Dawson County, Nebraska Income Statistics
Dawson 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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C
Dawson County Below averageLess wealthy than 70% of counties in Nebraska
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Dawson County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,312 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,415 | $56,814 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.0% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.4% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Dawson County is about 7% lower than in Nebraska. Income has been growing faster in Dawson County (4.6%/yr) than in Nebraska (4.3%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Dawson 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 Dawson County, Nebraska grew by 74.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $71,312 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Dawson County
| Metric | Dawson County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.492 | 0.515 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,075 | $65,618 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,667 | $52,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.2% | 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 Dawson County, it is 0.492, 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 19% more than women's income in Dawson County, Nebraska. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $329,280 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dawson County, Nebraska has narrowed from about 26% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2010, and was narrowest at 13% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $671 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Dawson County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.4% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 2.4% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 179 people are unemployed in Dawson County, Nebraska.
The average commute time in Dawson County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Nebraska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Dawson County, Nebraska has fallen from 5.2% to 1.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.4% in 2013.
Dawson County, NE Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Dawson County, NE is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 24,202 residents against a local median of 4,568. The measure that sets Dawson County, NE apart most is unemployment: 1.4%, 41% below the local median of 2.4%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.6%/yr against a local median of 4.0%/yr, 17% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Dawson County, NE is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 1.6% on unemployment, so Dawson County, NE sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Dawson County, NE has the 3rd lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson County, NE | 24,202 | $71,312 #2/6 | 4.6%/yr #2/6 | 1.4% #3/6 | 0.492 #2/6 |
| Gosper County, NE | 2,040 | $76,816 | 2.8%/yr | 2.4% | 0.508 |
| Custer County, NE | 10,518 | $66,495 | 4.4%/yr | 2.6% | 0.479 |
| Phelps County, NE | 9,009 | $68,938 | 3.9%/yr | 1.2% | 0.498 |
| Frontier County, NE | 2,569 | $69,999 | 4.0%/yr | 2.6% | 0.508 |
| Furnas County, NE | 4,568 | $61,822 | 5.6%/yr | 1.0% | 0.502 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Dawson County, Nebraska has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Nebraska, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Dawson County, Nebraska.
How Rich Is Dawson County, Nebraska?
Dawson County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $71,312, about 7% lower than the Nebraska average of $76,615.
Are incomes growing in Dawson County, Nebraska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Dawson County, Nebraska rose 75%, from $40,837 to $71,312. Over the same years, income here outpaced Nebraska as a whole: +75% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Dawson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Dawson County, Nebraska was $66,469, down 1% from $66,838 in 2022. The Nebraska median that year was $74,986.
What was the median household income in Dawson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Dawson County, Nebraska was $57,644. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $71,312.
Is unemployment high in Dawson County, Nebraska?
Unemployment in Dawson County, Nebraska is only 1.4%, well below the Nebraska rate of 3.0%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Dawson County, Nebraska?
The Gini coefficient in Dawson County is 0.492. 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 Dawson County, Nebraska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dawson County, Nebraska has narrowed from about 26% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2010, and was narrowest at 13% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $671 since 2009.
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