About three in four adults aged 25 to 54 in Dawson County, Nebraska, have a job
In Dawson County, 15.5% of adults aged 25 to 54 were not working (Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024). That is lower than in 81% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 72% of U.S. counties.
What drives Dawson County's score
In Dawson County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 59.2. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 23.3. Rent on a two-bedroom takes 17.6% of the median household's income (fiscal year 2027), lower than in 81% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Even so, Dawson County is worse off than most counties on unemployment rate, 12-month average (12.2%, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Dawson County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 59.2 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorAdults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working15.5% · 2020 to 202418th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average12.2% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202699th percentile
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- 43.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.1% · August 202548th percentile
- People with a credit card behind4.9% · August 202540th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score21.6% · Q4 202541st percentile
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- 33.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line12.1% · 202423rd percentile
- People with a disability12.9% · 2020 to 202421st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$73,090 · 202432nd percentile
- People below the poverty line10.1% · 202423rd percentile
- People without health insurance9.9% · 2020 to 202465th percentile
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- 24.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.1% · August 202531st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people66.4 · 202517th percentile
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- 23.3 of 100
Housing costs
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income17.6% · fiscal year 202718th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent14.3% · 2020 to 202428th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Aug 2026.
Where the money in Dawson County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Dawson County
Nebraska
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Dawson County in 2024, pay from work was 64 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 15 cents. Benefit checks were 21 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 8 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Dawson County, benefit checks rose from 8 to 21 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Dawson County, Nebraska: 20.8% and 63.9% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 20.8% of all personal income in Dawson County, Nebraska (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Dawson County, 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Dawson County has changed
The number of people living in Dawson County grew by about 26% between 1969 and 2024, from 19,414 to 24,554. The number of jobs located there grew by about 51% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment rose from 2.8% in 1990 to 2.9% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 19,414 | 2024 24,554 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 7,837 | 2024 11,864 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 2.8% | 2025 2.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.6% | 2024 10.1% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $27,245 | 2024 $73,090 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 8.1% | 2024 20.8% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Dawson County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 24,365. The 2020 Census counted 24,111, 99% of the peak. Census Bureau
1860
January 11, 1860 (created) July 11, 1871 (organized). Wikipedia
1985
Sperry-New Holland combine plant closed in 1985, eliminating 940 jobs. Wikipedia
2005
Flash flood: $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
Flash flood: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2024
Hail: $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2024
Hail: $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2025
Tyson Foods plant in Lexington announced closure in November 2025, laying off 3,200 employees. Wikipedia
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Since 1978
14 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Dawson County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Dawson County beside its neighbors
Dawson County scores higher than all six counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Dawson County ranks 6th of the seven; Frontier County is highest, at 27.6%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson County, NE | 27 | 10.1% | 20.8% |
| Lincoln County, NE | 24 | 11.0% | 23.0% |
| Frontier County, NE | 12 | 11.3% | 27.6% |
| Custer County, NE | 10 | 11.5% | 24.2% |
| Buffalo County, NE | 7 | 8.7% | 15.5% |
| Gosper County, NE | 5 | 8.9% | 25.2% |
| Phelps County, NE | 5 | 8.4% | 21.6% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Dawson County the poorest county in Nebraska?
No, Dawson County's poverty rate was 10.1% in 2024, 60th highest of 93 in Nebraska (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Garden County, at 16.9%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Dawson County ranks 17th of 93 in the state.
Dawson County in photographs
Places in Dawson County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
Dawson County Courthouse in Lexington, Nebraska; seen from the northwest.
Dawson County, Nebraska: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Dawson County, Nebraska?
10.1% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in 10 people. Among children it was 12.1%.
Is Dawson County the poorest county in Nebraska?
No, Dawson County's poverty rate was 10.1% in 2024, 60th highest of 93 in Nebraska (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Garden County, at 16.9%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Dawson County ranks 17th of 93 in the state.
What is the population of Dawson County, Nebraska?
About 24,554 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 24,111, 99% of the county's peak of 24,365 in 2000.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Dawson County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Legal Aid of Nebraska
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Dawson County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Dawson County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.