1st Advantage MortgageIn McPherson County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $58,684 a year and the typical rent is $588. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in McPherson County
- How much McPherson County households make
- What it costs to live in McPherson County
- How McPherson County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in McPherson County
- Counties near McPherson County
- What a median McPherson County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for McPherson County
- More McPherson County figures
- Who licenses lenders for McPherson County residents
- A McPherson County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in McPherson County
With an estimated 475 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), McPherson County ranks 92nd of 93 in Nebraska for population. Spread over 859 square miles, that works out to roughly 0.6 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, McPherson County is not part of any metropolitan area. Tryon, with about 142 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. With so few households sampled, McPherson County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How much McPherson County households make
At $58,684, the typical McPherson County household income is 11% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 83rd among Nebraska's 93 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in McPherson County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.7% | +1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 55.2% | +13.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -10.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -3.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of McPherson County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. 12.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.404 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a McPherson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in McPherson County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $588 in McPherson County versus $1,072 statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,600, about 2.1 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 65%. Half the housing stock was built before 1955.
| Housing | McPherson County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $588/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $121,600 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 67% | 75% |
| Burdened owners | 48% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.4% | 2.9% | n/a |
How McPherson County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 42% of employed McPherson County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 21% in education and health care. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 42% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 7.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | McPherson County share | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 41.8% | +37.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -3.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.5% | +6.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 3.8% | -6.8 pts |
| Public administration | 3.4% | -0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in McPherson County
Tryon is the only Census place mainly inside McPherson County, with about 142 of the county's 475 residents. This guide covers each of the 1 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tryon | CDP | 142 | $60,833 | $631 | 11 mi |
Counties near McPherson County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 41 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Arthur County leads the group on income ($76,250), Hooker County trails ($49,464), and McPherson County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McPherson County | - | $58,684 | $588/mo | 65% |
| Hooker County, NE | 19 mi | $49,464 | $592/mo | 55% |
| Arthur County, NE | 30 mi | $76,250 | $750/mo | 81% |
| Thomas County, NE | 34 mi | $65,000 | $638/mo | 68% |
| Logan County, NE | 36 mi | $74,271 | $761/mo | 79% |
| Grant County, NE | 38 mi | $70,147 | $867/mo | 71% |
| Keith County, NE | 41 mi | $60,645 | $771/mo | 71% |
What a median McPherson County budget can carry
Here is the McPherson County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $58,684 a year is $4,890 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $588, or 12 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,368 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in McPherson County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for McPherson County
A few patterns in the McPherson County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a McPherson County borrower sees (free reports).
More McPherson County figures
26% of McPherson County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 3.4%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Indicator | McPherson County | All of Nebraska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.7% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.0% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.4% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
Who licenses lenders for McPherson County residents
McPherson County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Nebraska guide covers state rules in more detail.
A McPherson County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for McPherson County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- 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
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in McPherson County?
$58,684 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,475 for Nebraska. It ranks 83rd of 93 in the state.
How does McPherson County rent compare with Nebraska?
$588 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 45% below.
Which towns does the McPherson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: Tryon.
Are McPherson 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for McPherson County residents?
The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance licenses consumer lenders in Nebraska; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.