Income needed to buy a home
Polk County, NE
$73,776
a year in household income to buy the typical Polk County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$218,486
Down payment (10%)$21,849
Loan$196,637
Principal and interest (7.40%)$1,361/mo
Property tax (0.93% a year)$169/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$109/mo
Mortgage insurance$82/mo
Total monthly cost$1,721/mo
Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.
What locals earn
Right at the edge
The typical household here earns $69,768 a year, 95% of what it takes.
In Nebraska
Polk County ranks #43 of 89 for the income a home takes, from least to most.
Easiest to afford in Nebraska
| County | Typical home | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Nuckolls County | $123,561 | $41,272 |
| Richardson County | $121,678 | $41,812 |
| Furnas County | $121,746 | $42,001 |
| Rock County | $141,726 | $45,882 |
| Webster County | $139,497 | $49,087 |
Typical home value from the Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026. Rate is the Freddie Mac 30-year average for Oct 8, 2026. Property tax rate is total taxes paid divided by total home value in the county (U.S. Census, ACS 2020-2024). How it works.