The typical owner-occupied home in Jefferson County is worth about $129,500, 46% below the Nebraska median of $238,600 and 61% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,886 a year in property taxes, about 1.46% of their home's value, close to the Nebraska rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $59,044 a year, so the median home costs 2.2 times the median income (3.1 times for Nebraska). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 46% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Jefferson County at a glance
| Jefferson County | Nebraska | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $129,500 | $238,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,886 | $3,549 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.46% | 1.49% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $59,044 | $76,475 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 75% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 46% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,331 | $1,736 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.2% | 19.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $662 | $1,072 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 23.3% | 27.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1955 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 14.8% | 7.6% | 10.1% |
| Population | 7,161 | 1,978,707 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Jefferson County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Jefferson County home of $129,500 with 20% down costs about $908 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,124, 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 $38,933 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 18% of the median Jefferson County household income of $59,044; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $196,000.
The median rent here is $662 a month, so owning the median home costs about $246 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $25,900 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $103,600 |
| Principal and interest | $697 |
| Property taxes (1.46% a year) | $158 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $54 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $908 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $4,532 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $127,154 |
| Principal and interest | $855 |
| Property taxes (1.46% a year) | $158 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $54 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $57 |
| Total per month | $1,124 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Jefferson County
What is the median home value in Jefferson County?
About $129,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Jefferson County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,886 a year, which is about 1.46% 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 Jefferson County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $908 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $38,933 a year.
More about Jefferson County
- Mortgage Refinance in Jefferson County
- Debt Relief in Jefferson County
- Home Equity Loans in Jefferson County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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