1st Advantage MortgageThe median Keya Paha County household earns $64,000, and 7% 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
- Keya Paha County at a glance
- Keya Paha County housing compared with Nebraska
- What Keya Paha County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Keya Paha County
- Keya Paha County and the counties next door
- Places inside Keya Paha County
- Budget math at the Keya Paha County median
- Local borrowing considerations for Keya Paha County
- Who lives in Keya Paha County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
- Four steps for Keya Paha County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Keya Paha County at a glance
Roughly 822 residents live in Keya Paha County, Nebraska, 84th by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. It covers 773 square miles of land, or about 1 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 2 Census places inside Keya Paha County, Springview leads by population with about 217; 2 of the 2 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Keya Paha County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Keya Paha County housing compared with Nebraska
A typical Keya Paha County rental runs $875 a month including utilities, which is 18% below Nebraska. 28% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent. With a median value of $108,800, a typical Keya Paha County house costs 1.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 81%.
| Cost | Keya Paha County | Nebraska figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $875/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $108,800 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 28% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Keya Paha 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.
What Keya Paha County households earn
Keya Paha County households have a median income of $64,000 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 64th of 93 in Nebraska.
| Band | Keya Paha County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.5% | +5.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.2% | -5.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -1.8 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. 7.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Keya Paha County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Keya Paha County
By the Census industry count, 34% of employed Keya Paha County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 17% in education and health care. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 34% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home.
| Where residents work | Keya Paha County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 34.1% | +29.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.3% | -7.1 pts |
| Construction | 17.3% | +10.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 4.4% | -6.0 pts |
| Public administration | 3.9% | -0.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Keya Paha County and the counties next door
Gregory County is closest, 33 miles from center to center; the sixth, Todd County, is 55 miles off. Income ranges from $42,075 in Todd County to $67,045 in Boyd County; 1 of these neighbors top Keya Paha County's median. Some neighbors are in South Dakota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Keya Paha County resident follows Nebraska rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keya Paha County | - | $64,000 | $875/mo | 81% |
| Gregory County, SD | 33 mi | $62,917 | $614/mo | 77% |
| Tripp County, SD | 34 mi | $58,987 | $820/mo | 68% |
| Rock County, NE | 36 mi | $58,125 | $644/mo | 69% |
| Brown County, NE | 37 mi | $54,676 | $876/mo | 74% |
| Boyd County, NE | 48 mi | $67,045 | $713/mo | 86% |
| Todd County, SD | 55 mi | $42,075 | $532/mo | 46% |
Places inside Keya Paha County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Keya Paha County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 217 residents, leaving about 74% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springview | village | 217 | $42,188 | $850 | 4 mi |
| Burton | village | 0 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
Budget math at the Keya Paha County median
Here is the Keya Paha County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,333 before taxes
- 16% goes to median rent ($875)
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,258 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Local borrowing considerations for Keya Paha County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Keya Paha County borrowers.
- Older households. A 48.5 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).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Who lives in Keya Paha County, in numbers
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Keya Paha County | Nebraska | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.6% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.6% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.9% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.4% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.0% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
Keya Paha County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Nebraska guide.
Four steps for Keya Paha County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Keya Paha County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Nebraska license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Keya Paha County a high-income county?
Its $64,000 median ranks 64th of 93 Nebraska counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Keya Paha County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $875 against $1,072 statewide, and 28% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Keya Paha County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 81% of Keya Paha County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Keya Paha County?
By population: Springview, Burton. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Does living in Keya Paha 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 Keya Paha County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.