Property tax is the main local revenue source in Nebraska, and the bill on an ordinary home is high by national standards. County assessors value residential property at actual market value each year, and the state equalization process checks that each county’s values fall within a set range of the market. School districts levy the largest share, with the county, the city, natural resources districts, educational service units and community colleges adding theirs.
The state has tried to offset that burden through income tax credits rather than lower rates. Owners can claim a refundable credit on their Nebraska income tax return for part of the school district and community college taxes they paid, using the parcel number from the bill. Many owners forget to claim it. Keep the receipt and the parcel number; the Department of Revenue provides a lookup tool.
Nebraska’s homestead exemption is limited to owners who are older, disabled, or disabled veterans and their surviving spouses, with income and value limits. It must be filed with the county assessor each year during the application window in the first half of the year. There is no general exemption for every homeowner.
Taxes are paid a year in arrears in two halves, and the due dates differ in the largest counties. The seller pays the documentary stamp tax on the deed. Buyers in Omaha’s growing suburbs should check for sanitary and improvement districts, which finance streets and sewers in new subdivisions through their own levy until a city annexes them.
Property tax in Nebraska
The median Nebraska homeowner pays $3,549 a year in property tax on a home valued at $238,600, an effective rate of 1.4874% in the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-year 2020-2024). That ranks the eighth highest of the 50 states and DC, above the middle state's 0.8003%. At that rate each $100,000 of home value carries about $1,487 a year of tax, or $123.95 a month in the payment, and that rate is what the calculator above starts from.
Nebraska's counties sit fairly close together, so the state figure is a reasonable starting point. Among counties whose survey figures pass both quality checks, the effective rate runs from 0.9488% in Hamilton County to 1.7424% in Sarpy County. On a $238,600 home that gap is worth about $1,894 a year. Pick a county in the calculator to use its rate, or type the rate from a listing or a current tax bill.
A high effective rate in Nebraska reflects what owners actually pay after exemptions and caps, so the rate in the calculator is the one that matters for a budget, not any rate printed in Nebraska law. Ask for the seller's latest bill and the assessed value too, since a new owner's assessment can differ from the long-held homes behind the median.
Nebraska property tax rates by county
All 93 counties, sorted from the highest effective rate to the lowest. The rate is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, from the ACS 5-year 2020-2024 survey (figures to December 31, 2024). Of these, 20 carry a flag: where the survey's margin of error is wide or home values hit the survey's top code, the calculator uses the Nebraska median instead of that county's figure.
| County | Effective rate | Median home value | Median tax a year | Survey | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarpy County | 1.7424% | $314,100 | $5,473 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Douglas County | 1.6937% | $266,100 | $4,507 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Kimball County | 1.6709% | $109,400 | $1,828 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cheyenne County | 1.6471% | $139,700 | $2,301 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Sioux County | 1.6254% | $99,300 | $1,614 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Dakota County | 1.5369% | $185,700 | $2,854 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lancaster County | 1.5276% | $275,200 | $4,204 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pawnee County | 1.5189% | $79,400 | $1,206 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Box Butte County | 1.5102% | $166,600 | $2,516 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Scotts Bluff County | 1.4807% | $168,500 | $2,495 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lincoln County | 1.4712% | $189,500 | $2,788 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Thurston County | 1.4677% | $114,600 | $1,682 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jefferson County | 1.4564% | $129,500 | $1,886 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Webster County | 1.4515% | $117,600 | $1,707 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Dawes County | 1.4467% | $150,900 | $2,183 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Adams County | 1.4464% | $193,100 | $2,793 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Buffalo County | 1.4428% | $246,400 | $3,555 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Nemaha County | 1.4412% | $131,700 | $1,898 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cass County | 1.4327% | $254,900 | $3,652 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Deuel County | 1.4281% | $100,200 | $1,431 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Richardson County | 1.4277% | $100,300 | $1,432 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Morrill County | 1.416% | $116,100 | $1,644 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Keith County | 1.4101% | $168,000 | $2,369 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Gage County | 1.4063% | $174,000 | $2,447 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Frontier County | 1.4025% | $149,800 | $2,101 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Washington County | 1.3918% | $297,600 | $4,142 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Hall County | 1.3891% | $224,600 | $3,120 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Furnas County | 1.375% | $98,400 | $1,353 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Sheridan County | 1.3721% | $113,400 | $1,556 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Madison County | 1.3688% | $208,500 | $2,854 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Garfield County | 1.3494% | $176,600 | $2,383 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Saline County | 1.349% | $197,400 | $2,663 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Otoe County | 1.3348% | $201,600 | $2,691 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Phelps County | 1.3202% | $194,900 | $2,573 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Valley County | 1.3202% | $154,600 | $2,041 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Johnson County | 1.3196% | $155,500 | $2,052 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Burt County | 1.3177% | $147,000 | $1,937 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Dawson County | 1.3069% | $166,200 | $2,172 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Saunders County | 1.2996% | $271,700 | $3,531 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Merrick County | 1.2962% | $175,900 | $2,280 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Keya Paha County | 1.2904% | $108,800 | $1,404 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Platte County | 1.2885% | $223,900 | $2,885 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Greeley County | 1.2867% | $120,000 | $1,544 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Harlan County | 1.2867% | $145,800 | $1,876 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Chase County | 1.2845% | $165,900 | $2,131 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Franklin County | 1.2772% | $95,600 | $1,221 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Dodge County | 1.267% | $208,600 | $2,643 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Stanton County | 1.2646% | $195,400 | $2,471 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Banner County | 1.2601% | $205,700 | $2,592 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Thomas County | 1.2491% | $109,200 | $1,364 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Antelope County | 1.2341% | $130,300 | $1,608 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Kearney County | 1.2265% | $223,400 | $2,740 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Dixon County | 1.2021% | $155,900 | $1,874 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Clay County | 1.2018% | $155,600 | $1,870 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| York County | 1.1948% | $189,400 | $2,263 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Colfax County | 1.1818% | $144,700 | $1,710 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Seward County | 1.1811% | $241,300 | $2,850 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Red Willow County | 1.1773% | $159,600 | $1,879 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Nuckolls County | 1.1741% | $96,500 | $1,133 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Hitchcock County | 1.1686% | $96,700 | $1,130 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Custer County | 1.1648% | $157,800 | $1,838 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Howard County | 1.1616% | $209,100 | $2,429 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Sherman County | 1.1605% | $152,000 | $1,764 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Knox County | 1.1527% | $127,700 | $1,472 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Blaine County | 1.1403% | $116,900 | $1,333 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Pierce County | 1.1398% | $196,000 | $2,234 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wayne County | 1.1218% | $221,600 | $2,486 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| McPherson County | 1.1102% | $121,600 | $1,350 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Butler County | 1.1097% | $184,200 | $2,044 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Holt County | 1.1072% | $165,100 | $1,828 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Nance County | 1.0992% | $132,000 | $1,451 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Boyd County | 1.0981% | $104,000 | $1,142 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Brown County | 1.0975% | $113,900 | $1,250 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Rock County | 1.074% | $117,500 | $1,262 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Gosper County | 1.0516% | $228,500 | $2,403 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Hooker County | 1.0437% | $93,800 | $979 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Boone County | 1.0253% | $173,700 | $1,781 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Thayer County | 1.0252% | $122,800 | $1,259 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Hayes County | 1.0101% | $128,100 | $1,294 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Garden County | 1.0082% | $110,400 | $1,113 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Perkins County | 1.0013% | $157,200 | $1,574 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cedar County | 0.9989% | $185,000 | $1,848 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cuming County | 0.9978% | $178,800 | $1,784 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Polk County | 0.9942% | $189,900 | $1,888 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cherry County | 0.9888% | $152,200 | $1,505 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Fillmore County | 0.9874% | $151,000 | $1,491 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Logan County | 0.9783% | $175,000 | $1,712 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Hamilton County | 0.9488% | $253,700 | $2,407 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Arthur County | 0.9322% | $185,900 | $1,733 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Dundy County | 0.7992% | $143,400 | $1,146 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Wheeler County | 0.7945% | $146,500 | $1,164 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Loup County | 0.7104% | $182,300 | $1,295 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Grant County | 0.6796% | $136,700 | $929 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
Worked example: the median Nebraska home
The median owner-occupied home in Nebraska is valued at $238,600 (ACS 5-year 2020-2024). Put $47,720 down, enough to keep the loan at 80% of the price so no PMI is charged, and borrow the rest over 30 years at 7.4%, the Freddie Mac average for the week of October 15, 2026. Insurance is the calculator's default of $1,500 a year, the same figure on every state page and 7.2% of this payment; real premiums vary widely from state to state and with a home's exposure to wind, flood and wildfire, so replace it with a premium for the Nebraska home you are pricing.
| Line | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Principal and interest | $1,321.61 | $15,859.32 |
| Property tax | $295.74 | $3,548.88 |
| Homeowners insurance | $125.00 | $1,500.00 |
| Private mortgage insurance | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total payment | $1,742.35 | $20,908.20 |
Principal and interest dominate the bill; tax and insurance, usually collected through escrow, add $420.74 a month, 24.1% of the total. Over the full term the $190,880 loan costs $284,905 in interest.
With $23,860 down instead, the loan grows to $214,740 and PMI of $89.48 a month is added, for a first payment of $1,997.04. On the regular schedule the PMI stops after 10 years, with the payment in October 2036. A 15-year loan at the 6.71% average, with the larger down payment, raises the monthly figure to $2,105.62 but cuts the interest to $112,400.
What the median Nebraska wage can buy
The median annual wage in Nebraska is $48,980 (BLS wage survey, May 2025). Paid every two weeks as a single filer, that leaves about $3,316 a month after federal and Nebraska paycheck deductions. With $60,000 saved for a down payment and $400 a month of other debts, the home affordability calculator's default 28/36 rule gives this range at 7.4% and the Nebraska property tax rate:
| Level | Home price | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | $88,137 | $429 |
| Target | $166,579 | $1,069 |
| Stretch | $201,577 | $1,355 |
Here the limit is total debt: the housing payment plus the other $400 a month reaches 36% of gross pay first. The target falls $72,021 short of the $238,600 median home value: the median home costs 4.9 times the median wage, so a typical Nebraska purchase usually needs a second income, a larger down payment or a cheaper area.
Everyday costs help: Nebraska's prices for goods and rent run 9.9% below the national average, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price parities for 2024 (figures to December 31, 2024). That stretches the median wage to about $54,360 in national dollars.
Nebraska mortgage questions
What is the mortgage payment on the median home in Nebraska?
The median Nebraska home is valued at $238,600 in the Census Bureau's ACS 5-year 2020-2024 figures. With $47,720 down and a 30-year loan at the 7.4% weekly average, the payment is $1,742.35 a month: $1,321.61 of principal and interest, $295.74 of property tax and $125.00 of insurance.
What is the property tax rate in Nebraska?
Homeowners in Nebraska pay a median of $3,549 a year on a median home value of $238,600, an effective rate of 1.4874%. That is the eighth highest of the 50 states and DC. It is a measure of what owners actually pay, not a rate set in law, and a new purchase can be taxed differently.
Which Nebraska county has the highest property tax rate?
Among counties with reliable survey figures, Sarpy County has the highest effective rate at 1.7424% and Hamilton County the lowest at 0.9488%. On the $238,600 median home, that gap is about $1,894 a year.
How much house can I afford on the median Nebraska wage?
On the median wage of $48,980, take-home pay is about $3,316 a month. With $60,000 down and $400 a month of other debts, the 28/36 rule points to a home of about $166,579, against a median home value of $238,600.
Does a smaller down payment change the Nebraska payment much?
With $23,860 down on the same home the loan is larger and private mortgage insurance is added, so the payment starts at $1,997.04 a month, $89.48 of it PMI. The PMI stops once the scheduled balance reaches 78% of the original value.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS 5-year 2020-2024), tables B25103 and B25077
- Freddie Mac, 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States [MORTGAGE30US], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, removing PMI
Mortgage rates: Freddie Mac weekly averages as of . Property tax rates: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2020-2024 as of . Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 as of . How we calculate.