Your life in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska

What stands out

Against every county in America, Scotts Bluff County is unusual in two ways: rainfall is in the bottom 6% of American counties (15 inches a year) and the property tax rate is in the top 15% of American counties (1.50%). Within Nebraska it ranks 1st of 93 counties for rainfall, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. 36,048 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.2% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -146).

Nebraska stopped taxing Social Security in 2025 and is cutting its top income-tax rate toward 3.99%. Property taxes are among the highest in the country as a share of home value, which is the state's longest-running political fight. Omaha and Lincoln hold most of the population and jobs; the state has the country's only unicameral legislature and publicly owned electric utilities.

Money

The typical household here brings in $60,137 a year, lower than 51% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $51,713. Unemployment runs 2.6%, lower than 78% of American counties. 6% of workers work from home.

Nebraska takes 4.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,435 a year.

Home

The median home costs $197K, cheaper than 64% of American counties, about 1.9 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $865 a month. Property tax is 1.50% of home value, roughly $2,264 a year on that median home, higher than 85% of American counties. 68% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.5 per 1,000 residents, lower than 72% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 12 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 74.6 years, shorter than 63% of American counties. There are 86 active physicians in the county, about 23.9 per 10,000 people. 9.3% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.12 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 76% of American counties. 89% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

59% of eligible voters turned out. Under Nebraska law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is legal with limits, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 50°F, highs near 66 and lows near 35, colder than 73% of American counties. About 15 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 60 out of 100, riskier than 60% of American counties; the county has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 245 Mbps down, faster than 72% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.0 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 brewery, 1 National Park Service site.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Nebraska tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.