, NE | 33 mi | $70,147 | $867/mo | 71% |
| Arthur County, NE | 38 mi | $76,250 | $750/mo | 81% |
| Logan County, NE | 43 mi | $74,271 | $761/mo | 79% |
| Cherry County, NE | 45 mi | $66,270 | $916/mo | 61% |
The communities that make up Hooker County
Just one Census place, Mullen, lies mainly within Hooker County; it holds about 478 people. Live in one of these Hooker County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mullen | village | 478 | $50,750 | $600 | 9 mi |
Hooker County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Hooker County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.6% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.6% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Hooker County
A few patterns in the Hooker County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Budget math at the Hooker County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Hooker County's medians:
- $49,464 a year is $4,122 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $592, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $851 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,263 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Hooker County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Lender oversight for Hooker County
The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Nebraska license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Nebraska state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Hooker County applicants
A short checklist for Hooker County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Hooker County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Hooker County
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Hooker County earn?
The median is $49,464; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 34% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Hooker County?
$592 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Which towns does the Hooker County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: Mullen.
Will a Hooker County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Nebraska as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Hooker County?
Start with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.