1st Advantage MortgageThe median Saline County household earns $79,910, and 9% 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
- A quick profile of Saline County
- Paychecks and income spread in Saline County
- Renting and owning in Saline County
- Work, industries and travel time in Saline County
- How Saline County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Saline County
- Saline County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Saline County
- Room for a loan payment in Saline County
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Saline County
Roughly 14,650 residents live in Saline County, Nebraska, 20th by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 574 square miles, that works out to roughly 25.5 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Saline County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 8 Census places inside Saline County, Crete leads by population with about 7,527; 8 of the 8 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Saline County
Saline County households have a median income of $79,910 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 11th of 93 in Nebraska.
| Income band | Share in Saline County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.8% | -5.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.0% | +7.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.2% | +0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -2.4 pts |
About 16% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. 8.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.391 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Saline County
A typical Saline County rental runs $914 a month including utilities, which is 15% below Nebraska. 34% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 8% spend half or more. Home values center on $197,400, or 2.5 years of median income. Owners occupy 76% of homes.
| Housing | Saline County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $914/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $197,400 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Saline 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Saline County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Saline County residents work in manufacturing and 23% in education and health care. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward manufacturing (24% against 10%). The survey's unemployment rate for Saline County averages 2.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. 3.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Saline County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.5% | +13.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 22.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.5% | -2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 6.6% | +2.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How Saline County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Saline County's, from 24 to 34 miles away. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Saline County; Seward County is highest at $82,444 and Jefferson County lowest at $59,044.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saline County | - | $79,910 | $914/mo | 76% |
| Jefferson County, NE | 24 mi | $59,044 | $662/mo | 75% |
| Fillmore County, NE | 24 mi | $76,295 | $716/mo | 80% |
| Seward County, NE | 25 mi | $82,444 | $980/mo | 72% |
| Lancaster County, NE | 30 mi | $74,793 | $1,085/mo | 59% |
| Gage County, NE | 30 mi | $67,247 | $774/mo | 74% |
| Thayer County, NE | 34 mi | $66,213 | $766/mo | 78% |
Places inside Saline County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 82% of Saline County residents live in one of the 8. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $74,286 in Dorchester to $90,909 in Friend. No Saline County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crete | city | 7,527 | $77,209 | $936 | 12 mi |
| Wilber | city | 1,936 | $84,712 | $805 | 9 mi |
| Friend | city | 1,155 | $90,909 | $810 | 12 mi |
| Dorchester | village | 550 | $74,286 | $638 | 9 mi |
| De Witt | village | 437 | $80,526 | $631 | 14 mi |
| Western | village | 215 | $53,750 | $563 | 9 mi |
| Swanton | village | 93 | $61,146 | $933 | 10 mi |
| Tobias | village | 61 | $61,250 | n/a | 13 mi |
Saline County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 9.7%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Measure | Saline County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.8% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.7% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.7% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Saline County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 3.6% |
Before borrowing in Saline County
Based on the Saline County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Room for a loan payment in Saline County
How much room does a median Saline County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $79,910 a year is $6,659 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $914 uses 14%
- Under a 43% cap, $2,863 total minus rent leaves $1,949
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Saline County's.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Saline County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Nebraska license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
Consumer lenders serving Saline County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Nebraska that is 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.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Saline County?
$79,910 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,475 for Nebraska. It ranks 11th of 93 in the state.
Is Saline County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $914 against $1,072 statewide, and 34% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Saline County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Saline County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Saline County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Crete, Wilber, Friend, Dorchester, De Witt and 3 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Saline County or elsewhere in Nebraska, the same rules apply.