Unemployment in Platte County, Nebraska, is lower than in 95% of U.S. counties
In Platte County, 2.5% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 84% of U.S. counties.
What drives Platte County's score
In Platte County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 48.6. Jobs are the lowest part, at 6.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Platte County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Platte County is worse off than most counties on bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (234, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 48.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector13.8% · August 202514th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people234 · 202582nd percentile
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- 43.8 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent20.1% · 2020 to 202462nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.4% · fiscal year 202725th percentile
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- 24.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.8% · August 202522nd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.0% · August 202532nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score31.3% · second quarter of 202617th percentile
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- 21.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line8.5% · 202411th percentile
- Children below the poverty line8.8% · 20248th percentile
- People with a disability11.6% · 2020 to 202411th percentile
- People without health insurance7.3% · 2020 to 202444th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$74,367 · 202430th percentile
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- 6.7 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20264th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working13.1% · 2020 to 20248th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; 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 Sep 2026.
Where the money in Platte County comes from
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 Platte County, 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Platte County
Nebraska
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Platte County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 18.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than three times as much as benefit checks
In Platte County, Nebraska, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 18.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
SNAP food aid is one of the benefit checks counted in the income totals above.
The share of households in Platte County getting SNAP food aid rose by about a third from 2009 to 2024, reaching 7.1%, with most of the change between 2023 and 2024
High on the chart: 7.4% in 2013. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Platte County, Nebraska.
How Platte County has changed
Platte County's population rose 36% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1969 to 1974, reaching 27,688. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Platte County, Nebraska.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Platte County rose 39% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1990 to 1995, reaching 16,582. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Platte County, Nebraska.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 1.8% | 2025 2.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 8.2% | 2024 8.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $28,903 | 2024 $74,367 |
The table uses 2.7% for 2025; the score uses 2.5% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Platte County's history
1856
Created January 26, 1856. Wikipedia
1857
In 1857, the Pawnee signed a treaty whereunder they gave up the bulk of their Nebraska lands, save for a reservation on what is now Nance County, Nebraska. Wikipedia
1998
A tornado in June 1998 did $4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1999
Hail in May 1999 did $7.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
A flood in March 2019 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
A flood in March 2019 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 34,296, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1966
23 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Platte County, 12 of them for flooding. FEMA
Platte County beside its neighbors
Of the eight counties that border Platte County, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Platte County ranks 6th of the nine; Nance County is highest, at 27.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanton County, NE | 20 | 7.8% | 15.7% |
| Madison County, NE | 16 | 12.3% | 19.5% |
| Butler County, NE | 15 | 9.5% | 18.5% |
| Platte County, NE | 15 | 8.5% | 18.1% |
| Colfax County, NE | 13 | 8.4% | 16.8% |
| Merrick County, NE | 7 | 9.8% | 22.7% |
| Nance County, NE | 4 | 10.9% | 27.2% |
| Polk County, NE | 2 | 8.0% | 18.0% |
| Boone County, NE | 0 | 9.3% | 21.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 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 Platte County the poorest county in Nebraska?
No, Platte County's poverty rate was 8.5% in 2024, 78th 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, Platte County ranks 41st of 93 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Platte County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Aid of Nebraska
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, 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 Platte County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Platte County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.