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Buying a home in Elm Creek, Nebraska

The typical owner-occupied home in Elm Creek is worth about $191,500, 20% below the Nebraska median of $238,600 and 42% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,613 a year in property taxes, about 1.36% of their home's value, lower than the Nebraska rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $79,148 a year, so the median home costs 2.4 times the median income (3.1 times for Nebraska). 71% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 58% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Elm Creek at a glance

Elm Creek Nebraska U.S.
Median home value $191,500 $238,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,613 $3,549 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.36% 1.49% 0.94%
Median household income $79,148 $76,475 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 71% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 58% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,451 $1,736 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.3% 19.5% 21.0%
Median rent $761 $1,072 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 23.8% 27.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1973 1975 1980
Vacant homes 8.6% 7.6% 10.1%
Population 1,107 1,978,707 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Elm Creek

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Elm Creek home of $191,500 with 20% down costs about $1,327 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,646, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $56,889 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 20% of the median Elm Creek household income of $79,148; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $266,000.

The median rent here is $761 a month, so owning the median home costs about $566 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$38,300
Loan amount$153,200
Principal and interest$1,031
Property taxes (1.36% a year)$217
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$80
PMI$0
Total per month$1,327

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,702
Loan amount$188,031
Principal and interest$1,265
Property taxes (1.36% a year)$217
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$80
FHA mortgage insurance$85
Total per month$1,646

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Questions about home buying in Elm Creek

What is the median home value in Elm Creek?

About $191,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Elm Creek?

Homeowners pay a median $2,613 a year, which is about 1.36% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Elm Creek?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,327 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $56,889 a year.

More about Elm Creek

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data