Box Butte County's composite score of 68.5 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 37%, placing it above the national average. While solid, its performance trails several peer counties in this group.
2 / 5
Slightly Below Nebraska's Average
At 68.5, Box Butte County falls modestly below Nebraska's state average of 71.2, ranking it in the lower-middle tier of Nebraska counties. It remains a viable option but faces steeper competition within the state.
3 / 5
Reasonable Costs and Risk Management
Box Butte County's cost score of 80.0 and median home value of $161,100 offer solid affordability, with median household income of $68,778 supporting reasonable earning potential. A risk score of 79.1 suggests moderate economic stability and resilience.
4 / 5
Tax Burden and Health Outcomes Lag
Box Butte County's tax score of 60.4 and health score of 71.1 are the weakest in this group, reflecting an effective tax rate of 1.488% and below-average health metrics. These may represent concerns for health-conscious or tax-sensitive residents.
5 / 5
Moderate Choice for Flexible, Practical Households
Box Butte County works for practical households and budget-conscious families willing to accept moderate tax burdens and adequate (if not exceptional) healthcare. It's a reasonable middle-ground option for those seeking rural Nebraska living without the premium costs or elite performance of top-tier counties.
Box Butte County's composite score of 68.5 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 37%, placing it above the national average. While solid, its performance trails several peer counties in this group.
Slightly Below Nebraska's Average
At 68.5, Box Butte County falls modestly below Nebraska's state average of 71.2, ranking it in the lower-middle tier of Nebraska counties. It remains a viable option but faces steeper competition within the state.
Reasonable Costs and Risk Management
Box Butte County's cost score of 80.0 and median home value of $161,100 offer solid affordability, with median household income of $68,778 supporting reasonable earning potential. A risk score of 79.1 suggests moderate economic stability and resilience.
Tax Burden and Health Outcomes Lag
Box Butte County's tax score of 60.4 and health score of 71.1 are the weakest in this group, reflecting an effective tax rate of 1.488% and below-average health metrics. These may represent concerns for health-conscious or tax-sensitive residents.
Moderate Choice for Flexible, Practical Households
Box Butte County works for practical households and budget-conscious families willing to accept moderate tax burdens and adequate (if not exceptional) healthcare. It's a reasonable middle-ground option for those seeking rural Nebraska living without the premium costs or elite performance of top-tier counties.
Score breakdown
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🏛60.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Box Butte County's effective tax rate of 1.488% exceeds the national median of 1.281%, placing it in the 68th percentile nationwide. The median property tax of $2,397 falls just 11% below the national median of $2,690, despite homes valued 43% lower than the U.S. average.
Box Butte second-highest taxed in Nebraska
At 1.488%, Box Butte County ranks as Nebraska's second-highest tax county, trailing only Banner County's 1.513%. The median tax of $2,397 far exceeds the state median of $1,972, burdening homeowners 22% more than the typical Nebraskan.
Only Banner County taxes higher nearby
Box Butte County (1.488%) ranks second in regional tax burden, with only Banner County (1.513%) charging more. All other neighbors—Arthur (0.834%), Blaine (1.186%), Boyd (1.219%), Antelope (1.220%), and Boone (1.016%)—have substantially lower rates.
Median home tax $2,397 yearly
A typical Box Butte County home valued at $161,100 results in an annual property tax of approximately $2,397. For mortgaged homeowners, this adds roughly $200 monthly to housing costs when combined with insurance.
High-tax county warrants careful review
With one of Nebraska's highest rates, Box Butte homeowners have much to gain from property tax appeals—even modest overassessments compound significantly. Request a reassessment if your assessed value hasn't been updated recently or exceeds comparable sales.
Box Butte County's 13.4% rent-to-income ratio dips comfortably below both the national average and Nebraska's state benchmark of 14.2%, signaling strong affordability. At $771 monthly rent against a median household income of $68,778, the county delivers solid housing value for renters and a healthy income base.
Well below Nebraska's average burden
Box Butte County ranks among Nebraska's more affordable counties, with a 13.4% rent-to-income ratio that beats the state average by 0.8 percentage points. The combination of $771 rent and $68,778 median income positions Box Butte as a stable, cost-conscious market statewide.
Moderate rent with solid income stability
Box Butte's $771 monthly rent falls between Antelope ($746) and Arthur ($850), while its $68,778 income exceeds most regional peers except Banner and Boone. The county strikes a practical middle ground: affordable rents paired with above-average wages for rural Nebraska.
