It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.
The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Nebraska where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.
You may also like: Highest-rated things to do in Nebraska, according to Tripadvisor
You may also like: Highest-rated specialty museums in Nebraska by visitors
1 / 50
#50. Butler County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 63.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.0%
- Total occupied households: 3,363
- Median household income: $58,979
- Median monthly housing cost: $730
2 / 50
#49. Furnas County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.2%
- Total occupied households: 2,128
- Median household income: $48,838
- Median monthly housing cost: $606
3 / 50
#48. Garden County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 11.3%
- Total occupied households: 868
- Median household income: $43,750
- Median monthly housing cost: $543
4 / 50
#47. Chase County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.0%
- Total occupied households: 1,679
- Median household income: $57,009
- Median monthly housing cost: $713
6 / 50
#45. Platte County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 60.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.7%
- Total occupied households: 12,947
- Median household income: $62,305
- Median monthly housing cost: $788
7 / 50
#44. Merrick County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.8%
- Total occupied households: 3,373
- Median household income: $55,649
- Median monthly housing cost: $705
8 / 50
#43. Brown County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 65.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.7%
- Total occupied households: 1,387
- Median household income: $43,098
- Median monthly housing cost: $547
9 / 50
#42. Gage County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.9%
- Total occupied households: 8,979
- Median household income: $53,110
- Median monthly housing cost: $682
11 / 50
#40. Hamilton County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 16.2%
- Total occupied households: 3,713
- Median household income: $64,210
- Median monthly housing cost: $829
12 / 50
#39. Nemaha County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.4%
- Total occupied households: 2,977
- Median household income: $51,828
- Median monthly housing cost: $671
13 / 50
#38. Wheeler County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.0%
- Total occupied households: 346
- Median household income: $51,591
- Median monthly housing cost: $668
14 / 50
#37. Harlan County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.7%
- Total occupied households: 1,521
- Median household income: $49,835
- Median monthly housing cost: $646
15 / 50
#36. Sheridan County
16 / 50
#35. Howard County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.4%
- Total occupied households: 2,720
- Median household income: $59,348
- Median monthly housing cost: $773
17 / 50
#34. Phelps County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.7%
- Total occupied households: 3,905
- Median household income: $59,040
- Median monthly housing cost: $769
18 / 50
#33. Saunders County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.1%
- Total occupied households: 8,501
- Median household income: $68,682
- Median monthly housing cost: $897
19 / 50
#32. Red Willow County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.0%
- Total occupied households: 4,519
- Median household income: $48,808
- Median monthly housing cost: $639
20 / 50
#31. Custer County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.6%
- Total occupied households: 4,862
- Median household income: $52,184
- Median monthly housing cost: $685
You may also like: Most popular boy names in the 60s in Nebraska
You may also like: Best NFL players born in Nebraska
21 / 50
#30. Arthur County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 197
- Median household income: $42,813
- Median monthly housing cost: $563
22 / 50
#29. Wayne County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.1%
- Total occupied households: 3,708
- Median household income: $56,456
- Median monthly housing cost: $747
23 / 50
#28. Box Butte County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.8%
- Total occupied households: 4,743
- Median household income: $54,004
- Median monthly housing cost: $717
24 / 50
#27. Otoe County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.2%
- Total occupied households: 6,510
- Median household income: $59,167
- Median monthly housing cost: $788
26 / 50
#25. Dakota County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.9%
- Total occupied households: 7,404
- Median household income: $59,231
- Median monthly housing cost: $794
27 / 50
#24. Keith County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.5%
- Total occupied households: 3,882
- Median household income: $50,735
- Median monthly housing cost: $682
28 / 50
#23. Jefferson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.7%
- Total occupied households: 3,302
- Median household income: $44,510
- Median monthly housing cost: $604
29 / 50
#22. Kimball County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.3%
- Total occupied households: 1,577
- Median household income: $53,403
- Median monthly housing cost: $726
30 / 50
#21. Lincoln County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.3%
- Total occupied households: 14,856
- Median household income: $59,795
- Median monthly housing cost: $827
You may also like: Average Nebraska mortgage debt increased to $175,272 in 2024
31 / 50
#20. Loup County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.4%
- Total occupied households: 294
- Median household income: $51,000
- Median monthly housing cost: $706
32 / 50
#19. Dawson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.6%
- Total occupied households: 8,965
- Median household income: $53,721
- Median monthly housing cost: $748
33 / 50
#18. Banner County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.0%
- Total occupied households: 283
- Median household income: $51,750
- Median monthly housing cost: $722
34 / 50
#17. Deuel County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.4%
- Total occupied households: 830
- Median household income: $47,287
- Median monthly housing cost: $663
35 / 50
#16. Saline County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.2%
- Total occupied households: 5,157
- Median household income: $51,502
- Median monthly housing cost: $725
You may also like: Highest-rated stouts in Nebraska
36 / 50
#15. Madison County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.7%
- Total occupied households: 14,205
- Median household income: $53,188
- Median monthly housing cost: $752
37 / 50
#14. Washington County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.0%
- Total occupied households: 8,185
- Median household income: $71,430
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,011
38 / 50
#13. Adams County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 12,712
- Median household income: $53,023
- Median monthly housing cost: $752
39 / 50
#12. Hall County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 23,096
- Median household income: $57,104
- Median monthly housing cost: $821
40 / 50
#11. Dodge County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.1%
- Total occupied households: 15,261
- Median household income: $54,085
- Median monthly housing cost: $789
You may also like: Best counties to retire to in Nebraska
41 / 50
#10. Dawes County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.4%
- Total occupied households: 3,525
- Median household income: $50,750
- Median monthly housing cost: $742
42 / 50
#9. Cheyenne County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.6%
- Total occupied households: 4,395
- Median household income: $53,871
- Median monthly housing cost: $793
43 / 50
#8. Cass County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.4%
- Total occupied households: 9,945
- Median household income: $71,846
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,058
44 / 50
#7. Hooker County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.2%
- Total occupied households: 318
- Median household income: $41,125
- Median monthly housing cost: $609
45 / 50
#6. Buffalo County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 19,062
- Median household income: $59,431
- Median monthly housing cost: $887
You may also like: Most common jobs 150 years ago in Nebraska
46 / 50
#5. Sarpy County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.2%
- Total occupied households: 66,260
- Median household income: $82,032
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,273
47 / 50
#4. Morrill County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.8%
- Total occupied households: 1,954
- Median household income: $46,194
- Median monthly housing cost: $738
48 / 50
#3. Lancaster County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.9%
- Total occupied households: 124,324
- Median household income: $60,527
- Median monthly housing cost: $969
49 / 50
#2. Scotts Bluff County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.4%
- Total occupied households: 14,732
- Median household income: $49,745
- Median monthly housing cost: $819
50 / 50
#1. Douglas County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.9%
- Total occupied households: 218,061
- Median household income: $64,629
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,099
You may also like: Best lookout points in Nebraska by visitors