1st Advantage MortgageIn Nemaha County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $60,924 a year and the typical rent is $772. 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
- Who lives in Nemaha County
- The Nemaha County job picture
- Income in Nemaha County compared with Nebraska
- What it costs to live in Nemaha County
- How Nemaha County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Nemaha County
- People and households in Nemaha County
- Reading the Nemaha County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income at Nemaha County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
- Before you sign
- More guides for Nemaha County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Nemaha County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Nemaha County's population at 7,046; only 40 of Nebraska's 93 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 407 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 17 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Nemaha County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 7 Census places inside Nemaha County, Auburn leads by population with about 3,470; 7 of the 7 are incorporated. Because Nemaha County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
The Nemaha County job picture
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Nemaha County residents work in education and health care and 14% in transportation, warehousing and utilities. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward transportation, warehousing and utilities (14% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Nemaha County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.6% | -2.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 14.0% | +8.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.3% | +2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -1.9 pts |
| Other services | 8.4% | +3.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Income in Nemaha County compared with Nebraska
Nemaha County households have a median income of $60,924 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 75th of 93 in Nebraska.
| Income band | Share in Nemaha County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | +6.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.7% | +4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.1% | -8.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -2.8 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 13.3%, 3 points higher than the state's 10.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.465 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $60,924 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Nemaha County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $772 in Nemaha County versus $1,072 statewide. By the Census definition, 38% of Nemaha County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $131,700, or 2.2 years of median income. 66% of Nemaha County households own their home and 34% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1950.
| Home costs | Nemaha County | Nebraska | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $772/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $131,700 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
How Nemaha County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Richardson County at 20 miles out to Fremont County at 28. Otoe County leads the group on income ($82,188), Johnson County trails ($57,632), and Nemaha County out-earns 3 of the six. Some neighbors are in Iowa and Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Nemaha County resident follows Nebraska rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nemaha County | - | $60,924 | $772/mo | 66% |
| Richardson County, NE | 20 mi | $60,108 | $691/mo | 77% |
| Johnson County, NE | 22 mi | $57,632 | $779/mo | 67% |
| Atchison County, MO | 22 mi | $58,750 | $631/mo | 77% |
| Otoe County, NE | 23 mi | $82,188 | $914/mo | 82% |
| Pawnee County, NE | 27 mi | $62,188 | $706/mo | 80% |
| Fremont County, IA | 28 mi | $71,621 | $746/mo | 78% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Nemaha County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 68% of Nemaha County residents live in one of the 7. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | city | 3,470 | $57,531 | $797 | 0 mi |
| Peru | city | 653 | $44,028 | $478 | 9 mi |
| Johnson | village | 339 | $59,875 | $950 | 8 mi |
| Brock | village | 120 | $38,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Brownville | village | 102 | n/a | $950 | 10 mi |
| Nemaha | village | 64 | $50,625 | $900 | 10 mi |
| Julian | village | 42 | $41,250 | n/a | 9 mi |
People and households in Nemaha County
29% of Nemaha County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 10% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Nemaha County | Nebraska | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.4% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.7% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Reading the Nemaha County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Nemaha County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 10% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Debt-to-income at Nemaha County's medians
Here is the Nemaha County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,077 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $772 uses 15%
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,005 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,513 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Nebraska license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Nemaha County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Nemaha County
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Nemaha County household make?
About $60,924 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% below the Nebraska median.
How much is rent in Nemaha County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $772 a month; 38% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Nemaha County?
By population: Auburn, Peru, Johnson, Brock, Brownville. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Nemaha County or elsewhere in Nebraska, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Nemaha 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.