Saunders County, Nebraska: commercial real estate data.
Saunders County, Nebraska had an estimated 23,406 residents on July 1, 2024, up 5.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 22,277, across 750 square miles. County output reached $1.09 bn in 2024, 604 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 25 7(a) approvals worth $15.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Saunders County
How many people live in Saunders County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202423,048
- Households8,899
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$94,066
- Median age40.3
- Median gross rent$960 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$271,700
- Home value to household income2.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income12.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher32.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over15,792
- Population under 185,708
- Share under 1824.8 percent
- Population 65 and over4,265
- Share 65 and over18.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6413,075
- Civilian labor force12,557
- Unemployment rate2.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over72.4 percent
- Rank by population among Nebraska counties14th of 93
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1729th of 3,222
Saunders County is the 14th largest of 93 Nebraska counties by population. A median home costs 2.9 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.8 percent against 18.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Saunders County
Is Saunders County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202423,406
- Census 2020 base population22,277
- Population change since the 2020 census base5.07 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-65
- Births, 2024256
- Deaths, 2024213
- Natural change, 202443
- Net domestic migration, 2024-113
- Net international migration, 20247
- Total net migration, 2024-106
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024963
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents519th of 3,144
The county has grown 5.07 percent since the 2020 census base. More people left than moved in during 2024 and births over deaths did not make up the difference, so the population fell.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Saunders County
Where are people moving to Saunders County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving700
- People arriving, from those returns1,328
- Tax returns filed by households leaving575
- Net household movement125
- Adjusted gross income arriving$63.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$26.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$91,319
- Average income of a leaving household$65,275
- Largest single originDouglas County (202 households)
- Largest single destinationLancaster County (140 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 202 | 394 | $23.9 m |
| Lancaster County | 165 | 300 | $14.5 m |
| Dodge County | 66 | 137 | $4.5 m |
| Sarpy County | 59 | 136 | $6.6 m |
Households arriving report $26,044 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Douglas 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.
Saunders County
What is the Saunders County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.09 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.10 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-0.5 percent
- GDP change over five years38.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Nebraska areas BEA publishes20th of 93
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1769th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$47,304
Output grew -0.5 percent in the latest year and 38.9 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.
Saunders County
Employment by industry in Saunders County
- Covered employment, annual average5,914
- Establishments reporting656
- Average annual pay$49,905
- Average weekly wage$960
- Construction, employment782
- Construction, average annual pay$64,212
- Retail trade, employment719
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,422
- Accommodation and food services, employment417
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,016
- Manufacturing, employment392
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$61,399
- Finance and insurance, employment231
- Wholesale trade, employment226
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 782 | 100 | $64,212 |
| Retail trade | 719 | 68 | $32,422 |
| Accommodation and food services | 417 | 40 | $18,016 |
| Manufacturing | 392 | 21 | $61,399 |
| Finance and insurance | 231 | 47 | $68,692 |
| Wholesale trade | 226 | 28 | $76,913 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 182 | 56 | $67,304 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 181 | 42 | $40,671 |
Construction is the largest private sector at 782 jobs, 13.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Saunders County
How many businesses are in Saunders County?
- Establishments, all industries604
- Employment at those establishments4,397
- Annual payroll$205.6 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.2
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.
Saunders County
Building permits in Saunders County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024135
- Declared construction value permitted$47.5 m
- Single family units authorized125
- Multifamily units authorized10
- Multifamily share of units7.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$351,804
- Units authorized per 1,000 households15.2
Single-family homes are 92.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Saunders County
SBA loans in Saunders County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded25
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$15.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$619,272
- Median 7(a) approval$305,000
- 10th percentile approval$38,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,299,320
- Largest single approval$3,477,500
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)239
- Jobs per approval9.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active12
- Distinct industries receiving approvals16
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer24.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter17
- Franchise loans3
- Franchise share of approvals12.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countSite Preparation Contractors (7)
- Most active lenderUnion Bank and Trust Company (8)
- 504 approvals recorded9
- 504 gross approval dollars$8.9 m
- Average 504 approval$993,556
- Median 504 approval$269,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval30.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved30.6
- Most active CDCNebraska Economic Development Corporation (9)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$24.4 m
The average approval of $619,272 sits well above the median of $305,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 24.0 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.
Saunders County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Saunders County
Do SBA loans in Saunders County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure16
- Status: Paid in full4
Only 4 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.
Saunders County
SBA lending by place in Saunders County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending7
- Yutan, approvals9
- Wahoo, approvals5
- Ashland, approvals5
- Mead, approvals2
- Fremont, approvals2
- Morse Bluff, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Yutan | 9 | $8,927,600 |
| Wahoo | 5 | $3,886,000 |
| Ashland | 5 | $1,655,700 |
| Mead | 2 | $532,500 |
| Fremont | 2 | $315,000 |
| Morse Bluff | 1 | $135,000 |
| Colon | 1 | $30,000 |
Yutan accounts for 9 approvals against 5 in Wahoo. 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.
Saunders County
How large is Saunders County?
- Land area750 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Nebraska counties29th of 93
- Width, east to west30.7 mi
- Height, north to south30.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land31
- Establishments per square mile0.81
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.
Saunders County
Flood risk in Saunders County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Saunders County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 310195
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book16
- Of those, participating in the NFIP14
- NFIP participation rate87.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Saunders 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 Saunders County (community 310195), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Saunders 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. 87.5 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 Saunders 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 Saunders County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202423,048
- Households8,899
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$94,066
- Median age40.3
Common questions
Saunders County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Saunders County, Nebraska?
The Census Bureau estimates 23,406 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 23,048, in 8,899 households, ranking 14th of 93 Nebraska counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Saunders County's population growing?
The population has grown 5.07 percent since the 2020 census base of 22,277, to 23,406 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 256 births against 213 deaths, with net migration of -106. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Saunders County?
$94,066. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $271,700, which is 2.9 times income, and median gross rent is $960 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Saunders County?
604 establishments, employing 4,397 people with an annual payroll of $205.6 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 Saunders County?
Construction is the largest private sector at 782 jobs, 13.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 5,914 jobs at an average annual pay of $49,905, or $960 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Saunders County?
25 7(a) approvals totaling $15.5 m since FY2020, across 12 lenders, with a median approval of $305,000, plus 9 504 approvals worth $8.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Saunders County?
135 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $47.5 m. Multifamily was 7.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Saunders 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 Saunders County come from?
The largest single origin is Douglas County, with 202 households. Arriving households report an average income of $91,319 against $65,275 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Saunders 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 Saunders 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.
Saunders County
Cities and places in Saunders.
16 Census places lie wholly or partly in Saunders County. All 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wahoo | city | 4,929 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Ashland | city | 3,071 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Yutan | city | 1,832 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Ceresco | village | 1,225 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cedar Bluffs | village | 782 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mead | village | 607 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Valparaiso | village | 524 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Prague | village | 310 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Weston | village | 256 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ithaca | village | 183 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Leshara | village | 177 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Memphis | village | 130 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Colon | village | 102 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Malmo | village | 95 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Morse Bluff | village | 70 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Wann | CDP | 18 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 25 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Saunders County, the largest being Fremont (2). 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.
Nearby