1st Advantage MortgageMorrill County households have a median income of $58,500 and median rent of $768 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Morrill County, NE: the basics
- Household income in Morrill County
- What it costs to live in Morrill County
- How Morrill County residents earn a living
- Counties near Morrill County
- Towns and communities in Morrill County
- A Morrill County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Morrill County data as a borrower
- People and households in Morrill County
- Licensing and complaints for Morrill County
- Steps before you apply in Morrill County
- More guides for Morrill County
- Frequently asked questions
Morrill County, NE: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Morrill County's population at 4,534; only 57 of Nebraska's 93 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 1,424 square miles, that works out to roughly 3.2 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Bayard is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 1,531 people (34% of the county total). Because Morrill County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Household income in Morrill County
At $58,500, the typical Morrill County household income is 11% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Morrill County | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.7% | +15.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.2% | -3.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.3% | -4.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -6.5 pts |
Some 36% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. 13.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.446 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Morrill County
A typical Morrill County rental runs $768 a month including utilities, which is 28% below Nebraska. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. Home values center on $116,100, or 2.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%.
| Home costs | Morrill County | Nebraska | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $768/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $116,100 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Morrill 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.
How Morrill County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 12%. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (12% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 4.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Morrill County workers | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.1% | +7.9 pts |
| Construction | 10.3% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | +0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Morrill County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Counties near Morrill County
Six nearby counties, 33 to 52 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $41,882 in Garden County to $78,839 in Banner County; 4 of these neighbors top Morrill County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morrill County | - | $58,500 | $768/mo | 77% |
| Box Butte County, NE | 33 mi | $68,892 | $752/mo | 77% |
| Cheyenne County, NE | 36 mi | $60,348 | $821/mo | 67% |
| Garden County, NE | 36 mi | $41,882 | $700/mo | 79% |
| Scotts Bluff County, NE | 38 mi | $63,614 | $909/mo | 69% |
| Banner County, NE | 40 mi | $78,839 | $975/mo | 68% |
| Kimball County, NE | 52 mi | $56,712 | $846/mo | 75% |
Towns and communities in Morrill County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 66% of Morrill County residents live in one of the 3. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayard | city | 1,531 | $68,333 | $722 | 17 mi |
| Bridgeport | city | 1,342 | $60,404 | $780 | 7 mi |
| Broadwater | village | 106 | $48,125 | n/a | 12 mi |
A Morrill County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Morrill County's medians:
- Start: $4,875 gross per month ($58,500 / 12)
- Median rent: $768, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- $987: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,328 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.
Reading the Morrill County data as a borrower
Based on the Morrill County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Tight rental budgets. With 46% of Morrill County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Consolidating cards in Morrill County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Morrill County borrower sees (free reports).
People and households in Morrill County
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Morrill County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.4% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Morrill County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 3.0% |
Licensing and complaints for Morrill County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Morrill County resident can confirm its license with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Nebraska guide.
Steps before you apply in Morrill County
Quick steps for Morrill County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Morrill County-area credit union.
- A Nebraska license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Morrill County
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Morrill County a high-income county?
Its $58,500 median ranks 84th of 93 Nebraska counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Morrill County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $768 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Morrill County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Morrill 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 Morrill County?
By population: Bayard, Bridgeport, Broadwater. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Morrill County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.