countyscore
62.2
County Score
Disaster Risk 96.2Water Quality 86Cost of Living 84.5

County Report Card

About Pawnee County, Nebraska

Solid Performance Above the Median

Pawnee County secures a 62.5 composite score, comfortably outperforming the national median of 50.0. This makes it a compelling option for those seeking a reliable American lifestyle.

A Respectable State Competitor

Scoring 62.5 puts Pawnee slightly ahead of the Nebraska state average of 59.3. It maintains a competitive edge over its neighbors through consistent performance across several categories.

Maximum Resilience and Low Costs

Resilience is a major asset here, with a near-perfect risk score of 96.2. Housing is also highly accessible, as reflected by a cost score of 90.3 and a median home value of $74,800.

High Taxes and Low Incomes

The county struggles with a tax score of 9.5 due to a high 1.592% effective tax rate. Economic opportunities are also limited, with an income score of 24.9 and a median income of $54,926.

Ideal for Budget-Conscious Renters

Pawnee County is best for those who own their jobs remotely or live on fixed incomes. While taxes are high, the rock-bottom housing costs and high safety scores provide a secure financial cushion.

2040608010010.384.583.456.459.340.296.28643.8Tax10.3Cost84.5Safety83.4Health56.4Schools59.3Income40.2Risk96.2Water86Weather43.862.2/100
This county
National avg
4 above average3 below average

Pawnee County DNA

Doverall

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

Pawnee County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Disaster Risk (96.2/100) but notably weak in Property Tax (10.3/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
10.3-41.7
Cost
84.5+36.5
Safety
83.4+28.400000000000006
Health
56.4
Schools
59.3
Income
40.2-10.799999999999997
Risk
96.2+49.2
Water
86+28
Weather
43.8-12.200000000000003
Sponsored

Think property taxes are too high in Pawnee County?

Many homeowners in Pawnee 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

$79,400

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$706/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$79,400/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$28,240/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum1.3x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $62,188/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Primary Care

78.8

per 100K

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
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Counties with similar scores

Morgan County
Indiana
Median income: $79,429
62.2
Butler County
Iowa
Median income: $73,715
62.2
Hancock County
Iowa
Median income: $70,601
62.2
Koochiching County
Minnesota
Median income: $66,940
62.2
Redwood County
Minnesota
Median income: $67,866
62.2
Benton County
Indiana
Median income: $65,875
62.3
Whitley County
Indiana
Median income: $78,083
62.3
Norton County
Kansas
Median income: $54,050
62.3

Nearby counties

Nemaha County
Kansas
71.1
Johnson County
Nebraska
64
Marshall County
Kansas
56.9
Gage County
Nebraska
51.7
Nemaha County
Nebraska
56.7
Richardson County
Nebraska
59.9
Brown County
Kansas
50.5
Otoe County
Nebraska
49.4

Deep Dives

Pawnee County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Pawnee County

via TaxByCounty

Pawnee's high rate, low values balance out

Pawnee County has the highest effective tax rate in its region at 1.592%, yet homeowners pay only $1,191 in median annual taxes—well below the national median of $2,690. This paradox reflects the county's very affordable homes, with a median value of just $74,800, making the rate less burdensome in dollar terms.

Highest-taxed county in Nebraska's sample

At 1.592%, Pawnee County's effective tax rate is the highest among all measured Nebraska counties, running 24% above the state average of 1.281%. Despite this steep rate, the county's low median home value keeps annual tax bills below the state average of $1,972.

Region's steepest rate on lowest values

Pawnee's 1.592% rate significantly exceeds all neighboring counties measured—Otoe (1.437%), Phelps (1.377%), Nuckolls (1.280%), and Perkins (1.014%). The county's median home value of $74,800 is the lowest in the region, meaning residents pay the highest percentage but often lower absolute dollars than wealthier neighbors.

Pawnee property taxes on median home

A homeowner with Pawnee County's median-valued $74,800 property pays approximately $1,191 annually in property taxes at the 1.592% effective rate. Depending on mortgage status, that bill ranges from $878 to $1,860.

Especially crucial to verify your assessment

With Pawnee County's notably high effective tax rate, even small errors in property assessment carry outsized financial consequences for homeowners. If your home's assessed value seems inflated compared to recent neighborhood sales, filing an appeal becomes even more valuable in reducing your annual tax burden.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Income & Jobs in Pawnee County

via IncomeByCounty

Pawnee Lags National Income Standards

Pawnee County's median household income of $54,926 falls significantly below the national median of $74,755, representing a gap of nearly $20,000 or 26.6%. The county faces income challenges that affect household financial capacity and long-term economic stability.

Among Nebraska's Lower-Income Counties

At $54,926, Pawnee County's median household income trails Nebraska's state average of $66,880 by $11,954, placing it in the lower quartile of Nebraska's 93 counties. Economic conditions here are notably tighter than most statewide peers.

Struggling Against Regional Benchmarks

Pawnee County's $54,926 income lags substantially behind all regional neighbors, including Otoe County ($81,430), Pierce County ($75,938), and Nuckolls County ($70,201). Even Perkins County ($67,500) earns nearly $12,600 more per household on average.

Housing Costs Stretch Limited Budgets

Pawnee County's 13.5% rent-to-income ratio is reasonable, but the lower absolute income of $54,926 limits household flexibility for other expenses. A median home value of $74,800 helps keep housing affordable, but overall income constraints make emergency savings and other goals challenging.

