Dawes County

Nebraska · NE

#69 in Nebraska
69.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Dawes County, Nebraska

Solid national position with distinctive profile

Dawes County's composite score of 69.3 beats the national median of 50.0 by 19 points, placing it in the 71st percentile nationally. It's a livable county by U.S. standards, though with some unusual risk characteristics.

Slightly below Nebraska's standard

At 69.3, Dawes County trails the state average of 71.2, ranking in the middle of Nebraska's 93 counties. It's a competent performer but not among the state's elite.

Health and solid cost structure

Dawes County delivers a health score of 73.6 and cost score of 75.9, with median rent of $1,014 and home values around $146,500 remaining reasonably affordable. The tax score of 64.4 is moderate and manageable.

Very low incomes and extreme risk exposure

Dawes County's income score of 18.9—the lowest in this cohort—reflects a median household income of just $54,381, creating real financial stress. The risk score of 94.5 is the highest in this group, signaling significant exposure to property loss, crime, or economic volatility.

Only for risk-tolerant retirees with pensions

Dawes County works best for retirees with fixed pensions or savings who can weather economic instability and don't depend on employment income. Others should seriously investigate the high-risk factors before committing to the area.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax64.4Cost75.9SafetyComing SoonHealth73.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome18.9Risk94.5WaterComing Soon
🏛64.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠75.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼18.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
73.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
94.5
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Dawes County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Dawes County

via TaxByCounty

Dawes taxes exceed national norm by 55%

Dawes County's 1.345% effective rate rises well above the national median of 0.84%, placing it around the 65th percentile nationally. This reflects Nebraska's broader pattern of higher-than-average property tax burdens compared to much of the U.S.

Above Nebraska's statewide average

At 1.345%, Dawes County runs 5% above Nebraska's 1.281% statewide average, putting it in the upper-middle tier of the state's 93 counties. It's a relatively high-tax area for Nebraska.

Dawes ranks high among regional peers

Dawes's 1.345% rate places it third-highest in the eight-county group, behind Dakota (1.594%) and Cheyenne (1.741%), but ahead of most other regional neighbors. It's decidedly on the higher end locally.

Annual tax bill runs $1,970

On Dawes's median home value of $146,500, homeowners pay roughly $1,970 per year in property taxes. Mortgage payers typically see $1,888 in total liability, while those mortgage-free pay $2,171.

Higher rates warrant closer assessment review

Homeowners in above-average tax counties like Dawes should closely inspect their assessed valuations against recent comparable sales. An appeal can be especially valuable when property taxes run consistently high across the county.

Cost of Living in Dawes County

via CostByCounty

Dawes faces Nebraska's toughest affordability

Dawes County residents spend 22.4% of their median household income on rent—the highest ratio among all Nebraska counties surveyed and far above the national average. With the lowest median income in this region at $54,381 and rent of $1,014 monthly, housing costs impose severe financial strain compared to national and state standards.

Nebraska's least affordable county

Dawes County's 22.4% rent-to-income ratio ranks it as the state's most financially strained housing market, nearly 8 percentage points above Nebraska's state average. This exceptional burden reflects both limited local income and relatively high regional rents.

Lowest pay, highest housing pressure

Dawes County combines the region's lowest median income ($54,381) with the second-highest rent ($1,014), creating the harshest affordability squeeze in this comparison. The $1,053 rent in Dakota County is higher, but Dawes residents earn $17,000 less annually.

Housing dominates household budgets

Monthly rent of $1,014 consumes 22.4% of the median income, compared to $925 for homeownership on a median home value of $146,500. Even homeownership is less affordable here than renting is in most other Nebraska counties.

Relocation requires significant salary increase

Dawes County's housing costs are among Nebraska's highest while local incomes rank lowest, creating genuine affordability challenges. Only relocate here if your new job salary significantly exceeds the county's $54,381 median—otherwise, housing will strain your budget severely.

