1st Advantage MortgageIn Valley County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $61,852 a year and the typical rent is $626. 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
- Getting oriented in Valley County
- Income in Valley County compared with Nebraska
- Renting and owning in Valley County
- Employment and commuting in Valley County
- Valley County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Valley County
- People and households in Valley County
- What the numbers mean for Valley County borrowers
- A Valley County household budget, worked through
- Checklist for Valley County applicants
- Lender oversight for Valley County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Valley County
Roughly 4,066 residents live in Valley County, Nebraska, 60th by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 568 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 7 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Ord, with about 2,100 residents, or 52% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Valley County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Valley County compared with Nebraska
Valley County households have a median income of $61,852 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 73rd of 93 in Nebraska.
| Income band | Share in Valley County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.3% | -0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 52.9% | +11.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.7% | -8.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.1% | -2.3 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. Census counts 9.3% of Valley County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.447 here. A household earning below the $61,852 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Valley County
Renters in Valley County pay a median of $626 a month, 42% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 19% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $154,600, about 2.5 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 74%. The median home was built in 1961, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Valley County | Nebraska | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $626/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $154,600 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 19% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.2% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Valley 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.
Employment and commuting in Valley County
Education and health care employs 18% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 18%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 0.2% in Valley County. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Valley County share | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.4% | -6.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 18.2% | +13.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.3% | +4.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.3% | -2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -2.7 pts |
| Other services | 5.6% | +1.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Valley County towns compared
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 66% of Valley County residents live in one of the 4. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ord | city | 2,100 | $57,818 | $617 | 4 mi |
| Arcadia | village | 308 | $81,250 | $525 | 12 mi |
| North Loup | village | 238 | $49,167 | $618 | 12 mi |
| Elyria | village | 43 | $62,083 | n/a | 8 mi |
Regional comparison for Valley County
Greeley County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Loup County, is 36 miles off. Income ranges from $62,804 in Garfield County to $76,767 in Howard County; all six of these neighbors top Valley County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley County | - | $61,852 | $626/mo | 74% |
| Greeley County, NE | 23 mi | $63,929 | $613/mo | 82% |
| Garfield County, NE | 24 mi | $62,804 | $490/mo | 76% |
| Sherman County, NE | 24 mi | $63,578 | $818/mo | 75% |
| Howard County, NE | 34 mi | $76,767 | $777/mo | 78% |
| Wheeler County, NE | 34 mi | $70,250 | $509/mo | 78% |
| Loup County, NE | 36 mi | $71,667 | $688/mo | 73% |
People and households in Valley County
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Valley County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.3% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.9% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.2% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Valley County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 65.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 15.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.2% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
What the numbers mean for Valley County borrowers
What the Valley County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Older households. A 46.1 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
A Valley County household budget, worked through
Valley County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Valley County: $5,154
- Less median rent of $626, which is 12% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $2,216 total minus rent leaves $1,590
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checklist for Valley County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Valley County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- 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.
Lender oversight for Valley County
Consumer lenders serving Valley County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Nebraska that is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Nebraska guide.
Related local guides
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Valley County household make?
About $61,852 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 19% below the Nebraska median.
Is Valley County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $626 against $1,072 statewide, and 19% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Ord?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Valley County, such as Arcadia, North Loup, Elyria.
Does living in Valley County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Valley County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Valley 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.