Wayne County, NE at a glance
Median household income
$66,215$5,518 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Wayne County, NE?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Wayne County, NE? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Wayne County, NE, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $666 | $7,992 | $26,640 | 12.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $732 | $8,784 | $29,280 | 13.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $961 | $11,532 | $38,440 | 17.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,278 | $15,336 | $51,120 | 23.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,612 | $19,344 | $64,480 | 29.2% |
What a typical income covers in Wayne County, NE
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $66,215 a year ($5,518 a month before tax).
What $66,215 leaves after Nebraska taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Nebraska tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Nebraska
Living in Wayne County, NE: common questions
What is the median household income in Wayne County, NE?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Wayne County, NE is $66,215 per year (approximately $5,518 per month).
What is the average rent in Wayne County, NE?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $666 for a studio, $732 for one bedroom, $961 for two, $1,278 for three and $1,612 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Wayne County, NE expensive to live in?
Prices there run 9.9% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Nebraska is 90.1, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Wayne County, NE?
To keep a $961 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $38,440 a year, or $3,203 a month. That is 58% of what the typical household in Wayne County, NE earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Wayne County, NE?
On the local median income of $66,215 ($5,518 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,759 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,655 for everything else and $1,104 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $961 takes 35% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Wayne County, NE?
Homes in Nebraska paid 13.3¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $119. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.