Americans on the whole were doing well financially heading into 2020, with major markers like unemployment reaching 50-year lows. The pandemic changed all that: During the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, our nation's real GDP fell by a whopping 31.4%, a number that hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. Since then the GDP has recovered, the first quarter of 2022 was 11% above the fourth quarter of 2019.
While GDP has recovered since the height of the pandemic, wage growth has not kept pace with inflation. In 2021 average hourly wages increased 4.7% while there was 7% inflation, meaning the worker's purchasing power dropped by 2.4%.
Where you live can make a big impact on your financial situation. The highest earning county in the U.S. earns $147,111, while the lowest earns $22,292. Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-earning counties in Nebraska using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the Census' 2020 5-year estimate median household income.
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#50. Blaine County
- Median household income: $55,268
--- 12.3% below state average, 15.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 6.7%
--- #3,119 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 4.3%
--- #1,825 highest among all counties nationwide
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#49. Keya Paha County
- Median household income: $55,250
--- 12.3% below state average, 15.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 23.5%
--- #1,057 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #1,823 highest among all counties nationwide
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#48. Garfield County
- Median household income: $54,659
--- 13.3% below state average, 15.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.1%
--- #2,120 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.3%
--- #1,767 highest among all counties nationwide
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#47. Custer County
- Median household income: $53,891
--- 14.5% below state average, 17.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.0%
--- #1,445 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.9%
--- #1,684 highest among all counties nationwide
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#46. Banner County
- Median household income: $53,864
--- 14.5% below state average, 17.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.4%
--- #1,376 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 5.1%
--- #1,680 highest among all counties nationwide
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#45. Boyd County
- Median household income: $53,846
--- 14.6% below state average, 17.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.0%
--- #1,445 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.4%
--- #1,678 highest among all counties nationwide
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#44. Knox County
- Median household income: $53,653
--- 14.9% below state average, 17.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.0%
--- #2,143 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.5%
--- #1,653 highest among all counties nationwide
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#43. Furnas County
- Median household income: $53,533
--- 15.0% below state average, 17.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.5%
--- #2,226 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.4%
--- #1,642 highest among all counties nationwide
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#42. Scotts Bluff County
- Median household income: $53,433
--- 15.2% below state average, 17.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.0%
--- #1,607 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.5%
--- #1,635 highest among all counties nationwide
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#41. Thayer County
- Median household income: $53,234
--- 15.5% below state average, 18.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.5%
--- #2,226 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.5%
--- #1,614 highest among all counties nationwide
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#40. Sherman County
- Median household income: $53,158
--- 15.6% below state average, 18.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.8%
--- #2,366 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.0%
--- #1,608 highest among all counties nationwide
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#39. Nance County
- Median household income: $53,147
--- 15.7% below state average, 18.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.7%
--- #1,839 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.1%
--- #1,607 highest among all counties nationwide
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#38. Nuckolls County
- Median household income: $52,975
--- 15.9% below state average, 18.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.0%
--- #2,330 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.3%
--- #1,590 highest among all counties nationwide
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#37. Saline County
- Median household income: $52,956
--- 16.0% below state average, 18.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.1%
--- #1,424 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.9%
--- #1,586 highest among all counties nationwide
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#36. Antelope County
- Median household income: $52,569
--- 16.6% below state average, 19.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.6%
--- #2,408 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.7%
--- #1,550 highest among all counties nationwide
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#35. Hayes County
- Median household income: $52,396
--- 16.9% below state average, 19.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.4%
--- #2,720 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.8%
--- #1,536 highest among all counties nationwide
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#34. Madison County
- Median household income: $52,334
--- 16.9% below state average, 19.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.6%
--- #1,517 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.9%
--- #1,522 highest among all counties nationwide
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#33. Cheyenne County
- Median household income: $52,270
--- 17.1% below state average, 19.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.2%
--- #2,106 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.0%
--- #1,513 highest among all counties nationwide
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#32. Merrick County
- Median household income: $52,254
--- 17.1% below state average, 19.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.1%
--- #1,768 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.7%
--- #1,510 highest among all counties nationwide
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#31. Keith County
- Median household income: $52,169
--- 17.2% below state average, 19.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.9%
--- #1,804 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.6%
--- #1,498 highest among all counties nationwide
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#30. Burt County
- Median household income: $51,961
--- 17.5% below state average, 20.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.3%
--- #1,734 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.3%
--- #1,461 highest among all counties nationwide
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#29. McPherson County
- Median household income: $51,932
--- 17.6% below state average, 20.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.5%
--- #2,579 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #1,457 highest among all counties nationwide
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#28. Gage County
- Median household income: $51,812
--- 17.8% below state average, 20.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.0%
--- #1,445 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.7%
--- #1,440 highest among all counties nationwide
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#27. Webster County
- Median household income: $51,684
