Gage County, Nebraska: commercial real estate data.
Gage County, Nebraska had an estimated 21,687 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 21,702, across 851 square miles. County output reached $1.58 bn in 2024, 637 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 41 7(a) approvals worth $16.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Gage County
How many people live in Gage County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202421,629
- Households9,327
- Average household size2.32
- Median household income$67,247
- Median age42.6
- Median gross rent$774 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$174,000
- Home value to household income2.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher23.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over15,192
- Population under 184,888
- Share under 1822.6 percent
- Population 65 and over4,776
- Share 65 and over22.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6411,965
- Civilian labor force10,999
- Unemployment rate1.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.7 percent
- Rank by population among Nebraska counties15th of 93
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1787th of 3,222
Gage County is the 15th largest of 93 Nebraska counties by population. A median home costs 2.6 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.6 percent against 22.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Gage County
Is Gage County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202421,687
- Census 2020 base population21,702
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.07 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202450
- Births, 2024229
- Deaths, 2024324
- Natural change, 2024-95
- Net domestic migration, 2024143
- Net international migration, 20243
- Total net migration, 2024146
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024444
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1862nd of 3,144
The county has lost 0.07 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Gage County
Where are people moving to Gage County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving514
- People arriving, from those returns946
- Tax returns filed by households leaving479
- Net household movement35
- Adjusted gross income arriving$24.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-1.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$47,521
- Average income of a leaving household$53,539
- Largest single originLancaster County (151 households)
- Largest single destinationLancaster County (144 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County | 151 | 286 | $7.6 m |
| Douglas County | 29 | 49 | $1.5 m |
| Jefferson County | 25 | 42 | $1.2 m |
Households arriving report $6,018 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Lancaster County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Gage County
What is the Gage County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.58 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.53 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.4 percent
- GDP change over five years54.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Nebraska areas BEA publishes16th of 93
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1468th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$73,210
Output grew 3.4 percent in the latest year and 54.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Gage County
Employment by industry in Gage County
- Covered employment, annual average8,677
- Establishments reporting744
- Average annual pay$48,917
- Average weekly wage$941
- Manufacturing, employment1,546
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$61,097
- Retail trade, employment1,255
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,445
- Accommodation and food services, employment520
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,122
- Construction, employment419
- Construction, average annual pay$49,981
- Wholesale trade, employment371
- Other services, except public administration, employment246
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,546 | 37 | $61,097 |
| Retail trade | 1,255 | 103 | $31,445 |
| Accommodation and food services | 520 | 44 | $18,122 |
| Construction | 419 | 92 | $49,981 |
| Wholesale trade | 371 | 56 | $66,706 |
| Other services, except public administration | 246 | 49 | $33,063 |
| Finance and insurance | 187 | 44 | $66,542 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 165 | 8 | $11,406 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,546 jobs, 17.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Gage County
How many businesses are in Gage County?
- Establishments, all industries637
- Employment at those establishments6,835
- Annual payroll$306.9 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents29.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Gage County
Building permits in Gage County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202445
- Declared construction value permitted$10.5 m
- Single family units authorized27
- Multifamily units authorized18
- Multifamily share of units40.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$233,576
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.8
Multifamily is 40.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Gage County
SBA loans in Gage County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded41
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$16.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$403,680
- Median 7(a) approval$180,000
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,000,000
- Largest single approval$2,800,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)378
- Jobs per approval9.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active5
- Distinct industries receiving approvals28
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer4.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter34
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals9.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (4)
- Most active lenderFirst State Bank Nebraska (37)
- 504 approvals recorded9
- 504 gross approval dollars$5.6 m
- Average 504 approval$626,667
- Median 504 approval$250,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval14.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved22.3
- Most active CDCNebraska Economic Development Corporation (8)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$22.2 m
The average approval of $403,680 sits well above the median of $180,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 4.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Gage County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Gage County
Do SBA loans in Gage County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full7
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure32
- Status: Cancelled2
Only 7 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Gage County
SBA lending by place in Gage County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending9
- Beatrice, approvals21
- Cortland, approvals7
- Adams, approvals4
- Pickrell, approvals3
- Dewitt, approvals2
- Lincoln, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Beatrice | 21 | $5,190,000 |
| Cortland | 7 | $4,675,000 |
| Adams | 4 | $2,380,000 |
| Pickrell | 3 | $900,000 |
| Dewitt | 2 | $121,000 |
| Lincoln | 1 | $2,800,000 |
| Firth | 1 | $317,000 |
| Blue Springs | 1 | $150,000 |
| 1 other borrower city | 1 | $17,900 |
Beatrice accounts for 21 approvals against 7 in Cortland. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Gage County
How large is Gage County?
- Land area851 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Nebraska counties25th of 93
- Width, east to west24 mi
- Height, north to south36.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land25
- Establishments per square mile0.75
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Gage County
Flood risk in Gage County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Gage County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 310088
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book13
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate69.2 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Gage County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Gage County (community 310088), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Gage County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 69.2 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Gage County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Gage County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202421,629
- Households9,327
- Average household size2.32
- Median household income$67,247
- Median age42.6
Common questions
Gage County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Gage County, Nebraska?
The Census Bureau estimates 21,687 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 21,629, in 9,327 households, ranking 15th of 93 Nebraska counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Gage County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.07 percent since the 2020 census base of 21,702, to 21,687 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 229 births against 324 deaths, with net migration of 146. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Gage County?
$67,247. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $174,000, which is 2.6 times income, and median gross rent is $774 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Gage County?
637 establishments, employing 6,835 people with an annual payroll of $306.9 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Gage County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,546 jobs, 17.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 8,677 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,917, or $941 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Gage County?
41 7(a) approvals totaling $16.6 m since FY2020, across 5 lenders, with a median approval of $180,000, plus 9 504 approvals worth $5.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Gage County?
45 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $10.5 m. Multifamily was 40.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Gage County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Gage County come from?
The largest single origin is Lancaster County, with 151 households. Arriving households report an average income of $47,521 against $53,539 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Gage County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Gage County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Gage County
Cities and places in Gage.
13 Census places lie wholly or partly in Gage County. All 13 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beatrice | city | 12,225 | 21 | Wholly in this county |
| Wymore | city | 1,320 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Adams | village | 580 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Cortland | village | 547 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Blue Springs | city | 328 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Clatonia | village | 326 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Odell | village | 211 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pickrell | village | 180 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Barneston | village | 117 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Filley | village | 110 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Virginia | village | 76 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Holmesville | CDP | 61 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Liberty | village | 51 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 4 of the county's 41 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Gage County, the largest being Dewitt (2), Lincoln (1), Firth (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.