1st Advantage MortgageThe median Phelps County household earns $68,919, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. 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 Phelps County
- The Phelps County job picture
- Paychecks and income spread in Phelps County
- What it costs to live in Phelps County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Phelps County
- Phelps County and the counties next door
- What a median Phelps County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Phelps County
- Who lives in Phelps County, in numbers
- Licensing and complaints for Phelps County
- Four steps for Phelps County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Phelps County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Phelps County's population at 9,009; only 29 of Nebraska's 93 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 540 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 17 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Phelps County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 5 Census places inside Phelps County, Holdrege leads by population with about 5,546; 5 of the 5 are incorporated. Because Phelps County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
The Phelps County job picture
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Phelps County residents work in education and health care and 12% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 12% locally and 4% for Nebraska. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.2% in Phelps County. About 83% drive to work alone and 4% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 6.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Phelps County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.4% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.9% | +7.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.2% | -4.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.1% | +0.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Paychecks and income spread in Phelps County
The median household income in Phelps County is $68,919; statewide it is $76,475, so Phelps County runs 10% below Nebraska as a whole. In the state ranking that is 46th of 93.
| Household income | Phelps County | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.4% | +7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.7% | -5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.3% | -1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.6% | -0.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Phelps County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. Census counts 12.2% of Phelps County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Phelps County median.
What it costs to live in Phelps County
A typical Phelps County rental runs $815 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Nebraska. By the Census definition, 43% of Phelps County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $194,900, a typical Phelps County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 68% of homes.
| Measure | Phelps County | Nebraska | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $815/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $194,900 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.2% | 2.9% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Phelps County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Phelps County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 7,016 people, so roughly 22% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holdrege | city | 5,546 | $55,789 | $835 | 6 mi |
| Bertrand | village | 718 | $73,672 | $850 | 12 mi |
| Loomis | village | 375 | $73,333 | $858 | 6 mi |
| Funk | village | 244 | $94,375 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Atlanta | village | 133 | $65,750 | n/a | 11 mi |
Phelps County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Gosper County at 22 miles out to Franklin County at 33. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Phelps County; Kearney County is highest at $78,631 and Franklin County lowest at $60,195.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phelps County | - | $68,919 | $815/mo | 68% |
| Gosper County, NE | 22 mi | $77,500 | $664/mo | 81% |
| Harlan County, NE | 23 mi | $70,625 | $657/mo | 86% |
| Kearney County, NE | 24 mi | $78,631 | $857/mo | 77% |
| Buffalo County, NE | 29 mi | $75,911 | $936/mo | 66% |
| Dawson County, NE | 32 mi | $69,880 | $925/mo | 66% |
| Franklin County, NE | 33 mi | $60,195 | $691/mo | 83% |
What a median Phelps County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Phelps County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Phelps County: $5,743
- Housing at the median rent of $815 uses 14%
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,195 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,769 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Phelps County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Phelps County borrowers.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Phelps County borrower sees (free reports).
Who lives in Phelps County, in numbers
30% of Phelps County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Phelps County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.9% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.2% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Phelps County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.1% |
| 60+ min | 2.3% |
Licensing and complaints for Phelps County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Phelps County borrowers answers to the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
Four steps for Phelps County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Phelps County household make?
About $68,919 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% below the Nebraska median.
How much is rent in Phelps County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $815 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Phelps County?
By population: Holdrege, Bertrand, Loomis, Funk, Atlanta. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Can Phelps County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Nebraska county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Phelps 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.