1st Advantage MortgageThe median Scotts Bluff County household earns $63,614, and 13% 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
- Scotts Bluff County, NE: the basics
- Income in Scotts Bluff County compared with Nebraska
- Housing costs in Scotts Bluff County
- Employment and commuting in Scotts Bluff County
- Counties near Scotts Bluff County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Scotts Bluff County
- Budget math at the Scotts Bluff County median
- More Scotts Bluff County figures
- What the numbers mean for Scotts Bluff County borrowers
- Nebraska rules that apply in Scotts Bluff County
- Checklist for Scotts Bluff County applicants
- More guides for Scotts Bluff County
- Frequently asked questions
Scotts Bluff County, NE: the basics
With an estimated 35,843 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Scotts Bluff County ranks 7th of 93 in Nebraska for population. Land area is 740 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 48 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 10 Census places inside Scotts Bluff County, Scottsbluff leads by population with about 14,376; 10 of the 10 are incorporated.
Income in Scotts Bluff County compared with Nebraska
Half of Scotts Bluff County households take in less than $63,614 a year and half take in more, 17% below the Nebraska median of $76,475. Only 67 Nebraska counties post a higher median.
| Band | Scotts Bluff County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | +6.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.7% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.3% | -4.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -5.0 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 12.9%, 2 points higher than the state's 10.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.448 here. For a borrower in Scotts Bluff 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.
Housing costs in Scotts Bluff County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $909 in Scotts Bluff County versus $1,072 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. With a median value of $168,500, a typical Scotts Bluff County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 69%.
| Home costs | Scotts Bluff County | Nebraska | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $909/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,500 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.2% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | n/a |
Employment and commuting in Scotts Bluff County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 10%. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 7% locally and 4% for Nebraska. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.7% in Scotts Bluff County. About 82% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.0% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Scotts Bluff County workers | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -1.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.9% | -3.5 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 Scotts Bluff County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 45 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Banner County leads the group on income ($78,839), Sioux County trails ($53,929), and Scotts Bluff County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in Wyoming. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Scotts Bluff County resident follows Nebraska rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotts Bluff County | - | $63,614 | $909/mo | 69% |
| Banner County, NE | 22 mi | $78,839 | $975/mo | 68% |
| Goshen County, WY | 37 mi | $58,929 | $778/mo | 73% |
| Morrill County, NE | 38 mi | $58,500 | $768/mo | 77% |
| Box Butte County, NE | 40 mi | $68,892 | $752/mo | 77% |
| Sioux County, NE | 43 mi | $53,929 | $745/mo | 60% |
| Kimball County, NE | 45 mi | $56,712 | $846/mo | 75% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Scotts Bluff County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Scotts Bluff County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 27,871 residents, leaving about 22% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $75,093 at the median in Gering, $38,125 in Minatare. Rent is cheapest in Minatare ($506) and steepest in Scottsbluff ($966). None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsbluff | city | 14,376 | $56,359 | $966 | 2 mi |
| Gering | city | 8,550 | $75,093 | $823 | 3 mi |
| Mitchell | city | 1,962 | $54,150 | $953 | 8 mi |
| Morrill | village | 880 | $47,143 | $910 | 14 mi |
| Terrytown | city | 793 | $43,618 | $848 | 2 mi |
| Minatare | city | 712 | $38,125 | $506 | 11 mi |
| Lyman | village | 291 | $55,047 | $782 | 18 mi |
| Melbeta | village | 146 | $47,000 | $850 | 11 mi |
| Henry | village | 94 | $79,750 | n/a | 21 mi |
| McGrew | village | 67 | $35,833 | n/a | 16 mi |
Budget math at the Scotts Bluff County median
Scotts Bluff County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $5,301 a month: gross income for a household at the Scotts Bluff County median
- Housing at the median rent of $909 uses 17%
- Under a 36% cap, $1,908 total minus rent leaves $999
- Under a 43% cap, $2,280 total minus rent leaves $1,371
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Scotts Bluff County figures
27% of Scotts Bluff County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.2%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Scotts Bluff County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.0% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Scotts Bluff County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 62.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 4.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
What the numbers mean for Scotts Bluff County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Scotts Bluff County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 10% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Nebraska rules that apply in Scotts Bluff County
Consumer lenders serving Scotts Bluff County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Nebraska that is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
Checklist for Scotts Bluff County applicants
A short checklist for Scotts Bluff County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Scotts Bluff County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Scotts Bluff County
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scotts Bluff County a high-income county?
Its $63,614 median ranks 68th of 93 Nebraska counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Scotts Bluff County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $909 a month; 49% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Scotts Bluff County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Scottsbluff, Gering, Mitchell, Morrill, Terrytown and 5 more.
Are Scotts Bluff 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.
Is there a Scotts Bluff County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Nebraska it is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance.