Buffalo County, Nebraska Income Statistics
Buffalo County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Buffalo County Around averageWealthier than 75% of counties in Nebraska
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Buffalo County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $75,983 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,101 | $56,814 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.5% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.4% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Buffalo County is about 1% lower than in Nebraska. Income has been growing slower in Buffalo County (4.2%/yr) than in Nebraska (4.3%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Buffalo County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Nebraska average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Buffalo County, Nebraska grew by 62.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $75,983 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Buffalo County
| Metric | Buffalo County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.507 | 0.515 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,288 | $65,618 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,570 | $52,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.1% | 19.5% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Buffalo County, it is 0.507, lower than Nebraska's 0.515, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 24% more than women's income in Buffalo County, Nebraska. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $410,130 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Buffalo County, Nebraska has narrowed from about 26% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,744 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Buffalo County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.7% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 730 people are unemployed in Buffalo County, Nebraska.
The average commute time in Buffalo County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Nebraska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Buffalo County, Nebraska has fallen from 4.3% to 2.6% in 2024.
Buffalo County, NE Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Buffalo County, NE is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 50,579 residents against a local median of 9,009. Buffalo County, NE sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 11% above the local median at 4.2%/yr against 3.8%/yr. Buffalo County, NE has the 2nd highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo County, NE | 50,579 | $75,983 #2/6 | 4.2%/yr #2/6 | 2.6% #4/6 | 0.507 #5/6 |
| Kearney County, NE | 6,713 | $76,831 | 4.4%/yr | 1.7% | 0.473 |
| Sherman County, NE | 2,967 | $62,401 | 3.7%/yr | 3.0% | 0.488 |
| Phelps County, NE | 9,009 | $68,938 | 3.9%/yr | 1.2% | 0.498 |
| Hall County, NE | 62,536 | $68,324 | 3.6%/yr | 4.0% | 0.508 |
| Adams County, NE | 31,052 | $68,670 | 3.8%/yr | 2.4% | 0.505 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Buffalo County, Nebraska has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Nebraska, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Buffalo County, Nebraska.
How Rich Is Buffalo County, Nebraska?
Buffalo County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $75,983, about 1% lower than the Nebraska average of $76,615.
How fast is household income rising in Buffalo County, Nebraska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Buffalo County, Nebraska rose 63%, from $46,675 to $75,983. Over the same years, income here outpaced Nebraska as a whole: +63% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Buffalo County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Buffalo County, Nebraska was $74,671, up 7% from $70,043 in 2022. The Nebraska median that year was $74,986.
What was the median household income in Buffalo County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Buffalo County, Nebraska was $63,375. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $75,983.
What is the Gini coefficient in Buffalo County, Nebraska?
The Gini coefficient in Buffalo County is 0.507. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Buffalo County, Nebraska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Buffalo County, Nebraska has narrowed from about 26% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,744 since 2009.
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