--- 18.0% below state average, 20.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.1%
--- #1,768 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.3%
--- #1,419 highest among all counties nationwide
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#26. Harlan County
- Median household income: $51,534
--- 18.2% below state average, 20.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 25.4%
--- #840 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.1%
--- #1,391 highest among all counties nationwide
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#25. Rock County
- Median household income: $51,458
--- 18.3% below state average, 20.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.0%
--- #1,268 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 4.1%
--- #1,378 highest among all counties nationwide
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#24. Nemaha County
- Median household income: $50,236
--- 20.3% below state average, 22.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.2%
--- #1,245 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #1,239 highest among all counties nationwide
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#23. Franklin County
- Median household income: $50,231
--- 20.3% below state average, 22.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.4%
--- #2,247 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #1,238 highest among all counties nationwide
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#22. Johnson County
- Median household income: $49,382
--- 21.6% below state average, 24.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.0%
--- #1,784 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.0%
--- #1,141 highest among all counties nationwide
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#21. Dawes County
- Median household income: $49,379
--- 21.6% below state average, 24.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.4%
--- #2,720 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.6%
--- #1,139 highest among all counties nationwide
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#20. Dundy County
- Median household income: $49,211
--- 21.9% below state average, 24.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.2%
--- #1,756 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.4%
--- #1,121 highest among all counties nationwide
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#19. Jefferson County
- Median household income: $48,981
--- 22.3% below state average, 24.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.1%
--- #2,306 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.1%
--- #1,103 highest among all counties nationwide
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#18. Deuel County
- Median household income: $48,958
--- 22.3% below state average, 24.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.7%
--- #3,038 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.5%
--- #1,094 highest among all counties nationwide
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#17. Hooker County
- Median household income: $48,654
--- 22.8% below state average, 25.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.8%
--- #3,027 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.6%
--- #1,065 highest among all counties nationwide
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#16. Arthur County
- Median household income: $48,500
--- 23.0% below state average, 25.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.8%
--- #1,637 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.5%
--- #1,049 highest among all counties nationwide
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#15. Wheeler County
- Median household income: $48,438
--- 23.1% below state average, 25.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.7%
--- #2,791 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.0%
--- #1,044 highest among all counties nationwide
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#14. Red Willow County
- Median household income: $48,140
--- 23.6% below state average, 25.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.8%
--- #1,986 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #1,013 highest among all counties nationwide
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#13. Kimball County
- Median household income: $48,056
--- 23.7% below state average, 26.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.0%
--- #2,865 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #1,009 highest among all counties nationwide
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#12. Sioux County
- Median household income: $47,422
--- 24.7% below state average, 27.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.6%
--- #2,035 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.2%
--- #950 highest among all counties nationwide
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#11. Morrill County
- Median household income: $46,903
--- 25.6% below state average, 27.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.3%
--- #1,902 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.8%
--- #902 highest among all counties nationwide
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#10. Greeley County
- Median household income: $46,830
--- 25.7% below state average, 27.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.9%
--- #2,165 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.7%
--- #894 highest among all counties nationwide
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#9. Loup County
- Median household income: $46,111
--- 26.8% below state average, 29.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.4%
--- #2,928 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.2%
--- #828 highest among all counties nationwide
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#8. Pawnee County
- Median household income: $46,063
--- 26.9% below state average, 29.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.7%
--- #2,694 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.6%
--- #822 highest among all counties nationwide
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#7. Hitchcock County
- Median household income: $46,000
--- 27.0% below state average, 29.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.6%
--- #2,704 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.5%
--- #818 highest among all counties nationwide
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#6. Logan County
- Median household income: $45,990
--- 27.0% below state average, 29.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.3%
--- #2,087 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.9%
--- #817 highest among all counties nationwide
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#5. Sheridan County
- Median household income: $45,543
--- 27.7% below state average, 29.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.7%
--- #2,395 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #777 highest among all counties nationwide
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#4. Richardson County
- Median household income: $44,524
--- 29.3% below state average, 31.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.8%
--- #2,377 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.8%
--- #695 highest among all counties nationwide
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#3. Grant County
- Median household income: $43,625
--- 30.8% below state average, 32.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.8%
--- #2,670 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.1%
--- #618 highest among all counties nationwide
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#2. Garden County
- Median household income: $42,076
--- 33.2% below state average, 35.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.3%
--- #2,937 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.1%
--- #494 highest among all counties nationwide
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#1. Brown County
- Median household income: $41,979
--- 33.4% below state average, 35.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.7%
--- #2,791 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.7%
--- #489 highest among all counties nationwide
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