1st Advantage MortgageIn Wheeler County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $70,250 a year and the typical rent is $509. 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
- Getting oriented in Wheeler County
- What Wheeler County households earn
- Renting and owning in Wheeler County
- Work, industries and travel time in Wheeler County
- Wheeler County towns compared
- Counties near Wheeler County
- Budget math at the Wheeler County median
- Before borrowing in Wheeler County
- Wheeler County households compared
- Checklist for Wheeler County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Wheeler County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Wheeler County
With an estimated 847 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Wheeler County ranks 82nd of 93 in Nebraska for population. Spread over 575 square miles, that works out to roughly 1.5 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Wheeler County is not part of any metropolitan area. Bartlett is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 189 people (22% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Wheeler County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What Wheeler County households earn
Half of Wheeler County households take in less than $70,250 a year and half take in more, 8% below the Nebraska median of $76,475.
| Band | Wheeler County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.1% | +7.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -10.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.7% | +0.3 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. Census counts 5.2% of Wheeler County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.508 here. None of these numbers decides a Wheeler County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Wheeler County
Renters in Wheeler County pay a median of $509 a month, 53% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 8% of renter households here. With a median value of $146,500, a typical Wheeler County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%. Median construction year: 1975.
| Cost | Wheeler County | Nebraska figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $509/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $146,500 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 8% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.4% | 2.9% | 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).
Work, industries and travel time in Wheeler County
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 36% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 23%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 36% locally and 4% for Nebraska. The survey's unemployment rate for Wheeler County averages 2.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.0%). Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Wheeler County share | +/- vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 36.3% | +32.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.9% | -3.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | -0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 5.6% | -5.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.4% | -1.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Wheeler County towns compared
2 Census places fall mainly inside Wheeler County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 346 residents, leaving about 59% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Wheeler County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartlett | village | 189 | $51,154 | $463 | 3 mi |
| Ericson | village | 157 | $69,500 | $493 | 13 mi |
Counties near Wheeler County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 39 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $61,852 in Valley County to $74,947 in Boone County; 1 of these neighbors top Wheeler County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler County | - | $70,250 | $509/mo | 78% |
| Garfield County, NE | 22 mi | $62,804 | $490/mo | 76% |
| Greeley County, NE | 25 mi | $63,929 | $613/mo | 82% |
| Boone County, NE | 28 mi | $74,947 | $850/mo | 82% |
| Antelope County, NE | 30 mi | $66,105 | $692/mo | 79% |
| Valley County, NE | 34 mi | $61,852 | $626/mo | 74% |
| Holt County, NE | 39 mi | $68,513 | $714/mo | 72% |
Budget math at the Wheeler County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Wheeler County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,854 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $509 uses 9%
- $1,833: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Wheeler County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Wheeler County borrowers.
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Wheeler County's median age is 54.3. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Wheeler County households compared
Degree holders: 30% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 9.0%, against 7.2% for Nebraska.
| Residents | Wheeler County | Nebraska | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.3% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.2% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
Checklist for Wheeler County applicants
A short checklist for Wheeler County borrowers:
- Price the Wheeler County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Wheeler County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Nebraska.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Wheeler County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Wheeler County resident can confirm its license with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Nebraska guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Wheeler County household make?
About $70,250 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 8% below the Nebraska median.
How does Wheeler County rent compare with Nebraska?
$509 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 53% below.
Does this page cover Bartlett?
Yes, along with the other 1 Census place in Wheeler County, such as Ericson.
Does living in Wheeler 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 Wheeler County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Wheeler County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Nebraska it is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance.