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Buying a home in Dawes County, Nebraska

The typical owner-occupied home in Dawes County is worth about $150,900, 37% below the Nebraska median of $238,600 and 55% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,183 a year in property taxes, about 1.45% of their home's value, close to the Nebraska rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $56,280 a year, so the median home costs 2.7 times the median income (3.1 times for Nebraska). 62% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 50% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Dawes County at a glance

Dawes County Nebraska U.S.
Median home value $150,900 $238,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,183 $3,549 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.45% 1.49% 0.94%
Median household income $56,280 $76,475 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 62% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 50% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,219 $1,736 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.7% 19.5% 21.0%
Median rent $900 $1,072 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 30.9% 27.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1958 1975 1980
Vacant homes 14.5% 7.6% 10.1%
Population 8,140 1,978,707 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Dawes County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Dawes County home of $150,900 with 20% down costs about $1,057 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,309, 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 $45,313 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 23% of the median Dawes County household income of $56,280; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $187,000.

The median rent here is $900 a month, so owning the median home costs about $157 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$30,180
Loan amount$120,720
Principal and interest$812
Property taxes (1.45% a year)$182
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$63
PMI$0
Total per month$1,057

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,282
Loan amount$148,167
Principal and interest$997
Property taxes (1.45% a year)$182
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$63
FHA mortgage insurance$67
Total per month$1,309

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Questions about home buying in Dawes County

What is the median home value in Dawes County?

About $150,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Dawes County?

Homeowners pay a median $2,183 a year, which is about 1.45% 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 Dawes County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,057 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $45,313 a year.

More about Dawes County

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