Cost of Living in Brown County, Nebraska
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Brown County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Brown County ranks #1,318 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 42%)
Sourced county brief
Brown County Renters Face 41.5% Median Gross Rent to Income Ratio
The official rentBurdenGrapiPct for Brown County was estimated at 41.5% in the most recent five-year period. This metric, representing the official B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income, is 18.3 percentage points higher than the Nebraska unweighted county mean of 23.2%. The median gross rent in the county is $876 per month, which is above the unweighted county mean of $797 per month. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units is $730, below the state unweighted county mean of $860. The median home value in the county is $113,900, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $164,635. Median renter-household income is $30,052, while the median income for all households combined is $54,676. These figures represent a snapshot from the ACS 2020-2024 period and do not represent market forecasts. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Brown County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 41.5% of renter household income in Brown County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $876 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $730. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,040 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Nebraska unweighted mean of county median rents is $797 per month. Brown County's $876 median is 9.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Brown County
Rent Burden
19.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,276
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Brown County
Median home value is $113,900. Estimated monthly cost: $909 vs. your max of $1,276.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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