1st Advantage MortgageIn Knox County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $64,636 a year and the typical rent is $647. 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
- Knox County, NE: the basics
- The Knox County job picture
- Household income in Knox County
- Knox County housing compared with Nebraska
- Knox County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Knox County
- A Knox County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Knox County
- Who lives in Knox County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
- A Knox County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Knox County
- Frequently asked questions
Knox County, NE: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Knox County's population at 8,363; only 32 of Nebraska's 93 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 1,108 square miles, that works out to roughly 7.5 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Knox County is not part of any metropolitan area. Creighton is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 1,222 people (15% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Knox County estimates can move a lot between releases.
The Knox County job picture
The biggest employer of Knox County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (15%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Knox County averages 3.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.6% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Knox County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | +0.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.8% | +10.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Other services | 7.2% | +2.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | -0.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Knox County
At $64,636, the typical Knox County household income is 2% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Knox County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.2% | +5.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.1% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.5% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -6.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Knox County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. Census counts 13.7% of Knox County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. None of these numbers decides a Knox County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Knox County housing compared with Nebraska
Renters in Knox County pay a median of $647 a month, 40% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. 37% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. With a median value of $127,700, a typical Knox County house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. 78% of Knox County households own their home and 22% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1967.
| Housing | Knox County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $647/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $127,700 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 22% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Knox County and the counties next door
Bon Homme County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Holt County, is 47 miles off. Cedar County leads the group on income ($73,578), Bon Homme County trails ($64,435), and Knox County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into South Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | - | $64,636 | $647/mo | 78% |
| Bon Homme County, SD | 24 mi | $64,435 | $646/mo | 80% |
| Pierce County, NE | 29 mi | $72,357 | $884/mo | 78% |
| Antelope County, NE | 32 mi | $66,105 | $692/mo | 79% |
| Cedar County, NE | 32 mi | $73,578 | $716/mo | 80% |
| Yankton County, SD | 36 mi | $72,821 | $781/mo | 73% |
| Holt County, NE | 47 mi | $68,513 | $714/mo | 72% |
The communities that make up Knox County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Knox County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 5,294 people, so roughly 37% of residents live outside any named place. Crofton has the highest median household income on the list ($94,583) and Verdigre the lowest ($40,938), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Crofton ($488) and steepest in Wausa ($763). Live in one of these Knox County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creighton | city | 1,222 | $50,278 | $730 | 12 mi |
| Bloomfield | city | 959 | $50,083 | $725 | 13 mi |
| Crofton | city | 902 | $94,583 | $488 | 21 mi |
| Wausa | village | 698 | $59,375 | $763 | 20 mi |
| Verdigre | village | 613 | $40,938 | $556 | 8 mi |
| Niobrara | village | 353 | $39,519 | $575 | 11 mi |
| Santee | village | 235 | $59,583 | $385 | 14 mi |
| Center | village | 191 | $70,000 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Winnetoon | village | 68 | $82,500 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Verdel | village | 33 | $21,406 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Bazile Mills | village | 11 | $155,000 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Lindy | CDP | 9 | $51,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A Knox County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Knox County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $64,636 a year is $5,386 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $647 uses 12%
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,669 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $647, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Knox County
What the Knox County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- 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 Knox County, in numbers
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Knox County | All of Nebraska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.0% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.0% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Knox County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.5% |
Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
Knox County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Nebraska guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Knox County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Knox County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Knox County
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Knox County earn?
The median is $64,636; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Knox County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $647 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Knox County?
By population: Creighton, Bloomfield, Crofton, Wausa, Verdigre. The county has 12 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Knox County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Knox County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Nebraska it is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance.