1st Advantage MortgageThe median Richardson County household earns $60,108, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in Richardson County
- Household income in Richardson County
- Renting and owning in Richardson County
- Work, industries and travel time in Richardson County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Richardson County
- More Richardson County figures
- What the numbers mean for Richardson County borrowers
- What a median Richardson County budget can carry
- Checklist for Richardson County applicants
- Lender oversight for Richardson County
- More guides for Richardson County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Richardson County
Roughly 7,751 residents live in Richardson County, Nebraska, 37th by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 552 square miles, that works out to roughly 14.0 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Richardson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Falls City is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 4,077 people (53% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Richardson County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Household income in Richardson County
At $60,108, the typical Richardson County household income is 8% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 80th of 93.
| Yearly household income | Richardson County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.9% | +7.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.1% | -6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -2.7 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. Census counts 10.5% of Richardson County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. None of these numbers decides a Richardson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Richardson County
A typical Richardson County rental runs $691 a month including utilities, which is 36% below Nebraska. 33% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 9% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $100,300, about 1.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%.
| Housing | Richardson County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $691/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $100,300 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 22% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Richardson County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Work, industries and travel time in Richardson County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Richardson County residents work in education and health care and 12% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Richardson County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Only 8.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Richardson County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% | -2.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.9% | +7.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | 0.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.4% | +3.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -1.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nemaha County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Pawnee County, is 28 miles off. Income ranges from $58,750 in Atchison County to $77,348 in Nemaha County; 5 of these neighbors top Richardson County's median. The list crosses into Kansas, Missouri, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richardson County | - | $60,108 | $691/mo | 77% |
| Nemaha County, NE | 20 mi | $60,924 | $772/mo | 66% |
| Brown County, KS | 22 mi | $62,233 | $646/mo | 76% |
| Atchison County, MO | 26 mi | $58,750 | $631/mo | 77% |
| Holt County, MO | 26 mi | $61,187 | $650/mo | 77% |
| Nemaha County, KS | 28 mi | $77,348 | $774/mo | 78% |
| Pawnee County, NE | 28 mi | $62,188 | $706/mo | 80% |
Towns and communities in Richardson County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Richardson County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 5,860 residents, leaving about 24% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falls City | city | 4,077 | $51,706 | $714 | 8 mi |
| Humboldt | city | 775 | $41,786 | $492 | 12 mi |
| Shubert | village | 214 | $37,500 | $850 | 8 mi |
| Verdon | village | 185 | $78,750 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Dawson | village | 166 | $60,913 | $700 | 6 mi |
| Rulo | village | 164 | $45,625 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Stella | village | 126 | $56,250 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Salem | village | 102 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| Barada | village | 35 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Preston | CDP | 16 | $50,417 | n/a | 12 mi |
More Richardson County figures
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. 6.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Richardson County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.8% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.5% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Richardson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
What the numbers mean for Richardson County borrowers
What the Richardson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Retirees. At a median age of 47.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Consolidating cards in Richardson County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
What a median Richardson County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Richardson County's medians:
- $5,009 a month: gross income for a household at the Richardson County median
- Housing at the median rent of $691 uses 14%
- Under a 40% cap, $2,004 total minus rent leaves $1,313
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checklist for Richardson County applicants
Quick steps for Richardson County:
- Price the Richardson County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Richardson County
Consumer lenders serving Richardson County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Nebraska that is 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.
More guides for Richardson County
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Richardson County household make?
About $60,108 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 21% below the Nebraska median.
How does Richardson County rent compare with Nebraska?
$691 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 36% below.
I own my home in Richardson County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Falls City?
Yes, along with the other 9 Census places in Richardson County, such as Humboldt, Shubert, Verdon.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Richardson County or elsewhere in Nebraska, the same rules apply.