countyscore
58.2
County Score
Water Quality 86Schools 83.9Cost of Living 76.9

County Report Card

About Furnas County, Nebraska

Solid Performance Above the National Median

Furnas County earns a composite score of 55.9, placing it safely above the national median of 50.0. This score indicates a quality of life that exceeds more than half of the counties in the United States.

Slightly Behind the Nebraska State Average

While competitive nationally, the county trails the Nebraska state average of 59.3. It sits in the middle tier of Nebraska counties, offering a balanced but less exceptional profile than some neighbors.

Top-Tier Schools and Reliable Infrastructure

The county shines in education with a remarkable School Score of 83.9. Residents also benefit from high-quality water and affordable housing, with a median gross rent of just $805 per month.

High Tax Burden and Moderate Incomes

The Tax Score of 15.2 is a notable challenge, driven by an effective tax rate of 1.449%. Additionally, the Income Score of 41.0 suggests local wages lag behind more prosperous parts of the state.

A Strong Choice for Young Families

Furnas County is ideal for families who prioritize excellent public schools and affordable home prices. It offers a stable, high-quality environment for those who can navigate the higher property tax rates.

2040608010015.576.954.164.683.936.848.18636.1Tax15.5Cost76.9Safety54.1Health64.6Schools83.9Income36.8Risk48.1Water86Weather36.158.2/100
This county
National avg
4 above average3 below average

Furnas County DNA

Foverall

How Furnas County compares to the national average across nine baseline dimensions

Furnas County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Schools (83.9/100) but notably weak in Property Tax (15.5/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
15.5-36.5
Cost
76.9+28.900000000000006
Safety
54.1
Health
64.6+14.599999999999994
Schools
83.9+29.900000000000006
Income
36.8-14.200000000000003
Risk
48.1
Water
86+28
Weather
36.1-19.9
Sponsored

Think property taxes are too high in Furnas County?

Many homeowners in Furnas County pay more than they should. A professional appeal could save you hundreds per year.

Check My Assessment

Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$98,400

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$763/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$98,400/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$30,520/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum1.6x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $61,048/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
Compare Furnas County with Hancock County →Share on X

Counties with similar scores

Hancock County
Illinois
Median income: $65,865
58.2
Livingston County
Kentucky
Median income: $58,984
58.2
East Feliciana Parish
Louisiana
Median income: $73,085
58.2
Webster Parish
Louisiana
Median income: $41,182
58.2
Barnstable County
Massachusetts
Median income: $95,241
58.2
Dodge County
Minnesota
Median income: $95,739
58.2
Meeker County
Minnesota
Median income: $75,446
58.2
Lancaster County
Virginia
Median income: $69,713
58.2

Nearby counties

Gosper County
Nebraska
71.8
Norton County
Kansas
62.3
Harlan County
Nebraska
68.5
Frontier County
Nebraska
64.1
Red Willow County
Nebraska
59.4
Phelps County
Nebraska
63
Decatur County
Kansas
54.1
Phillips County
Kansas
57

Deep Dives

Furnas County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 9 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Furnas County

via TaxByCounty

Furnas taxes rank low nationally

At 1.45%, Furnas County's effective tax rate sits well below the national median of 2.44%, placing it in the bottom half of U.S. counties for property tax burden. The median property tax here is just $1,330 annually—half the national median of $2,690—despite having homes valued well below the U.S. average.

Above average for Nebraska

Furnas County's 1.449% rate slightly exceeds Nebraska's state average of 1.281%, ranking it in the upper middle tier among the state's 93 counties. While homeowners here pay less than the state median of $1,972 annually, the effective rate reflects above-average tax pressure by statewide standards.

Higher than nearby counties

Furnas County taxes exceed those in neighboring Garden County (1.18%) and Grant County (0.749%), but fall short of Greeley County's 1.563% rate. Among the eight-county region examined, Furnas ranks solidly in the middle on effective tax rates.

What a typical home costs

A median home valued at $91,800 in Furnas County generates an estimated annual property tax of $1,330 for outright owners. With a mortgage, estimated taxes rise to $1,704 as lenders often require escrow payments.

Consider a property tax appeal

Many Nebraska homeowners across the region are assessed above fair market value and could recover money through formal appeals. If you believe your home's assessed value is too high, contact your county assessor's office—the process is free and requires no lawyer.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Income & Jobs in Furnas County

via IncomeByCounty

Furnas lags behind national earning power

Furnas County's median household income of $60,625 falls $14,130 short of the national median of $74,755, placing the county in the lower half of U.S. earning benchmarks. This 19% gap reflects the economic realities of rural Nebraska, where agricultural and small-town employment often yields modest household earnings compared to national averages.

Below-average income for Nebraska

At $60,625, Furnas County ranks below Nebraska's state median of $66,880, trailing by about $6,255. The county's per capita income of $33,112 also falls short of the state average of $36,101, indicating modest earning potential across the population.

Struggling among regional peers

Furnas County's $60,625 median income is the second-lowest in its regional cluster, ahead only of Garden County ($44,777) but trailing Garfield County ($68,611) and Gosper County ($79,145). The county's income struggles are particularly apparent when compared to Gosper County, which earns nearly $19,000 more per household annually.

Housing costs remain manageable here

With a rent-to-income ratio of 15.9%, Furnas County residents spend a reasonable share of earnings on housing—below the national concern threshold of 28–30%. The median home value of $91,800 is affordable relative to median income, making homeownership achievable for many households.

