Keith County, Nebraska: commercial real estate data.
Keith County, Nebraska had an estimated 8,148 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 8,331, across 1,062 square miles. County output reached $526.3 m in 2024, 340 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 17 7(a) approvals worth $4.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Keith County
How many people live in Keith County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20248,219
- Households4,051
- Average household size2.03
- Median household income$60,645
- Median age48.4
- Median gross rent$771 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$168,000
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over6,089
- Population under 181,692
- Share under 1820.6 percent
- Population 65 and over2,294
- Share 65 and over27.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 644,233
- Civilian labor force4,094
- Unemployment rate2.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.7 percent
- Rank by population among Nebraska counties35th of 93
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2634th of 3,222
Keith County is the 35th largest of 93 Nebraska counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 27.9 percent against 20.6 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Keith County
Is Keith County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 20248,148
- Census 2020 base population8,331
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.20 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-7
- Births, 202484
- Deaths, 2024117
- Natural change, 2024-33
- Net domestic migration, 202420
- Net international migration, 20246
- Total net migration, 202426
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-40
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2549th of 3,144
The county has lost 2.20 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Keith County
Where are people moving to Keith County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving173
- People arriving, from those returns305
- Tax returns filed by households leaving209
- Net household movement-36
- Adjusted gross income arriving$9.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-2.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$53,780
- Average income of a leaving household$55,727
- Largest single originLincoln County (23 households)
- Largest single destinationLincoln County (32 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 23 | 40 | $1.0 m |
Households arriving report $1,947 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Lincoln 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.
Keith County
What is the Keith County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$526.3 m
- County GDP, 2023$526.2 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20240.0 percent
- GDP change over five years26.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Nebraska areas BEA publishes45th of 93
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2372nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$64,040
Output grew 0.0 percent in the latest year and 26.9 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.
Keith County
Employment by industry in Keith County
- Covered employment, annual average3,344
- Establishments reporting398
- Average annual pay$46,634
- Average weekly wage$897
- Retail trade, employment637
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,522
- Accommodation and food services, employment508
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,275
- Manufacturing, employment252
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$50,479
- Wholesale trade, employment242
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$70,337
- Finance and insurance, employment148
- Construction, employment100
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 637 | 45 | $31,522 |
| Accommodation and food services | 508 | 48 | $22,275 |
| Manufacturing | 252 | 14 | $50,479 |
| Wholesale trade | 242 | 23 | $70,337 |
| Finance and insurance | 148 | 24 | $80,716 |
| Construction | 100 | 39 | $37,436 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 99 | 25 | $60,536 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 76 | 18 | $42,853 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 637 jobs, 19.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Keith County
How many businesses are in Keith County?
- Establishments, all industries340
- Employment at those establishments2,470
- Annual payroll$106.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents41.4
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.
Keith County
Building permits in Keith County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202433
- Declared construction value permitted$11.7 m
- Single family units authorized33
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$355,315
- Units authorized per 1,000 households8.1
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Keith County
SBA loans in Keith County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded17
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$4.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$256,300
- Median 7(a) approval$50,000
- Largest single approval$900,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)94
- Jobs per approval5.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active10
- Distinct industries receiving approvals10
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer23.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter12
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals5.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countCorn Farming (3)
- Most active lenderWestern Nebraska Bank (4)
- 504 approvals recorded4
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.7 m
- Average 504 approval$422,750
- Median 504 approval$354,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval10.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved25.4
- Most active CDCNebraska Economic Development Corporation (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$6.0 m
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.
Keith County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Keith County
Do SBA loans in Keith County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full7
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Exempt from disclosure7
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.
Keith County
SBA lending by place in Keith County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Ogallala, approvals9
- Paxton, approvals6
- Brule, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Ogallala | 9 | $3,448,600 |
| Paxton | 6 | $663,500 |
| Brule | 2 | $245,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Keith County
How large is Keith County?
- Land area1,062 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Nebraska counties14th of 93
- Width, east to west41.9 mi
- Height, north to south27 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land8
- Establishments per square mile0.32
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.
Keith County
Flood risk in Keith County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Keith County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 310487
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Keith County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Keith County (community 310487), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Keith County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 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 Keith 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 Keith County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20248,219
- Households4,051
- Average household size2.03
- Median household income$60,645
- Median age48.4
Common questions
Keith County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Keith County, Nebraska?
The Census Bureau estimates 8,148 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 8,219, in 4,051 households, ranking 35th of 93 Nebraska counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Keith County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.20 percent since the 2020 census base of 8,331, to 8,148 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 84 births against 117 deaths, with net migration of 26. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Keith County?
$60,645. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,000, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $771 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Keith County?
340 establishments, employing 2,470 people with an annual payroll of $106.5 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 Keith County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 637 jobs, 19.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 3,344 jobs at an average annual pay of $46,634, or $897 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Keith County?
17 7(a) approvals totaling $4.4 m since FY2020, across 10 lenders, with a median approval of $50,000, plus 4 504 approvals worth $1.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Keith County?
33 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $11.7 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Keith County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 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 Keith County come from?
The largest single origin is Lincoln County, with 23 households. Arriving households report an average income of $53,780 against $55,727 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Keith 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 Keith 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.
Keith County
Cities and places in Keith.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Keith County. 8 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ogallala | city | 4,777 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Paxton | village | 622 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Brule | village | 346 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Belmar | CDP | 143 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Roscoe | CDP | 97 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lemoyne | CDP | 51 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Martin | CDP | 35 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sarben | CDP | 21 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Keystone | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby