Scotts Bluff County scores 63.5, above the national median of 50.0 and in the 64th percentile nationally. The county performs better than approximately two-thirds of U.S. counties, though below the strongest performers in this analysis.
2 / 5
Below Nebraska average, mid-tier statewide
Scotts Bluff's score of 63.5 falls noticeably below Nebraska's state average of 71.2, placing it in the lower-middle range of the state's counties. It is the second-weakest performer among these eight counties.
3 / 5
Affordable housing remains a highlight
Scotts Bluff maintains a Cost Score of 77.6, with a median home value of $161,400 and rent at $889/month, keeping housing reasonably affordable. The county also provides a low effective tax rate of 1.488%, helping offset other cost pressures.
4 / 5
Risk factors and health outcomes lag significantly
Scotts Bluff's Risk Score of 36.2 is the second-lowest in this group, indicating meaningful exposure to environmental hazards, and its Health Score of 70.2 is below county averages. The Income Score of 23.2 also reflects limited earning potential, with a median household income of just $60,960.
5 / 5
Suits cost-focused residents willing to accept tradeoffs
Scotts Bluff County appeals to budget-conscious individuals and families who prioritize affordable housing and can tolerate lower incomes and modest health infrastructure. The county works best for retirees on fixed incomes or those relocating specifically to reduce living costs, though prospective residents should evaluate local health and environmental resilience carefully.
Scotts Bluff County scores 63.5, above the national median of 50.0 and in the 64th percentile nationally. The county performs better than approximately two-thirds of U.S. counties, though below the strongest performers in this analysis.
Below Nebraska average, mid-tier statewide
Scotts Bluff's score of 63.5 falls noticeably below Nebraska's state average of 71.2, placing it in the lower-middle range of the state's counties. It is the second-weakest performer among these eight counties.
Affordable housing remains a highlight
Scotts Bluff maintains a Cost Score of 77.6, with a median home value of $161,400 and rent at $889/month, keeping housing reasonably affordable. The county also provides a low effective tax rate of 1.488%, helping offset other cost pressures.
Risk factors and health outcomes lag significantly
Scotts Bluff's Risk Score of 36.2 is the second-lowest in this group, indicating meaningful exposure to environmental hazards, and its Health Score of 70.2 is below county averages. The Income Score of 23.2 also reflects limited earning potential, with a median household income of just $60,960.
Suits cost-focused residents willing to accept tradeoffs
Scotts Bluff County appeals to budget-conscious individuals and families who prioritize affordable housing and can tolerate lower incomes and modest health infrastructure. The county works best for retirees on fixed incomes or those relocating specifically to reduce living costs, though prospective residents should evaluate local health and environmental resilience carefully.
Score breakdown
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🏛60.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Scotts Bluff County's effective tax rate of 1.488% significantly exceeds the national median, placing it in the higher tier of American counties. With a median property tax of $2,401 on homes valued at $161,400, residents pay closer to the national median than many Nebraska peers, though at a higher effective rate.
Scotts Bluff among highest-taxed Nebraska counties
At 1.488%, Scotts Bluff County ranks in Nebraska's top tier, exceeding the state average of 1.281% by more than two-tenths of a percentage point. The median tax bill of $2,401 runs $429 higher than the state average of $1,972, reflecting both elevated rates and solid property values.
Scotts Bluff stands out in panhandle region
Scotts Bluff County's 1.488% rate significantly outpaces the statewide average and ranks higher than most rural Nebraska neighbors, reflecting its role as the panhandle's principal economic center. This premium reflects regional service costs and local school funding priorities.
What you'll pay annually on median home
A home valued at Scotts Bluff County's median of $161,400 carries an estimated annual property tax of approximately $2,401. Homeowners with mortgages pay around $2,512, while those without mortgages pay closer to $2,230.
Many homeowners could lower taxes through appeal
Scotts Bluff County homeowners should review their property assessments to ensure valuations reflect current market conditions in the panhandle region. A free appeal to the county assessor can identify overassessments and reduce tax liability for properties exceeding their true market worth.
Scotts Bluff County's 17.5% rent-to-income ratio is the worst in this analysis and significantly exceeds national affordability benchmarks of roughly 14%. With a $60,960 median income and $889 monthly rent, residents here dedicate an unusually large share of earnings to housing.
Most unaffordable county in Nebraska
Scotts Bluff County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.5% stands 3.3 points above Nebraska's state average of 14.2%, making it the state's least affordable option. Monthly rents of $889 substantially exceed the state average of $783, straining modest local incomes.
Rent problem amid rural Nebraska
Scotts Bluff's $889 monthly rent runs $281 higher than Rock County ($608) and $211 higher than Richardson ($692), despite comparable incomes around $57,500–$60,000. This mismatch creates the state's worst affordability crisis, leaving residents with little budget flexibility.
Housing swallows Scotts Bluff budgets
Scotts Bluff households earn $60,960 annually but allocate $889 to rent or $974 to ownership—consuming 17.5% and 19.2% of income respectively. These percentages are the highest among peer counties, leaving families with limited resources for food, healthcare, and savings.
Scotts Bluff demands income caution
Relocating to Scotts Bluff requires careful budget planning—housing costs consume an outsized share of income here, the state's worst ratio at 17.5%. Unless your household income exceeds $70,000, consider neighboring counties like Rock or Richardson for significantly better affordability.
Scotts Bluff County's median household income of $60,960 falls about $13,795 below the national median of $74,755. The county ranks in the bottom 35% of U.S. counties for household earnings.
Below Nebraska's average income
Scotts Bluff County's median household income of $60,960 trails Nebraska's state average of $66,880 by roughly $6,000. The county ranks in the lower-middle tier among Nebraska's 93 counties.
Struggling more than Red Willow County
Scotts Bluff County's $60,960 median household income nearly matches Red Willow County ($60,000), making it among the lowest-earning areas in western Nebraska. Both counties face similar economic headwinds from agricultural decline.
Housing costs strain modest incomes
At 17.5%, Scotts Bluff County's rent-to-income ratio is the highest among peer counties, signaling housing affordability stress for many households. The median home value of $161,400 consumes a significant share of the $60,960 median household income.
Strategic savings despite tight budgets
Scotts Bluff County households earning $60,960 can still build wealth by prioritizing automatic savings, employer retirement matches, and debt reduction. Start small with consistent contributions to savings and retirement accounts—even modest amounts compound substantially over time.
At 75.3 years, Scotts Bluff County residents live nearly 1.1 years below the U.S. average of 76.4 years. Its 16.9% poor/fair health rate is below the national average of 17.9%, yet the lower life expectancy signals underlying mortality pressures.
Below-average life expectancy, higher uninsured
Scotts Bluff's 75.3-year life expectancy ranks lowest among all counties in this sample, falling 2.2 years short of Nebraska's 77.5-year average. Its 9.5% uninsured rate exceeds the state's 8.1%, indicating both longevity and coverage challenges.
Strong mental health, adequate primary care
Scotts Bluff offers 70 primary care providers per 100K and 317 mental health providers per 100K, representing solid capacity for a rural county. Mental health provision is notably strong—second only to Rock County in this sample.
Higher uninsured rate, strong specialty care
Scotts Bluff's 9.5% uninsured rate means roughly 1 in 10 residents lack health coverage, above the state average. The county compensates with robust mental health services (317 per 100K) and adequate primary care (70 per 100K).
Get covered in Scotts Bluff
With 9.5% uninsured, Scotts Bluff has more uninsured residents than most Nebraska counties. Visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to explore plans, subsidies, and resources that can protect your family.
Scotts Bluff County's composite risk score of 63.84 places it in the 'Relatively Low' category, well above the national average. The county's elevated earthquake risk and wildfire exposure make it more hazardous than most U.S. counties despite its 'Relatively Low' rating.
Elevated risk profile for Nebraska
At 63.84, Scotts Bluff County substantially exceeds Nebraska's state average of 25.80, ranking among the state's higher-risk counties. Its panhandle location and geological characteristics distinguish it from the rest of Nebraska.
Significantly riskier than neighboring panhandle counties
Scotts Bluff County's score of 63.84 dramatically exceeds those of Banner, Kimball, and Cheyenne counties in the panhandle. Its position at the base of the Scotts Bluff highlands and proximity to the North Platte River corridor create distinct hazard patterns.
Earthquakes and wildfires dominate the risk profile
Earthquake risk scores an exceptional 50.60—by far the highest in Nebraska—reflecting the county's proximity to seismic activity zones. Wildfire risk of 64.19 and tornado risk of 59.99 also pose significant threats, creating a multi-hazard environment uncommon in the state.
Address earthquake and wildfire coverage specifically
Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake damage; Scotts Bluff residents should strongly consider separate earthquake insurance given the county's exceptional risk. Verify windstorm and wildfire coverage in your policy; this county's unique hazard profile requires specialized attention.