Phelps County, Nebraska Income Statistics
Phelps 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
Phelps County Around averageWealthier than 76% of counties in Nebraska
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Phelps County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,938 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,404 | $56,814 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.0% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.6% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Phelps County is about 10% lower than in Nebraska. Income has been growing slower in Phelps County (3.9%/yr) than in Nebraska (4.3%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Phelps 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 Phelps County, Nebraska grew by 56.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $68,938 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Phelps County
| Metric | Phelps County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.498 | 0.515 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $59,655 | $65,618 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,571 | $52,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.3% | 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 Phelps County, it is 0.498, 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 25% more than women's income in Phelps County, Nebraska. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $422,940 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Phelps County, Nebraska has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 20%. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,099 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Phelps County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.2% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.6% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 8 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 56 people are unemployed in Phelps County, Nebraska.
The average commute time in Phelps County is 8 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Nebraska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Phelps County, Nebraska has fallen from 3.1% to 1.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.0% in 2017.
Phelps County, NE Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Phelps County, NE is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 9,009 residents against a local median of 6,713. Phelps County, NE's unemployment, at 1.2%, runs 28% below the 1.7% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.3% on unemployment, so Phelps County, NE sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Phelps County, NE has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phelps County, NE | 9,009 | $68,938 #6/6 | 3.9%/yr #5/6 | 1.2% #1/6 | 0.498 #3/6 |
| Harlan County, NE | 2,847 | $69,654 | 5.8%/yr | 1.3% | 0.533 |
| Gosper County, NE | 2,040 | $76,816 | 2.8%/yr | 2.4% | 0.508 |
| Kearney County, NE | 6,713 | $76,831 | 4.4%/yr | 1.7% | 0.473 |
| Buffalo County, NE | 50,579 | $75,983 | 4.2%/yr | 2.6% | 0.507 |
| Dawson County, NE | 24,202 | $71,312 | 4.6%/yr | 1.4% | 0.492 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Phelps 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 Phelps County, Nebraska.
How Rich Is Phelps County, Nebraska?
Phelps 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 $68,938, about 10% lower than the Nebraska average of $76,615.
How has median household income changed in Phelps County, Nebraska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Phelps County, Nebraska rose 56%, from $44,194 to $68,938. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Nebraska as a whole: +56% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Phelps County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Phelps County, Nebraska was $66,663, up 2% from $65,252 in 2022. The Nebraska median that year was $74,986.
What was the median household income in Phelps County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Phelps County, Nebraska was $57,312. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $68,938.
How strong is the job market in Phelps County, Nebraska?
Unemployment in Phelps County, Nebraska is only 1.2%, 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 Phelps County, Nebraska?
The Gini coefficient in Phelps County is 0.498. 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 Phelps County, Nebraska?
The income gap between men and women in Phelps County, Nebraska has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 20%. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,099 since 2009.
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