1st Advantage MortgageThurston County households have a median income of $69,177 and median rent of $699 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
- Thurston County, NE: the basics
- Income in Thurston County compared with Nebraska
- Jobs and commutes in Thurston County
- Renting and owning in Thurston County
- Places inside Thurston County
- The counties around Thurston County
- Budget math at the Thurston County median
- Before borrowing in Thurston County
- Who lives in Thurston County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
- Four steps for Thurston County borrowers
- More guides for Thurston County
- Frequently asked questions
Thurston County, NE: the basics
Roughly 6,627 residents live in Thurston County, Nebraska, 44th by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. It covers 394 square miles of land, or about 17 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Thurston County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (5 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Pender, with about 1,379 residents, or 21% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Thurston County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Thurston County compared with Nebraska
The median household income in Thurston County is $69,177; statewide it is $76,475, so Thurston County runs 10% below Nebraska as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Thurston County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.8% | +1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.5% | +5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.7% | -2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -4.4 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. 13.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.422 here. A household earning below the $69,177 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Thurston County
By the Census industry count, 31% of employed Thurston County residents work in education and health care and 15% in public administration. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward public administration (15% against 4%). The survey's unemployment rate for Thurston County averages 10.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Thurston County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.9% | +6.5 pts |
| Public administration | 14.6% | +10.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.7% | +4.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.2% | -2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.3% | -3.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Thurston County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Thurston County
Renters in Thurston County pay a median of $699 a month, 35% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. 26% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 11% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $114,600, about 1.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 61% of homes.
| Thurston County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $699/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $114,600 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 26% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
Places inside Thurston County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Thurston County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 4,233 residents, leaving about 36% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Pender has the highest median household income on the list ($73,125) and Winnebago the lowest ($41,447), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $577 in Winnebago to $929 in Walthill. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pender | village | 1,379 | $73,125 | $875 | 10 mi |
| Winnebago | village | 1,058 | $41,447 | $577 | 7 mi |
| Walthill | village | 812 | $70,398 | $929 | 2 mi |
| Macy | CDP | 637 | $42,500 | $598 | 9 mi |
| Rosalie | village | 247 | $66,875 | $813 | 7 mi |
| Thurston | village | 100 | $71,667 | $705 | 9 mi |
The counties around Thurston County
Six nearby counties, 16 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $63,685 in Burt County to $73,658 in Woodbury County; 4 of these neighbors top Thurston County's median. Some neighbors are in Iowa. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Thurston County resident follows Nebraska rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurston County | - | $69,177 | $699/mo | 61% |
| Dakota County, NE | 16 mi | $70,329 | $1,069/mo | 64% |
| Cuming County, NE | 21 mi | $71,104 | $789/mo | 69% |
| Burt County, NE | 23 mi | $63,685 | $708/mo | 75% |
| Dixon County, NE | 28 mi | $72,454 | $689/mo | 77% |
| Woodbury County, IA | 30 mi | $73,658 | $981/mo | 68% |
| Monona County, IA | 30 mi | $68,377 | $855/mo | 76% |
Budget math at the Thurston County median
How much room does a median Thurston County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,765 a month: gross income for a household at the Thurston County median
- Median rent: $699, or 12 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $2,018 total minus rent leaves $1,319
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,895 a month
If your rent is above $699, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Thurston County
What the Thurston County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Thurston County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Who lives in Thurston County, in numbers
22% of Thurston County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 9.4%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Measure | Thurston County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.2 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.2% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.4% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.0% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Thurston County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
Thurston 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.
Four steps for Thurston County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Thurston County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Thurston County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Nebraska.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Thurston County
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Thurston County?
$69,177 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,475 for Nebraska. It ranks 45th of 93 in the state.
What do renters pay in Thurston County?
$699 a month at the median, about 12% of median household income.
I live in a small Thurston County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Pender, Winnebago, Walthill, Macy, Rosalie and 1 more.
Will a Thurston County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Nebraska as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Thurston County residents?
The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance licenses consumer lenders in Nebraska; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.