1st Advantage MortgageThe median Rock County household earns $58,125, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Rock County
- How much Rock County households make
- Rock County housing compared with Nebraska
- Work, industries and travel time in Rock County
- Counties near Rock County
- Rock County towns compared
- Budget math at the Rock County median
- What the numbers mean for Rock County borrowers
- People and households in Rock County
- A Rock County borrower's checklist
- Nebraska rules that apply in Rock County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Rock County
Roughly 1,319 residents live in Rock County, Nebraska, 80th by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 1,008 square miles, that works out to roughly 1.3 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Rock County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 2 Census places inside Rock County, Bassett leads by population with about 580; 2 of the 2 are incorporated. Because Rock County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
How much Rock County households make
The median household income in Rock County is $58,125; statewide it is $76,475, so Rock County runs 24% below Nebraska as a whole. That places it 85th among Nebraska's 93 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Rock County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.8% | +7.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.2% | -5.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -3.7 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 10.8% of Rock County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. A household earning below the $58,125 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rock County housing compared with Nebraska
A typical Rock County rental runs $644 a month including utilities, which is 40% below Nebraska. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 25% of renter households here. With a median value of $117,500, a typical Rock County house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 69% of homes.
| Cost | Rock County | Nebraska figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $644/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $117,500 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 25% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.7% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 26% | 8% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Rock County
By the Census industry count, 33% of employed Rock County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 28% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 33% locally and 4% for Nebraska. The survey's unemployment rate for Rock County averages 1.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 3% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Rock County share | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 33.0% | +28.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 27.5% | +3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.6% | +2.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.1% | -1.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.2% | -2.6 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Counties near Rock County
Six nearby counties, 26 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Rock County; Loup County is highest at $71,667 and Brown County lowest at $54,676.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock County | - | $58,125 | $644/mo | 69% |
| Brown County, NE | 26 mi | $54,676 | $876/mo | 74% |
| Holt County, NE | 33 mi | $68,513 | $714/mo | 72% |
| Loup County, NE | 35 mi | $71,667 | $688/mo | 73% |
| Keya Paha County, NE | 36 mi | $64,000 | $875/mo | 81% |
| Garfield County, NE | 41 mi | $62,804 | $490/mo | 76% |
| Blaine County, NE | 43 mi | $69,583 | $873/mo | 74% |
Rock County towns compared
2 Census places fall mainly inside Rock County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 626 residents, leaving about 53% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Rock County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bassett | city | 580 | $42,697 | $651 | 14 mi |
| Newport | village | 46 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
Budget math at the Rock County median
How much room does a median Rock County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,844 a month: gross income for a household at the Rock County median
- Rent at the median, $644, takes 13% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,051 a month
- Under a 45% cap, $2,180 total minus rent leaves $1,536
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Rock County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Rock County borrowers.
- Fixed incomes. Rock County's median age is 49.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Rock County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
People and households in Rock County
College graduates make up 27% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Rock County | All of Nebraska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.4 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.1% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.2% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
A Rock County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Rock County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Rock County.
- 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.
Nebraska rules that apply in Rock County
The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Nebraska license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Nebraska state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Rock County earn?
The median is $58,125; 28% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Rock County?
$644 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
I live in a small Rock County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Bassett, Newport.
Are Rock 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Rock County?
Start with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.