1st Advantage MortgageThe median Pierce County household earns $72,357, and 8% 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
- Pierce County by the numbers
- Household income in Pierce County
- Pierce County housing compared with Nebraska
- How Pierce County residents earn a living
- Pierce County and the counties next door
- Pierce County towns compared
- Pierce County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Pierce County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Pierce County
- A Pierce County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Pierce County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pierce County by the numbers
Pierce County is home to about 7,325 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 39th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Land area is 573 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 13 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Pierce County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Pierce County, Pierce leads by population with about 1,956; 7 of the 7 are incorporated. Because Pierce County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Household income in Pierce County
At $72,357, the typical Pierce County household income is 10% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Pierce County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.1% | -0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.8% | +6.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.9% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -3.2 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. 7.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.405 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $72,357 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Pierce County housing compared with Nebraska
A typical Pierce County rental runs $884 a month including utilities, which is 18% below Nebraska. By the Census definition, 42% of Pierce County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $196,000, or 2.7 years of median income. 78% of Pierce County households own their home and 22% rent. The median home was built in 1958, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Pierce County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $884/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $196,000 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Pierce 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 Pierce County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Pierce County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (12%). Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (12% against 4%). The survey's unemployment rate for Pierce County averages 2.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Pierce County share | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | -1.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.2% | +7.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.8% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | +1.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.2% | -0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Pierce County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 34 miles). Income ranges from $63,128 in Madison County to $80,687 in Stanton County; 2 of these neighbors top Pierce County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce County | - | $72,357 | $884/mo | 78% |
| Antelope County, NE | 24 mi | $66,105 | $692/mo | 79% |
| Madison County, NE | 25 mi | $63,128 | $881/mo | 65% |
| Wayne County, NE | 25 mi | $66,215 | $800/mo | 61% |
| Knox County, NE | 29 mi | $64,636 | $647/mo | 78% |
| Cedar County, NE | 29 mi | $73,578 | $716/mo | 80% |
| Stanton County, NE | 34 mi | $80,687 | $902/mo | 78% |
Pierce County towns compared
7 Census places fall mainly inside Pierce County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 5,161 residents, leaving about 30% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $84,531 at the median in Randolph, $54,766 in Plainview. Rent is cheapest in Randolph ($665) and steepest in Pierce ($1,274). This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce | city | 1,956 | $70,859 | $1,274 | 6 mi |
| Plainview | city | 1,281 | $54,766 | $816 | 11 mi |
| Randolph | city | 877 | $84,531 | $665 | 15 mi |
| Osmond | city | 647 | $66,250 | $688 | 6 mi |
| Hadar | village | 264 | $77,222 | $1,017 | 14 mi |
| McLean | village | 86 | $97,625 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Foster | village | 50 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
Pierce County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Pierce County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.7% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.4% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.1% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 2.5% |
What the numbers mean for Pierce County borrowers
What the Pierce County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Consolidating cards in Pierce County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Pierce County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Room for a loan payment in Pierce County
Pierce County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,030 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $884, takes 15% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,287 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Pierce County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
A Pierce County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Pierce County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Pierce County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Nebraska borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Pierce County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Pierce County, check the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Nebraska guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Pierce County?
$72,357 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,475 for Nebraska. It ranks 30th of 93 in the state.
How does Pierce County rent compare with Nebraska?
$884 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 18% below.
Which towns does the Pierce County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Pierce, Plainview, Randolph, Osmond, Hadar.
Are Pierce 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.
Where can someone in Pierce County check a lender's license?
With the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.