Income & Jobs in Dawes County

via IncomeByCounty

Dawes significantly below national income

Dawes County's median household income of $54,381 lags the national median of $74,755 by $20,374, or 27.3%. This substantial gap places Dawes among the nation's lower-income counties, signaling meaningful economic distress.

Nebraska's lowest earner

Dawes County ranks as one of Nebraska's lowest-income counties at $54,381, trailing the state median by $12,499. The county faces the steepest economic challenges within the state, with households earning roughly 81 cents per dollar of the state average.

Significantly lagging adjacent counties

Dawes's $54,381 trails every measured neighbor, including Cheyenne ($57,594), Custer ($66,310), and Dawson ($65,383). The county's isolation at the bottom suggests concentrated economic vulnerability and limited high-wage employment opportunities.

Housing cost burden elevated

At 22.4%, Dawes's rent-to-income ratio approaches the 30% affordability ceiling, meaning renters spend over one-fifth of income on housing alone. Combined with the county's lowest-in-state median income, this burden leaves households with minimal flexibility for savings or emergencies.

Start small, think long-term

Dawes households facing economic headwinds should prioritize building even modest emergency savings—$500–$1,000—before investing. Seek free or low-cost financial counseling, maximize any employer benefits, and explore local economic development opportunities that may offer pathways to higher-wage work.

Health in Dawes County

via HealthByCounty

Dawes County trails national health metrics

Dawes County residents live 75.9 years on average—3.8 years below the U.S. average of 79.7 years. The county's 15.4% poor/fair health rate suggests manageable chronic disease prevalence, but short life expectancy points to underlying vulnerabilities.

Below Nebraska average, strong insurance

Dawes County's 75.9-year life expectancy falls 1.6 years short of Nebraska's 77.5-year average, ranking it among the state's lower-performing counties. However, its 7.9% uninsured rate beats the state average of 8.1%, indicating relatively good coverage.

Exceptional mental health, ample primary care

Dawes County offers 74 primary care providers per 100,000—the highest in this entire group—and an exceptional 344 mental health providers per 100,000. This provider density ranks among Nebraska's best and far exceeds most peer counties.

Coverage and access don't explain outcomes

Despite strong insurance coverage (92.1% insured) and the highest primary care provider density in this group, Dawes County's life expectancy lags peers. This paradox suggests that social determinants—poverty, education, employment—may outweigh access metrics.

Use strong healthcare infrastructure

The 7.9% of uninsured Dawes County residents should enroll immediately through Healthcare.gov to access the county's robust provider network. With exceptional mental health and primary care availability, coverage connects you to resources designed to improve health.

Disaster Risk in Dawes County

via RiskByCounty

Dawes County's Exceptionally Low Risk

Dawes County has the lowest composite risk score in this group at 5.57 and a Very Low rating, placing it well below the national average for natural disaster risk. This remarkably low score reflects minimal exposure across most hazard categories, with flood risk nearly nonexistent at 6.11.

Nebraska's Safest County Profile

At 5.57, Dawes County's composite risk is far below Nebraska's state average of 25.80—less than one-quarter the statewide benchmark. The county stands out as one of the state's safest communities for natural disaster preparedness.

Dramatically Safer Than Region

Dawes County (5.57) is substantially safer than any neighboring county in this group, including Custer County (27.99) and Dakota County (36.01). Its exceptionally low risk profile reflects a unique geographic and climatic position offering extraordinary protection.

Minimal Disaster Risk Overall

Dawes County faces minimal natural disaster risk across all categories, with tornado (21.56) as the highest single-hazard score. Wildfire risk (81.30) appears elevated but contributes only modestly to the composite score due to other offsetting factors.

Standard Coverage Sufficient

Dawes County residents can maintain standard homeowners insurance with standard coverage limits, as disaster risk is exceptionally low. Basic home maintenance and routine inspections provide adequate protection in this low-risk environment.

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.