Strategic Financial Planning Matters Most

Pawnee County households should prioritize budgeting and building emergency reserves before pursuing aggressive investments. Starting small with employer 401(k) matching programs, automatic savings transfers, or community credit union services can help build wealth despite tighter income conditions.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Pawnee County

via CrimeByCounty

High safety rankings in Pawnee County

Pawnee County earns an impressive safety score of 99.4. Its total crime rate of 391.7 per 100,000 is about six times lower than the national average of 2,385.5.

Pawnee outperforms Nebraska state averages

The county’s crime rate of 391.7 per 100,000 is significantly lower than the Nebraska average of 626.7. Its safety score of 99.4 also beats the state's average score of 99.0.

A safer choice than neighboring Otoe

Pawnee County is considerably safer than Otoe County, where the crime rate reaches 1,119.1 per 100,000. Data from two reporting agencies confirm that Pawnee maintains a highly secure environment.

Violent crime is non-existent here

Pawnee County reports a violent crime rate of 0.0 per 100,000 residents. All 391.7 reported incidents per 100,000 fall under property crime, which is still remarkably low compared to the US property rate of 2,015.7.

Securing your home from property theft

Since all reported local crimes are property-related, homeowners should focus on securing sheds and garages. Keeping valuables out of sight is an easy way to prevent opportunistic theft.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Weather & Climate in Pawnee County

via WeatherByCounty

Nearing the National Temperature Median

Pawnee County averages 51.8°F annually, placing it very close to the median climate for the United States. It experiences the classic four-season cycle typical of the Great Plains.

Among Nebraska's Warmest and Wettest

At 51.8°F, Pawnee is significantly warmer than the state average of 49.7°F. It also receives 34.1 inches of precipitation, making it much wetter than the statewide average of 25.9 inches.

Wetter Than Northern Otoe County

Pawnee receives about an inch more rain annually than Otoe County and experiences three more extreme heat days. Its 38 days of 90°F+ weather make it one of the hotter spots in the immediate region.

Hot Summers and Moderate Snowfall

July averages a warm 76.7°F, while winter temperatures stay slightly milder than northern counties with a December-February average of 27.9°F. Annual snowfall typically reaches 21.4 inches.

Managing Humidity and Summer Peaks

Homeowners should prioritize foundation drainage to handle the high 34.1-inch annual rainfall. Cooling systems must be robust enough to combat 38 days of extreme summer heat.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Pawnee County

via SoilByCounty

Silt Loams and Entisols

Pawnee County is characterized by Silt Loam textures and the Entisols taxonomic order, which represents relatively young soil development. The average pH of 6.31 is more acidic than both the national median of 6.5 and the Nebraska state average of 6.79. This profile creates a distinct chemical environment that can be optimized with common soil amendments like lime.

A Dense Clay and Silt Mixture

The soil is comprised of 48.9% silt and 29.6% clay, balanced by just 19.7% sand. This composition creates a dense, heavy texture that provides high nutrient capacity but can be challenging to work when wet. The high clay content makes the soil naturally resistant to rapid water movement.

Deep Moisture Reservoirs

Pawnee County features an organic matter content of 2.90%, which is lower than the Nebraska average of 3.32% but healthy compared to the 2.0% national benchmark. Its available water capacity of 0.188 in/in is higher than the state average of 0.172 in/in. This ability to store water deeply in the soil profile supports crops through seasonal dry spells.

Managing Poorly Drained Lands

The dominant drainage class is 'Poorly drained,' and the soil belongs to Hydrologic Group C/D, indicating low infiltration rates and high runoff potential. These characteristics are critical for planning construction projects and require careful management of field drainage to prevent waterlogging. Homeowners should ensure proper grading away from foundations to handle the slow-moving water.

Thriving in Hardiness Zone 6a

Zone 6a allows for a diverse range of plantings, though moisture-tolerant varieties will perform best here. The high available water capacity makes Pawnee County a strong candidate for native prairie restoration and water-intensive summer crops. If you are starting a garden, consider raised beds to help manage the naturally slow drainage of these silt loams.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Pawnee County

via LawnByCounty

Pawnee County Leads the State in Ease

A lawn difficulty score of 70.9 puts Pawnee County well ahead of the national average. Homeowners here enjoy some of the most favorable turf conditions in Nebraska's Hardiness Zone 6a.

High Rainfall for the Plains

At 34.1 inches per year, Pawnee County enjoys much more precipitation than the Nebraska average of 25.9 inches. This extra moisture helps lawns survive the 38 days of extreme heat typically seen each summer.

Navigating Silt Loam with Poor Drainage

The silt loam texture and poor drainage class mean lawns stay wet longer, which can be a blessing or a curse. Watch for pooling water during heavy rains and avoid over-compacting the 29.6% clay soil.

Resilient Through Seasonal Drought

The county saw 20 weeks of drought in the past year, but 50.1% of the area currently shows abnormal dryness. Utilize the high clay content to your advantage by watering slowly to allow deep penetration without runoff.

Timing Success in Zone 6a

Spring seeding should begin after the April 23 frost date to take advantage of the wet season. Tall fescue is a top choice for its ability to handle both the summer heat and the poorly drained soils.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pawnee County's county score?
Pawnee County, Nebraska has a composite county score of 62.2 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 Pawnee County rank among counties in Nebraska?
Pawnee County ranks #48 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 Pawnee County, Nebraska?
The median annual property tax in Pawnee County is $1,206, with an effective tax rate of 1.52%. This earns Pawnee County a tax score of 10.3/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Pawnee County?
The median household income in Pawnee County, Nebraska is $62,188 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Pawnee County earns an income score of 40.2/100 on CountyScore.
Is Pawnee County, Nebraska a good place to live?
Pawnee County scores 62.2/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #48 in Nebraska. The best way to evaluate Pawnee 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 Pawnee 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.