Homeownership commands premium here
Renters spend $771 monthly (13.4% of income) while homeowners pay $960—a notable $189 jump that reflects either higher home values or stronger mortgage markets. The divergence suggests that renters enjoy clear advantage in Box Butte, while buyers face tighter budgeting.
Attractive for renters, thoughtful for buyers
Box Butte County offers renters genuine affordability with a 13.4% burden ratio and solid local employment at $68,778 median income. If you're planning to buy, factor in the $960 monthly ownership costs; renters will find this county considerably more favorable for relocation.
Box Butte County's median household income of $68,778 sits about $5,977 below the national median of $74,755. The county performs above-average for rural Nebraska while still trailing the U.S. average.
Upper-middle earner in Nebraska
At $68,778, Box Butte County exceeds Nebraska's state average of $66,880 by nearly $1,900, placing it solidly in the upper-middle tier. Its per capita income of $33,834 runs slightly below the state average.
Mid-pack among regional counties
Box Butte County earns more than Antelope ($63,750) and Boyd ($58,984) but trails Banner ($71,250) and Boone ($71,367). It holds a stable competitive position in the regional income landscape.
Strong housing cost control
Box Butte County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.4% is among the best in the comparison, well below the 30% affordability threshold. Median home values of $161,100 pair well with local earning power.
Build security through smart planning
Box Butte County residents earning $68,778 can aggressively save for retirement while maintaining low housing burdens. Financial diversification, including stocks, bonds, and real estate investment, accelerates long-term wealth accumulation.
At 76.0 years, Box Butte County residents live substantially shorter lives than the U.S. average of 76.4 years—a rare miss that signals serious underlying health challenges. With 15.1% reporting poor or fair health and 10.9% uninsured, the county faces a compounding crisis of disease burden and coverage gaps.
One of Nebraska's shortest lifespans
Box Butte County's 76.0-year life expectancy ranks near the bottom statewide, trailing Nebraska's 77.5-year average by a full year and-a-half. The county's 10.9% uninsured rate—highest among measured Nebraska counties—likely contributes to delayed care and preventable disease burden.
Significantly worse health than peers
Box Butte County's 76.0-year life expectancy falls well short of neighbors like Boone County (79.4 years) and Antelope County (79.8 years), placing it at the region's bottom. The 10.9% uninsured rate compounds the problem—three times higher than Boone County's 6.1%—indicating both health vulnerability and coverage barriers.
Crisis of coverage and provider access
Box Butte County's 10.9% uninsured rate—roughly one in nine residents without coverage—is the state's worst, leaving thousands vulnerable to delayed or forgone care. With only 47 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, the county struggles with both access and affordability, though mental health providers at 215 per 100,000 suggest some behavioral health capacity.
Close the coverage gap now
Box Butte County's 10.9% uninsured rate is a public health emergency—one in nine residents lacks access to preventive care and treatment, driving shorter lifespans and higher disease burden. Immediately visit healthcare.gov, call 1-800-318-2596, or contact local health offices to find affordable marketplace plans, Medicaid expansion options, and employer coverage that can reverse this crisis.
With a composite risk score of 20.96, Box Butte County rates as very low nationally and below Nebraska's state average of 25.80. Wildfire and earthquake risks are the notable features of an otherwise low-threat profile.
Moderate wildfire, elevated earthquake risk
Box Butte County's wildfire risk (61.32) ranks it among Nebraska's highest, while earthquake risk (32.57) is the state's most significant. Together, these hazards elevate the county's profile despite low tornado and flood risks.
Higher risk than western neighbors
Box Butte County's score of 20.96 exceeds Arthur County (0.29), Banner County (0.80), and Blaine County (0.45), reflecting its location in a more active seismic and wildfire zone. It remains substantially lower than central county risks like Boone (43.35) and Adams (64.31).
Wildfire and earthquakes lead hazards
Wildfire risk (61.32) is Box Butte County's dominant threat, complemented by elevated earthquake risk (32.57)—the highest in Nebraska. Tornado (31.11) and flood (5.85) risks are relatively minor.
Address wildfire and seismic coverage
Standard homeowners policies often exclude wildfire; verify your coverage or add a rider if your property is near grassland or timber. Earthquake insurance is separate from standard homeowners coverage and recommended given Box Butte County's statewide-high seismic activity.