1st Advantage MortgageThe median Saunders County household earns $94,066, and 6% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Nebraska before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Saunders County
- Income in Saunders County compared with Nebraska
- How Saunders County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Saunders County
- The communities that make up Saunders County
- Counties near Saunders County
- What a median Saunders County budget can carry
- What the numbers mean for Saunders County borrowers
- More Saunders County figures
- Four steps for Saunders County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Saunders County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Saunders County
Roughly 23,048 residents live in Saunders County, Nebraska, 14th by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 749 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 31 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Omaha, NE-IA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 16 places in the county (15 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Wahoo, with about 4,929 residents, or 21% of the county.
Income in Saunders County compared with Nebraska
Half of Saunders County households take in less than $94,066 a year and half take in more, 23% above the Nebraska median of $76,475. In the state ranking that is 3rd of 93.
| Yearly household income | Saunders County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.7% | -5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.6% | -5.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 38.3% | +10.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.5% | 0.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 48% of Saunders County households make $100,000 or more, and 16% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 6.3%, 4 points lower than the state's 10.6%. For a borrower in Saunders County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Saunders County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Saunders County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by retail trade (11%). Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward construction (10% against 7%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.5% in Saunders County. About 77% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.4% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Sector | Saunders County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.3% | +1.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Saunders County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Saunders County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $960 in Saunders County versus $1,072 statewide. By the Census definition, 40% of Saunders County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $271,700, or 2.9 years of median income. 82% of Saunders County households own their home and 18% rent.
| Home costs | Saunders County | Nebraska | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $960/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $271,700 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Saunders 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.
The communities that make up Saunders County
The table lists the 14 largest of 16 Census places in Saunders County, by population. Together all 16 hold about 14,311 people, so roughly 38% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $103,350 at the median in Yutan, $80,272 in Mead. Median rent ranges from $866 in Ashland to $1,453 in Yutan. Live in one of these Saunders County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wahoo | city | 4,929 | $89,457 | $907 | 1 mi |
| Ashland | city | 3,071 | $89,408 | $866 | 19 mi |
| Yutan | city | 1,832 | $103,350 | $1,453 | 13 mi |
| Ceresco | village | 1,225 | $96,944 | $1,014 | 11 mi |
| Cedar Bluffs | village | 782 | $92,639 | $1,097 | 12 mi |
| Mead | village | 607 | $80,272 | $1,013 | 8 mi |
| Valparaiso | village | 524 | $85,625 | $931 | 14 mi |
| Prague | village | 310 | $74,375 | $850 | 10 mi |
| Weston | village | 256 | $66,250 | $1,143 | 6 mi |
| Ithaca | village | 183 | $62,083 | $910 | 7 mi |
| Leshara | village | 177 | $70,750 | $1,021 | 13 mi |
| Memphis | village | 130 | $73,750 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Colon | village | 102 | $61,563 | $1,063 | 6 mi |
| Malmo | village | 95 | $108,750 | n/a | 5 mi |
Counties near Saunders County
Six nearby counties, 24 to 31 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $74,329 in Dodge County to $103,321 in Sarpy County; 2 of these neighbors top Saunders County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saunders County | - | $94,066 | $960/mo | 82% |
| Dodge County, NE | 24 mi | $74,329 | $1,060/mo | 67% |
| Butler County, NE | 25 mi | $79,268 | $776/mo | 80% |
| Douglas County, NE | 26 mi | $80,391 | $1,201/mo | 62% |
| Sarpy County, NE | 29 mi | $103,321 | $1,334/mo | 70% |
| Lancaster County, NE | 30 mi | $74,793 | $1,085/mo | 59% |
| Washington County, NE | 31 mi | $94,396 | $965/mo | 83% |
What a median Saunders County budget can carry
Here is the Saunders County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $94,066 a year is $7,839 of gross monthly income
- 12% goes to median rent ($960)
- $1,862: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,411 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Saunders County borrowers
Based on the Saunders County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 48% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Saunders County borrower sees (free reports).
More Saunders County figures
33% of Saunders County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Saunders County | Nebraska | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.6% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.0% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Saunders County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 33.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
Four steps for Saunders County borrowers
Quick steps for Saunders County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Nebraska license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Saunders County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Saunders County resident can confirm its license with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Saunders County?
$94,066 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,475 for Nebraska. It ranks 3rd of 93 in the state.
How much is rent in Saunders County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $960 a month; 40% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Saunders County?
By population: Wahoo, Ashland, Yutan, Ceresco, Cedar Bluffs. The county has 16 Census places in all.
Are Saunders 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 Saunders 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.