Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in Nebraska
The typical rent in Nebraska is $1,072 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,260 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $24.23 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in Nebraska
- Typical rent
- $1,072
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 24% less than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $1,260
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $1,014 to $1,450 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $24.23
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $50,400 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 45%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Nebraska, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
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Studio
Wage: $13.58–$22.44 an hour
Lowest: $706 Highest: $1,167
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $14.90–$23.44 an hour
Lowest: $775 Highest: $1,219
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $19.50–$27.88 an hour
Lowest: $1,014 Highest: $1,450
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $23.23–$37.00 an hour
Lowest: $1,208 Highest: $1,924
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $25.63–$41.90 an hour
Lowest: $1,333 Highest: $2,179
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Nebraska, 45% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
45%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
266,969 renter households in Nebraska
- Spend half or more of their income 21%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 24%
- Spend less than 30% 55%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Nebraska. Highest fair market rent first.
| Sarpy County | $1,450 | $1,334 | $27.88 | 44% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | $1,450 | $1,201 | $27.88 | 50% |
| Cass County | $1,450 | $996 | $27.88 | 41% |
| Washington County | $1,450 | $965 | $27.88 | 51% |
| Colfax County | $1,247 | $980 | $23.98 | — |
| Lancaster County | $1,230 | $1,085 | $23.65 | 47% |
| Hall County | $1,210 | $943 | $23.27 | 47% |
| Dodge County | $1,207 | $1,060 | $23.21 | 34% |
| Stanton County | $1,201 | $902 | $23.10 | 36% |
| Dakota County | $1,194 | $1,069 | $22.96 | 44% |
| Saunders County | $1,153 | $960 | $22.17 | 40% |
| Platte County | $1,139 | $897 | $21.90 | 40% |
| Cheyenne County | $1,134 | $821 | $21.81 | 43% |
| Cherry County | $1,114 | $916 | $21.42 | 34% |
| Otoe County | $1,112 | $914 | $21.38 | 25% |
| Lincoln County | $1,099 | $900 | $21.13 | 44% |
| Buffalo County | $1,097 | $936 | $21.10 | 41% |
| Madison County | $1,082 | $881 | $20.81 | 38% |
| Dawes County | $1,081 | $900 | $20.79 | 51% |
| Dawson County | $1,074 | $925 | $20.65 | 32% |
| Johnson County | $1,062 | $779 | $20.42 | 36% |
| Kearney County | $1,056 | $857 | $20.31 | 26% |
| Seward County | $1,055 | $980 | $20.29 | 37% |
| Saline County | $1,050 | $914 | $20.19 | 34% |
| York County | $1,047 | $877 | $20.13 | 34% |
| Gage County | $1,025 | $774 | $19.71 | 37% |
| Scotts Bluff County | $1,023 | $909 | $19.67 | 49% |
| Banner County | $1,014 | $975 | $19.50 | — |
| Perkins County | $1,014 | $922 | $19.50 | — |
| Pierce County | $1,014 | $884 | $19.50 | 42% |
| Brown County | $1,014 | $876 | $19.50 | 58% |
| Keya Paha County | $1,014 | $875 | $19.50 | — |
| Blaine County | $1,014 | $873 | $19.50 | — |
| Deuel County | $1,014 | $872 | $19.50 | — |
| Grant County | $1,014 | $867 | $19.50 | — |
| Adams County | $1,014 | $857 | $19.50 | 52% |
| Custer County | $1,014 | $853 | $19.50 | 32% |
| Boone County | $1,014 | $850 | $19.50 | 35% |
| Kimball County | $1,014 | $846 | $19.50 | 50% |
| Red Willow County | $1,014 | $819 | $19.50 | 52% |
| Sherman County | $1,014 | $818 | $19.50 | 36% |
| Phelps County | $1,014 | $815 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Nance County | $1,014 | $807 | $19.50 | 38% |
| Chase County | $1,014 | $800 | $19.50 | — |
| Wayne County | $1,014 | $800 | $19.50 | 48% |
| Hamilton County | $1,014 | $794 | $19.50 | 35% |
| Cuming County | $1,014 | $789 | $19.50 | 26% |
| Howard County | $1,014 | $777 | $19.50 | 30% |
| Butler County | $1,014 | $776 | $19.50 | 32% |
| Nemaha County | $1,014 | $772 | $19.50 | 38% |
| Keith County | $1,014 | $771 | $19.50 | 39% |
| Morrill County | $1,014 | $768 | $19.50 | 46% |
| Thayer County | $1,014 | $766 | $19.50 | 29% |
| Furnas County | $1,014 | $763 | $19.50 | 41% |
| Logan County | $1,014 | $761 | $19.50 | — |
| Box Butte County | $1,014 | $752 | $19.50 | 46% |
| Arthur County | $1,014 | $750 | $19.50 | — |
| Merrick County | $1,014 | $750 | $19.50 | 36% |
| Sioux County | $1,014 | $745 | $19.50 | — |
| Sheridan County | $1,014 | $738 | $19.50 | 33% |
| Cedar County | $1,014 | $716 | $19.50 | 31% |
| Fillmore County | $1,014 | $716 | $19.50 | 23% |
| Hitchcock County | $1,014 | $714 | $19.50 | 36% |
| Holt County | $1,014 | $714 | $19.50 | 28% |
| Boyd County | $1,014 | $713 | $19.50 | 30% |
| Burt County | $1,014 | $708 | $19.50 | 39% |
| Pawnee County | $1,014 | $706 | $19.50 | 26% |
| Garden County | $1,014 | $700 | $19.50 | 56% |
| Thurston County | $1,014 | $699 | $19.50 | 26% |
| Antelope County | $1,014 | $692 | $19.50 | 29% |
| Franklin County | $1,014 | $691 | $19.50 | 31% |
| Richardson County | $1,014 | $691 | $19.50 | 33% |
| Dixon County | $1,014 | $689 | $19.50 | 33% |
| Polk County | $1,014 | $681 | $19.50 | 28% |
| Frontier County | $1,014 | $666 | $19.50 | — |
| Gosper County | $1,014 | $664 | $19.50 | — |
| Jefferson County | $1,014 | $662 | $19.50 | 39% |
| Harlan County | $1,014 | $657 | $19.50 | — |
| Dundy County | $1,014 | $656 | $19.50 | 34% |
| Knox County | $1,014 | $647 | $19.50 | 37% |
| Webster County | $1,014 | $647 | $19.50 | 22% |
| Clay County | $1,014 | $645 | $19.50 | 36% |
| Rock County | $1,014 | $644 | $19.50 | — |
| Thomas County | $1,014 | $638 | $19.50 | — |
| Valley County | $1,014 | $626 | $19.50 | 19% |
| Greeley County | $1,014 | $613 | $19.50 | 30% |
| Hooker County | $1,014 | $592 | $19.50 | — |
| McPherson County | $1,014 | $588 | $19.50 | — |
| Nuckolls County | $1,014 | $585 | $19.50 | 24% |
| Wheeler County | $1,014 | $509 | $19.50 | — |
| Hayes County | $1,014 | $508 | $19.50 | — |
| Garfield County | $1,014 | $490 | $19.50 | 31% |
| Loup County | $1,014 | — | $19.50 | — |
- Sarpy $1,450$27.88
- Douglas $1,450$27.88
- Cass $1,450$27.88
- Washington $1,450$27.88
- Colfax $1,247$23.98
- Lancaster $1,230$23.65
- Hall $1,210$23.27
- Dodge $1,207$23.21
- Stanton $1,201$23.10
- Dakota $1,194$22.96
- Saunders $1,153$22.17
- Platte $1,139$21.90
- Cheyenne $1,134$21.81
- Cherry $1,114$21.42
- Otoe $1,112$21.38
- Lincoln $1,099$21.13
- Buffalo $1,097$21.10
- Madison $1,082$20.81
- Dawes $1,081$20.79
- Dawson $1,074$20.65
- Johnson $1,062$20.42
- Kearney $1,056$20.31
- Seward $1,055$20.29
- Saline $1,050$20.19
- York $1,047$20.13
- Gage $1,025$19.71
- Scotts Bluff $1,023$19.67
- Banner $1,014$19.50
- Perkins $1,014$19.50
- Pierce $1,014$19.50
- Brown $1,014$19.50
- Keya Paha $1,014$19.50
- Blaine $1,014$19.50
- Deuel $1,014$19.50
- Grant $1,014$19.50
- Adams $1,014$19.50
- Custer $1,014$19.50
- Boone $1,014$19.50
- Kimball $1,014$19.50
- Red Willow $1,014$19.50
- Sherman $1,014$19.50
- Phelps $1,014$19.50
- Nance $1,014$19.50
- Chase $1,014$19.50
- Wayne $1,014$19.50
- Hamilton $1,014$19.50
- Cuming $1,014$19.50
- Howard $1,014$19.50
- Butler $1,014$19.50
- Nemaha $1,014$19.50
- Keith $1,014$19.50
- Morrill $1,014$19.50
- Thayer $1,014$19.50
- Furnas $1,014$19.50
- Logan $1,014$19.50
- Box Butte $1,014$19.50
- Arthur $1,014$19.50
- Merrick $1,014$19.50
- Sioux $1,014$19.50
- Sheridan $1,014$19.50
- Cedar $1,014$19.50
- Fillmore $1,014$19.50
- Hitchcock $1,014$19.50
- Holt $1,014$19.50
- Boyd $1,014$19.50
- Burt $1,014$19.50
- Pawnee $1,014$19.50
- Garden $1,014$19.50
- Thurston $1,014$19.50
- Antelope $1,014$19.50
- Franklin $1,014$19.50
- Richardson $1,014$19.50
- Dixon $1,014$19.50
- Polk $1,014$19.50
- Frontier $1,014$19.50
- Gosper $1,014$19.50
- Jefferson $1,014$19.50
- Harlan $1,014$19.50
- Dundy $1,014$19.50
- Knox $1,014$19.50
- Webster $1,014$19.50
- Clay $1,014$19.50
- Rock $1,014$19.50
- Thomas $1,014$19.50
- Valley $1,014$19.50
- Greeley $1,014$19.50
- Hooker $1,014$19.50
- McPherson $1,014$19.50
- Nuckolls $1,014$19.50
- Wheeler $1,014$19.50
- Hayes $1,014$19.50
- Garfield $1,014$19.50
- Loup $1,014$19.50
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Your rights as a tenant in Nebraska
What Nebraska law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleA summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- How much can they charge for a deposit?
- Up to 1 month of rent
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1416(1)
- When must they return my deposit?
- 14 days
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1416(2)
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 7 calendar days
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1431(2)
- How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
- 30 days
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1437(1)-(2)
- Only a court order can remove youNeb. Rev. Stat. §76-1436
- Protection from retaliationNeb. Rev. Stat. §76-1439(1)-(2)
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in Nebraska
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
8 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 4 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in Nebraska is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Sarpy County ($1,450, about $27.88 an hour) and the cheapest Banner County ($1,014, about $19.50 an hour).
How many households in Nebraska spend too much on rent?
45% of renter households in Nebraska spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 21% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Nebraska, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $1,014 to $1,450 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in Nebraska?
105 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Nebraska; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.