1st Advantage MortgageIn Webster County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $64,347 a year and the typical rent is $647. 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 Webster County
- Income in Webster County compared with Nebraska
- Employment and commuting in Webster County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Webster County
- Webster County next to its neighbors
- Webster County towns compared
- What a median Webster County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Webster County
- More Webster County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
- Before you sign
- More guides for Webster County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Webster County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Webster County's population at 3,360; only 61 of Nebraska's 93 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 575 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 6 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 6 Census places inside Webster County, Red Cloud leads by population with about 934; 5 of the 6 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Webster County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Webster County compared with Nebraska
At $64,347, the typical Webster County household income is 2% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 63rd of 93.
| Household income | Webster County | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.6% | +3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.6% | +5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.5% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -5.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Webster County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. Census counts 9.6% of Webster County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Webster County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 16%. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (16% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 0.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 79% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Webster County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.7% | +11.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.3% | -2.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -3.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Webster County
Renters in Webster County pay a median of $647 a month, 40% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. By the Census definition, 22% of Webster County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $117,600, a typical Webster County house costs 1.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 81%. The median home was built in 1951, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Webster County | Nebraska figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $647/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $117,600 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 22% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.2% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Webster County next to its neighbors
Adams County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Kearney County, is 33 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Webster County; Kearney County is highest at $78,631 and Jewell County lowest at $52,634. Some neighbors are in Kansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Webster County resident follows Nebraska rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webster County | - | $64,347 | $647/mo | 81% |
| Adams County, NE | 23 mi | $68,365 | $857/mo | 70% |
| Nuckolls County, NE | 24 mi | $73,976 | $585/mo | 83% |
| Franklin County, NE | 24 mi | $60,195 | $691/mo | 83% |
| Smith County, KS | 31 mi | $59,135 | $635/mo | 85% |
| Jewell County, KS | 31 mi | $52,634 | $608/mo | 74% |
| Kearney County, NE | 33 mi | $78,631 | $857/mo | 77% |
Webster County towns compared
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Webster County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 2,217 people, so roughly 34% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Cloud | city | 934 | $45,909 | $585 | 7 mi |
| Blue Hill | city | 782 | $62,813 | $814 | 11 mi |
| Guide Rock | village | 286 | $39,444 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Bladen | village | 166 | $66,875 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Inavale | CDP | 41 | $61,071 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Cowles | village | 8 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
What a median Webster County budget can carry
How much room does a median Webster County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $64,347 a year is $5,362 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $647, or 12 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 40% cap, $2,145 total minus rent leaves $1,498
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Webster County
What the Webster County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
More Webster County figures
21% of Webster County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Webster County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.2% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.9% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.7% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Webster County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
Before sharing details with a lender, a Webster County resident can confirm its license with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Nebraska state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Webster County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Webster County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Webster County
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Webster County a high-income county?
Its $64,347 median ranks 63rd of 93 Nebraska counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Webster County?
$647 a month at the median, about 12% of median household income.
I live in a small Webster County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Red Cloud, Blue Hill, Guide Rock, Bladen, Inavale and 1 more.
Will a Webster County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Nebraska as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Webster County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Nebraska it is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance.