1st Advantage MortgageSheridan County households have a median income of $60,121 and median rent of $738 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Nebraska license first.
On this page
- Sheridan County, NE: the basics
- Employment and commuting in Sheridan County
- Income in Sheridan County compared with Nebraska
- Sheridan County housing compared with Nebraska
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Sheridan County
- Who lives in Sheridan County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Sheridan County
- What a median Sheridan County budget can carry
- A Sheridan County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Sheridan County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Sheridan County, NE: the basics
Sheridan County is home to about 5,014 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 55th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Spread over 2,440 square miles, that works out to roughly 2.1 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Sheridan County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (4 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Gordon, with about 1,721 residents, or 34% of the county. With so few households sampled, Sheridan County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Employment and commuting in Sheridan County
The biggest employer of Sheridan County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (18%). Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (18% against 4%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.0% in Sheridan County. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 14% work from home.
| Where residents work | Sheridan County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | -1.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 17.6% | +13.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.7% | +3.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.3% | -3.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.1% | -0.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Income in Sheridan County compared with Nebraska
The median household income in Sheridan County is $60,121; statewide it is $76,475, so Sheridan County runs 21% below Nebraska as a whole. In the state ranking that is 79th of 93.
| Income band | Share in Sheridan County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.3% | +6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.4% | +4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -4.1 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. 11.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Sheridan County median.
Sheridan County housing compared with Nebraska
Renters in Sheridan County pay a median of $738 a month, 31% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 33% of renter households here. Home values center on $113,400, or 1.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 74%. Median construction year: 1951.
| Housing | Sheridan County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $738/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $113,400 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.5% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 22% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Sheridan 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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Sheridan County's, from 41 to 61 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Sheridan County; Grant County is highest at $70,147 and Oglala Lakota County lowest at $41,417. The list crosses into South Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheridan County | - | $60,121 | $738/mo | 74% |
| Dawes County, NE | 41 mi | $56,280 | $900/mo | 62% |
| Box Butte County, NE | 42 mi | $68,892 | $752/mo | 77% |
| Grant County, NE | 52 mi | $70,147 | $867/mo | 71% |
| Oglala Lakota County, SD | 58 mi | $41,417 | $584/mo | 51% |
| Bennett County, SD | 58 mi | $53,750 | $617/mo | 61% |
| Garden County, NE | 61 mi | $41,882 | $700/mo | 79% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Sheridan County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Sheridan County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 3,313 people, so roughly 34% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $53,958 in Rushville to $59,226 in Gordon. Rent is cheapest in Gordon ($625) and steepest in Rushville ($875). Live in one of these Sheridan County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon | city | 1,721 | $59,226 | $625 | 22 mi |
| Rushville | city | 877 | $53,958 | $875 | 15 mi |
| Hay Springs | village | 649 | $57,031 | $825 | 20 mi |
| Clinton | village | 66 | $56,964 | n/a | 17 mi |
| White Clay | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 35 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Who lives in Sheridan County, in numbers
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 10.9%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Measure | Sheridan County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.2% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.6% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.9% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 55.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Sheridan County
Based on the Sheridan County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 11% of Sheridan County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.1, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
What a median Sheridan County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Sheridan County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $60,121 a year is $5,010 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $738, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,016 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,517 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Sheridan County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
A Sheridan County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Sheridan County:
- Price the Sheridan County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Sheridan County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Nebraska.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Sheridan County
Sheridan County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Nebraska guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sheridan County a high-income county?
Its $60,121 median ranks 79th of 93 Nebraska counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Sheridan County rent compare with Nebraska?
$738 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 31% below.
I own my home in Sheridan County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Gordon?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Sheridan County, such as Rushville, Hay Springs, Clinton.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Sheridan County or elsewhere in Nebraska, the same rules apply.