Howard County, Nebraska Income Statistics
Howard 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
Howard County Around averageWealthier than 70% of counties in Nebraska
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Howard County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $77,518 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,936 | $56,814 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.4% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.4% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Howard County is about 1% higher than in Nebraska. Income has been growing faster in Howard County (5.0%/yr) than in Nebraska (4.3%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Howard 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 Howard County, Nebraska grew by 75.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $77,518 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Howard County
| Metric | Howard County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.476 | 0.515 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,424 | $65,618 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,867 | $52,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.8% | 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 Howard County, it is 0.476, 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 40% more than women's income in Howard County, Nebraska. Over a 35-year career, a 40% wage gap accumulates to roughly $649,495 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Nebraska has widened from about 20% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $11,542 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Howard County widened by 9.2 points while Nebraska's narrowed by 3.1 points.
Employment
| Metric | Howard County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.6% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 124 people are unemployed in Howard County, Nebraska.
The average commute time in Howard County is 25 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Nebraska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Howard County, Nebraska has fallen from 5.0% to 3.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.5% in 2021 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2018.
Howard County, NE Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Howard County, NE is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 6,534 residents against a local median of 3,324. The measure that sets Howard County, NE apart most is income growth: 5.0%/yr, 27% above the local median of 3.9%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $77,518 against a local median of $66,554, 16% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Howard County, NE is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 2.2%/yr on income growth, so Howard County, NE sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Howard 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County, NE | 6,534 | $77,518 #1/6 | 5.0%/yr #2/6 | 3.8% #5/6 | 0.476 #1/6 |
| Greeley County, NE | 2,202 | $64,901 | 3.9%/yr | 3.5% | 0.507 |
| Hall County, NE | 62,536 | $68,324 | 3.6%/yr | 4.0% | 0.508 |
| Sherman County, NE | 2,967 | $62,401 | 3.7%/yr | 3.0% | 0.488 |
| Merrick County, NE | 7,724 | $69,565 | 4.2%/yr | 1.0% | 0.507 |
| Nance County, NE | 3,324 | $66,554 | 5.8%/yr | 3.6% | 0.503 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Howard 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 Howard County, Nebraska.
How Rich Is Howard County, Nebraska?
Howard 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 $77,518, about 1% higher than the Nebraska average of $76,615.
Are incomes growing in Howard County, Nebraska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Howard County, Nebraska rose 75%, from $44,249 to $77,518. Over the same years, income here outpaced Nebraska as a whole: +75% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Howard County, Nebraska was $73,946, up 7% from $69,278 in 2022. The Nebraska median that year was $74,986.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Howard County, Nebraska was $59,679. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $77,518.
What is the Gini coefficient in Howard County, Nebraska?
The Gini coefficient in Howard County is 0.476. 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 Howard County, Nebraska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Nebraska has widened from about 20% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $11,542 since 2009.
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