Building financial security takes planning

In Furnas County, where median household income is $60,625, establishing an emergency fund and exploring retirement savings options early is essential. Even modest monthly contributions to a savings or investment account can compound significantly over time, helping households bridge the income gap and build long-term financial resilience.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Furnas County

via CrimeByCounty

Furnas County Outperforms National Safety Averages

Furnas County maintains a high safety score of 98.4 out of 100, significantly outpacing the national average. Its total crime rate of 1,036.7 per 100,000 residents remains less than half of the 2,385.5 national figure. Residents enjoy a much lower risk profile than the average American community.

Local Safety Relative to Nebraska Standards

While safe by national standards, Furnas County sits slightly below the Nebraska state average safety score of 99.0. The local crime rate of 1,036.7 per 100,000 is higher than the state average of 626.7. This indicates that while the area is secure, it faces more frequent incidents than some of its rural Nebraska peers.

A Regional Look at Crime Trends

Compared to nearby counties with similar reporting, Furnas County shows a moderate crime footprint with two active reporting agencies. The total crime rate of 1,036.7 is notably higher than neighbors like Gosper County, which reports just 53.4 per 100,000. These variations often reflect local population centers where more activity is tracked.

Analyzing Property and Violent Crime

Property crime accounts for the vast majority of local incidents at 928.7 per 100,000, while the violent crime rate is 108.0. Although violent crime is slightly higher than the state average of 96.4, it remains nearly four times lower than the national average. Most local law enforcement focus is directed toward preventing theft and property damage.

Securing Your Furnas County Residence

Since property crime represents over 89% of local offenses, proactive home security is a smart investment. Simple measures like motion-activated lighting and updated door locks can deter opportunistic theft. Staying vigilant helps maintain the high safety standards that characterize this community.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Weather & Climate in Furnas County

via WeatherByCounty

A Classic Humid Continental Climate

Furnas County maintains an average annual temperature of 51.1°F. This sits slightly below the national median for U.S. counties, representing a classic humid continental climate.

Warmer Than the Nebraska Average

The county is warmer than the Nebraska state average of 49.7°F. It ranks among the state's warmer southern-tier regions due to its latitude.

Hotter and Drier Than Eastern Neighbors

With 24.2 inches of annual precipitation, Furnas is drier than Gage County to the east. It also experiences more intense heat, recording 52 extreme heat days per year.

Intense Summers and Snowy Winters

July temperatures average a hot 76.4°F with 52 days topping 90°F. Winters bring 24.0 inches of snow and a chilly January average of 26.9°F.

Prioritize Cooling and Winter Traction

Residents should invest in high-efficiency HVAC systems to handle nearly eight weeks of extreme summer heat. Winter preparations require standard snow removal equipment for the two feet of annual accumulation.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Furnas County

via SoilByCounty

Alkaline Silt Foundations in Furnas County

Furnas County maintains a slightly alkaline pH of 6.93, which sits just above the Nebraska state average of 6.79 and the national median of 6.5. While specific taxonomic orders are not documented in this dataset, the chemical profile provides a stable environment for regional agriculture.

A Stable Silt-Heavy Texture

The soil is predominantly silty, composed of 57.7% silt and 20.5% clay. This mixture provides a firm structure that balances workability with enough density to prevent rapid nutrient leaching across the landscape.

High Water Capacity Boosts Growth

Organic matter levels reach 2.07%, slightly exceeding the national median but trailing the state average of 3.32%. However, an impressive available water capacity of 0.201 in/in means the ground holds moisture exceptionally well compared to the state average of 0.172.

Predicting Moisture in Missing Data

While specific drainage classes and hydrologic groups are not recorded here, the high silt content generally suggests moderate permeability. The overall soil score of 62.9 indicates a solid foundation for agricultural use despite the lack of specific drainage classifications.

Resilient Planting in Zone 5b

Hardiness zone 5b supports resilient crops like winter wheat and hardy root vegetables. Gardeners should leverage the high water retention to sustain thirsty perennials during dry Nebraska summers.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Furnas County

via LawnByCounty

Managing Low-Moisture Lawns in Furnas County

Furnas County holds a lawn difficulty score of 49.4, placing it slightly below the national average of 50.0 and trailing the Nebraska state average of 54.2. Residents in Hardiness Zone 5b must contend with more challenging conditions than their neighbors to maintain lush turf.

Heat Stress Challenges the Mowing Schedule

The county experiences 52 extreme heat days per year, significantly higher than the Nebraska average of 34 days. With only 24.2 inches of annual precipitation, irrigation is necessary to supplement the gap left by the 30-50 inch ideal lawn requirement.

Near-Perfect Soil Chemistry for Turf

The soil pH of 6.93 is ideal for nutrient absorption, sitting right in the 6.0-7.0 sweet spot. A balanced texture of 20.5% clay and 19.5% sand provides a stable foundation, though specific drainage data for this area is limited.

Persistent Dry Spells Require Conservation

The county spent 33 weeks in drought over the past year, and 100% of the area is currently classified as abnormally dry. Focus on deep, infrequent watering during the early morning hours to keep roots resilient through these dry periods.

Planting for Success in Zone 5b

Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue are top choices for this zone, though Buffalo grass offers superior drought resistance. Aim to seed after the last frost on May 3 or in the early fall before the first frost on October 7.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Furnas County's county score?
Furnas County, Nebraska has a composite county score of 58.2 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Furnas County rank among counties in Nebraska?
Furnas County ranks #59 among all counties in Nebraska on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Furnas County, Nebraska?
The median annual property tax in Furnas County is $1,353, with an effective tax rate of 1.38%. This earns Furnas County a tax score of 15.5/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Furnas County?
The median household income in Furnas County, Nebraska is $61,048 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Furnas County earns an income score of 36.8/100 on CountyScore.
Is Furnas County, Nebraska a good place to live?
Furnas County scores 58.2/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #59 in Nebraska. The best way to evaluate Furnas County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Furnas County with other counties side by side.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

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