1st Advantage MortgageLancaster County households have a median income of $74,793 and median rent of $1,085 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Nebraska license first.
On this page
- Lancaster County at a glance
- How much Lancaster County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Lancaster County
- Housing costs in Lancaster County
- The counties around Lancaster County
- The communities that make up Lancaster County
- Lancaster County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Lancaster County borrowers
- What a median Lancaster County budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
- Checklist for Lancaster County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lancaster County at a glance
Roughly 326,696 residents live in Lancaster County, Nebraska, 2nd by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. It covers 838 square miles of land, or about 390 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Lincoln, NE metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 22 Census places inside Lancaster County, Lincoln leads by population with about 294,856; 13 of the 22 are incorporated.
How much Lancaster County households make
Lancaster County households have a median income of $74,793 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 23rd of 93 in Nebraska.
| Households earning | Lancaster County | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.2% | +0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.6% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.7% | -0.7 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. 11.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.453 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Lancaster 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Lancaster County
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Lancaster County residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward education and health care (27% against 24%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 74% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Lancaster County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.2% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.0% | +0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Housing costs in Lancaster County
Renters in Lancaster County pay a median of $1,085 a month, in line with Nebraska's $1,072. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. Home values center on $275,200, or 3.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 59% of homes. Median construction year: 1983.
| Measure | Lancaster County | Nebraska | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,085/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $275,200 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 59% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.4% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 8% | n/a |
The counties around Lancaster County
Seward County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Johnson County, is 35 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Lancaster County; Saunders County is highest at $94,066 and Johnson County lowest at $57,632.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County | - | $74,793 | $1,085/mo | 59% |
| Seward County, NE | 24 mi | $82,444 | $980/mo | 72% |
| Saline County, NE | 30 mi | $79,910 | $914/mo | 76% |
| Cass County, NE | 30 mi | $91,836 | $996/mo | 85% |
| Saunders County, NE | 30 mi | $94,066 | $960/mo | 82% |
| Otoe County, NE | 31 mi | $82,188 | $914/mo | 82% |
| Johnson County, NE | 35 mi | $57,632 | $779/mo | 67% |
The communities that make up Lancaster County
22 Census places fall mainly inside Lancaster County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 307,265 residents, leaving about 6% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Waverly has the highest median household income on the list ($111,632) and Walton the lowest ($48,088), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Lancaster County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 22.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | city | 294,856 | $71,867 | $1,086 | 2 mi |
| Waverly | city | 4,440 | $111,632 | $1,076 | 12 mi |
| Hickman | city | 3,004 | $104,375 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Bennet | village | 1,218 | $105,859 | $1,260 | 12 mi |
| Firth | village | 604 | $80,938 | $1,056 | 18 mi |
| Walton | CDP | 579 | $48,088 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Malcolm | village | 480 | $85,625 | $911 | 13 mi |
| Hallam | village | 346 | $98,214 | $988 | 18 mi |
| Yankee Hill | CDP | 250 | $71,597 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Roca | village | 242 | $100,000 | $1,125 | 9 mi |
| Panama | village | 232 | $94,514 | $1,313 | 16 mi |
| Raymond | village | 187 | $99,107 | $770 | 13 mi |
| Sprague | village | 176 | $81,250 | $1,607 | 11 mi |
| Denton | village | 145 | $57,250 | $878 | 9 mi |
Lancaster County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 42% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.9%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Indicator | Lancaster County | All of Nebraska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.9% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.4% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 48.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.2% |
What the numbers mean for Lancaster County borrowers
What the Lancaster County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Consolidating cards in Lancaster County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
What a median Lancaster County budget can carry
Here is the Lancaster County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,233 before taxes
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,085)
- $1,096: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $2,805 total minus rent leaves $1,720
Two-income households and single earners in Lancaster County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
Before sharing details with a lender, a Lancaster County resident can confirm its license with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Nebraska guide.
Checklist for Lancaster County applicants
A short checklist for Lancaster County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Nebraska.
- Ask a Lancaster County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lancaster County a high-income county?
Its $74,793 median ranks 23rd of 93 Nebraska counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Lancaster County?
$1,085 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Does this page cover Lincoln?
Yes, along with the other 21 Census places in Lancaster County, such as Waverly, Hickman, Bennet.
Does living in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Lancaster County check a lender's license?
With the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.