1st Advantage MortgageIn Pawnee County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $62,188 a year and the typical rent is $706. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Pawnee County
- Employment and commuting in Pawnee County
- Paychecks and income spread in Pawnee County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Pawnee County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Pawnee County
- Regional comparison for Pawnee County
- Room for a loan payment in Pawnee County
- What the numbers mean for Pawnee County borrowers
- More Pawnee County figures
- Checklist for Pawnee County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Pawnee County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Pawnee County
With an estimated 2,530 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Pawnee County ranks 72nd of 93 in Nebraska for population. It covers 431 square miles of land, or about 6 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Pawnee County is not part of any metropolitan area. Pawnee City is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 801 people (32% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Pawnee County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Employment and commuting in Pawnee County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Pawnee County residents work in education and health care and 17% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.2% in Pawnee County. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Pawnee County share | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -2.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 16.8% | +12.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.2% | +5.8 pts |
| Construction | 10.4% | +3.3 pts |
| Wholesale trade | 6.6% | +4.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.4% | -4.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Pawnee County
The median household income in Pawnee County is $62,188; statewide it is $76,475, so Pawnee County runs 19% below Nebraska as a whole.
| Band | Pawnee County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.4% | +8.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.1% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.5% | -6.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Pawnee County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.5%, 3 points higher than the state's 10.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.442 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Pawnee County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Pawnee County
A typical Pawnee County rental runs $706 a month including utilities, which is 34% below Nebraska. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 26% of renter households here. Home values center on $79,400, or 1.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 80%. The median home was built in 1952, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Pawnee County | Nebraska figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $706/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $79,400 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 26% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 23% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Pawnee 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Pawnee County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Pawnee County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 1,435 people, so roughly 43% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pawnee City | city | 801 | $45,096 | $623 | 5 mi |
| Table Rock | village | 255 | $49,844 | $638 | 9 mi |
| Du Bois | village | 145 | n/a | $908 | 13 mi |
| Burchard | village | 119 | $64,688 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Steinauer | village | 73 | $48,125 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Lewiston | village | 42 | $41,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
Regional comparison for Pawnee County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Pawnee County's, from 18 to 29 miles away. Nemaha County leads the group on income ($77,348), Johnson County trails ($57,632), and Pawnee County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into Kansas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pawnee County | - | $62,188 | $706/mo | 80% |
| Johnson County, NE | 18 mi | $57,632 | $779/mo | 67% |
| Gage County, NE | 25 mi | $67,247 | $774/mo | 74% |
| Nemaha County, NE | 27 mi | $60,924 | $772/mo | 66% |
| Nemaha County, KS | 27 mi | $77,348 | $774/mo | 78% |
| Richardson County, NE | 28 mi | $60,108 | $691/mo | 77% |
| Marshall County, KS | 29 mi | $68,419 | $690/mo | 80% |
Room for a loan payment in Pawnee County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Pawnee County's medians:
- Start: $5,182 gross per month ($62,188 / 12)
- Less median rent of $706, which is 14% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $2,073 total minus rent leaves $1,367
If your rent is above $706, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Pawnee County borrowers
A few patterns in the Pawnee County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 13% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
More Pawnee County figures
21% of Pawnee County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 13.0%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Measure | Pawnee County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.2% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.4% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.0% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.2% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Checklist for Pawnee County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Nebraska borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Pawnee County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Pawnee County borrowers answers to the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Nebraska state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Pawnee County earn?
The median is $62,188; 25% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Pawnee County rent compare with Nebraska?
$706 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 34% below.
Does this page cover Pawnee City?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Pawnee County, such as Table Rock, Du Bois, Burchard.
Is the fit check different in Pawnee County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Pawnee 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.