1st Advantage MortgageIn Keith County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $60,645 a year and the typical rent is $771. 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 Keith County
- What it costs to live in Keith County
- Income in Keith County compared with Nebraska
- Jobs and commutes in Keith County
- The communities that make up Keith County
- The counties around Keith County
- What a median Keith County budget can carry
- Keith County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Keith County
- Steps before you apply in Keith County
- Lender oversight for Keith County
- More guides for Keith County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Keith County
With an estimated 8,219 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Keith County ranks 35th of 93 in Nebraska for population. Spread over 1,062 square miles, that works out to roughly 7.7 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Keith County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (3 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Ogallala, with about 4,777 residents, or 58% of the county. With so few households sampled, Keith County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What it costs to live in Keith County
A typical Keith County rental runs $771 a month including utilities, which is 28% below Nebraska. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. Home values center on $168,000, or 2.8 years of median income. 71% of Keith County households own their home and 29% rent. Median construction year: 1973.
| Housing | Keith County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $771/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,000 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.9% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 25% | 8% | n/a |
Income in Keith County compared with Nebraska
The median household income in Keith County is $60,645; statewide it is $76,475, so Keith County runs 21% below Nebraska as a whole. That places it 76th among Nebraska's 93 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Keith County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.4% | +7.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.5% | -8.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -3.9 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. 10.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). A household earning below the $60,645 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Keith County
The biggest employer of Keith County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 18% of workers, followed by retail trade (18%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 13% locally and 4% for Nebraska. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.0% in Keith County. Long commutes are the exception here: 5% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Keith County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.3% | -6.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 17.9% | +7.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.3% | +9.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.4% | -3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.2% | -1.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Keith County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Keith County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 6,092 residents, leaving about 26% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Keith County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ogallala | city | 4,777 | $58,556 | $667 | 6 mi |
| Paxton | village | 622 | $66,875 | $848 | 16 mi |
| Brule | village | 346 | $46,750 | $658 | 14 mi |
| Belmar | CDP | 143 | $24,432 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Roscoe | CDP | 97 | $41,339 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Lemoyne | CDP | 51 | $65,529 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Martin | CDP | 35 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
| Sarben | CDP | 21 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Keystone | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
The counties around Keith County
Six nearby counties, 23 to 46 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Keith County; Arthur County is highest at $76,250 and Garden County lowest at $41,882. The list crosses into Colorado, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith County | - | $60,645 | $771/mo | 71% |
| Perkins County, NE | 23 mi | $72,778 | $922/mo | 79% |
| Arthur County, NE | 26 mi | $76,250 | $750/mo | 81% |
| Deuel County, NE | 36 mi | $70,096 | $872/mo | 82% |
| McPherson County, NE | 41 mi | $58,684 | $588/mo | 65% |
| Sedgwick County, CO | 43 mi | $52,386 | $774/mo | 72% |
| Garden County, NE | 46 mi | $41,882 | $700/mo | 79% |
What a median Keith County budget can carry
Here is the Keith County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Keith County: $5,054
- 15% goes to median rent ($771)
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,250 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $771, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Keith County households compared
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. 6.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Keith County | All of Nebraska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.7% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.9% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Keith County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 62.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.0% |
| 60+ min | 2.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Keith County
What the Keith County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Manufactured homes. 19% of Keith County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.4, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Steps before you apply in Keith County
Quick steps for Keith County:
- Price the Keith County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Nebraska borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Keith County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Keith 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. The Nebraska guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Keith County
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Keith County earn?
The median is $60,645; 25% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Keith County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $771 a month; 39% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Keith County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of Keith County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Keith County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Ogallala, Paxton, Brule, Belmar, Roscoe.
Are Keith 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.