1st Advantage MortgageLoup County (578 residents) has a $71,667 median household income and $688 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Loup County, and confirm each one's Nebraska license.
On this page
- First look: Loup County, NE
- The $71,667 median and what sits around it
- The Loup County job picture
- What stands out in Loup County
- Housing costs in Loup County
- Loup County, Blaine County and other neighbors
- Towns and communities in Loup County
- Local borrowing considerations for Loup County
- Debt-to-income at Loup County's medians
- Age, degrees and coverage in Loup County
- Nebraska lender licensing
- Four steps for Loup County borrowers
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
First look: Loup County, NE
Loup County is home to about 578 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 89th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Its 563 square miles average 1 person per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Taylor (142 people) heads the county's list of 1 Census place. Census margins of error grow as populations shrink; for a county of 578, read each figure as a range.
The $71,667 median and what sits around it
$71,667 is the median household income for Loup County, set against $76,475 for Nebraska. That places it 31st among Nebraska's 93 county-level areas.
| Band | Loup County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.0% | +4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.8% | -2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.7 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. Poverty rate, Loup County: 6.9%; Nebraska: 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 Loup County median.
The Loup County job picture
Top Loup County industry by residents employed: agriculture, forestry and mining, 24%; second, education and health care, 20%. Relative to Nebraska (4%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 20 points bigger in Loup County (24%). Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 1.6% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Sector | Loup County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 24.2% | +20.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -4.0 pts |
| Public administration | 12.3% | +7.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -1.9 pts |
| Wholesale trade | 5.0% | +2.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What stands out in Loup County
- Few Nebraska counties match Loup County on the housing vacancy rate: 44% here, 8% for the state, ranking the highest of 93. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
- The share of mobile homes: 17.7% in Loup County. Only 4 of 93 Nebraska counties are higher. Manufactured homes often do not qualify for home equity loans, so unsecured loans fill the gap.
- Loup County ranks 5th lowest of 93 Nebraska counties for population: 578, against 1,978,707 statewide. In a small county, the nearest lender may not be the best; compare online offers too.
Housing costs in Loup County
Loup County rent at the median: $688 a month, utilities in ($1,072 in Nebraska). By the Census definition, 24% of Loup County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $182,300, or 2.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 73%.
| Housing | Loup County | Nebraska statewide | Loup County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 24% | 45% | -20.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 22% | +17.1 pts |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | +6.8 pts |
| Median gross rent | $688/mo | $1,072/mo | 36% lower |
| Median home value | $182,300 | $238,600 | 24% lower |
Loup County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Loup County, Blaine County and other neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Blaine County at 25 miles out to Brown County at 38. Richest neighbor: Blaine County, $69,583. Poorest: Brown County, $54,676. Loup County: $71,667.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loup County | - | $71,667 | $688/mo | 73% |
| Blaine County, NE | 25 mi | $69,583 | $873/mo | 74% |
| Garfield County, NE | 29 mi | $62,804 | $490/mo | 76% |
| Rock County, NE | 35 mi | $58,125 | $644/mo | 69% |
| Valley County, NE | 36 mi | $61,852 | $626/mo | 74% |
| Custer County, NE | 37 mi | $67,906 | $853/mo | 69% |
| Brown County, NE | 38 mi | $54,676 | $876/mo | 74% |
Towns and communities in Loup County
Taylor is the only Census place mainly inside Loup County, with about 142 of the county's 578 residents. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor | village | 142 | $50,833 | $950 | 11 mi |
Local borrowing considerations for Loup County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Loup County borrowers.
- Manufactured homes. 18% of Loup County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Debt-to-income at Loup County's medians
Here is the Loup County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,972 gross per month ($71,667 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $688 uses 12%
- Under a 40% cap, $2,389 total minus rent leaves $1,701
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Age, degrees and coverage in Loup County
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. 9.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Loup County | Gap to Nebraska | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | +6.7 yrs | +2.4 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.2% | -7.3 pts | +5.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 1.0% | -6.8 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | +2.3 pts | +1.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 1.6% | -3.8 pts | -3.8 pts |
| Work from home | 3.6% | -7.5 pts | -5.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | -3.7 pts | -6.3 pts |
Nebraska lender licensing
The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Nebraska license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Nebraska guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Loup County borrowers
Quick steps for Loup County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Nebraska borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Keep exploring
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Loup County a high-income county?
Its $71,667 median ranks 31st of 93 Nebraska counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Loup County?
$688 a month at the median, about 12% of median household income.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Loup County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 73% of Loup County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
Which towns does the Loup County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: Taylor.
Will a Loup County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Nebraska as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.