Cost of Living in Dawson 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 Dawson County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Dawson County ranks #1,864 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 41%)
Sourced county brief
Dawson County renter median income estimated at $59,031
The median income for renter households in Dawson County was $59,031, according to ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 21.3%, which is 1.9 percentage points lower than the Nebraska unweighted county mean of 23.2%. The median gross rent for the county was $925 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $797. For owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner cost was $894, while the state unweighted county mean was $860. The median home value in Dawson County was estimated at $166,200, compared to the Nebraska unweighted county mean of $164,635. These statistics represent a point-in-time assessment of local housing costs and do not indicate market trends or future conditions. 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: Dawson County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 21.3% of renter household income in Dawson County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $925 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $894. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $37,000 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. Dawson County's $925 median is 16.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Dawson County
Rent Burden
15.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,631
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.4%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Dawson County
Median home value is $166,200. Estimated monthly cost: $1,327 vs. your max of $1,631.
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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