Seward County, Nebraska: commercial real estate data.
Seward County, Nebraska had an estimated 17,769 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,602, across 571 square miles. County output reached $1.09 bn in 2024, 485 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 14 7(a) approvals worth $13.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Seward County
How many people live in Seward County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202417,641
- Households6,788
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$82,444
- Median age38.0
- Median gross rent$980 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$241,300
- Home value to household income2.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher33.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree10.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over11,125
- Population under 184,111
- Share under 1823.3 percent
- Population 65 and over3,214
- Share 65 and over18.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6410,316
- Civilian labor force9,438
- Unemployment rate2.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over69.8 percent
- Rank by population among Nebraska counties18th of 93
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2003rd of 3,222
Seward County is the 18th 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 23.3 percent against 18.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Seward County
Is Seward County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202417,769
- Census 2020 base population17,602
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.95 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024123
- Births, 2024161
- Deaths, 2024181
- Natural change, 2024-20
- Net domestic migration, 2024134
- Net international migration, 20249
- Total net migration, 2024143
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024238
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1496th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.95 percent 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.
Seward County
Where are people moving to Seward County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving448
- People arriving, from those returns822
- Tax returns filed by households leaving453
- Net household movement-5
- Adjusted gross income arriving$24.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-665,000
- Average income of an arriving household$55,286
- Average income of a leaving household$56,143
- Largest single originLancaster County (172 households)
- Largest single destinationLancaster County (180 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County | 172 | 312 | $10.3 m |
Households arriving report $857 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.
Seward County
What is the Seward County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.09 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.02 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.6 percent
- GDP change over five years43.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Nebraska areas BEA publishes21st of 93
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1770th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$61,781
Output grew 6.6 percent in the latest year and 43.9 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.
Seward County
Employment by industry in Seward County
- Covered employment, annual average5,990
- Establishments reporting516
- Average annual pay$51,719
- Average weekly wage$995
- Manufacturing, employment875
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$72,932
- Retail trade, employment577
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,143
- Construction, employment486
- Construction, average annual pay$59,589
- Accommodation and food services, employment462
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$16,867
- Wholesale trade, employment293
- Finance and insurance, employment216
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 875 | 16 | $72,932 |
| Retail trade | 577 | 48 | $30,143 |
| Construction | 486 | 83 | $59,589 |
| Accommodation and food services | 462 | 34 | $16,867 |
| Wholesale trade | 293 | 33 | $80,560 |
| Finance and insurance | 216 | 30 | $69,940 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 192 | 48 | $54,528 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 180 | 21 | $53,447 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 875 jobs, 14.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Seward County
How many businesses are in Seward County?
- Establishments, all industries485
- Employment at those establishments5,434
- Annual payroll$254.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.5
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.
Seward County
Building permits in Seward County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024101
- Declared construction value permitted$23.0 m
- Single family units authorized53
- Multifamily units authorized48
- Multifamily share of units47.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$228,020
- Units authorized per 1,000 households14.9
Multifamily is 47.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Seward County
SBA loans in Seward County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded14
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$13.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$972,250
- Median 7(a) approval$330,500
- Largest single approval$4,800,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)99
- Jobs per approval7.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals12
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer21.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms3
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter8
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals7.1 percent
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.1 m
- Average 504 approval$554,500
- Median 504 approval$554,500
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval8.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.3
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$14.7 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.
Seward County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Seward County
Do SBA loans in Seward County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full3
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure10
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 3 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.
Seward County
SBA lending by place in Seward County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Seward, approvals10
- Utica, approvals2
- Beaver Crossing, approvals1
- Staplehurst, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Seward | 10 | $3,446,500 |
| Utica | 2 | $4,825,000 |
| Beaver Crossing | 1 | $2,715,000 |
| Staplehurst | 1 | $2,625,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Seward County
How large is Seward County?
- Land area571 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Nebraska counties56th of 93
- Width, east to west23.9 mi
- Height, north to south24.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land31
- Establishments per square mile0.85
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.
Seward County
Flood risk in Seward County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Seward County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 310474
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book11
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate54.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Seward 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 Seward County (community 310474), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Seward 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. 54.5 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 Seward 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 Seward County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202417,641
- Households6,788
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$82,444
- Median age38.0
Common questions
Seward County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Seward County, Nebraska?
The Census Bureau estimates 17,769 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 17,641, in 6,788 households, ranking 18th of 93 Nebraska counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Seward County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.95 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,602, to 17,769 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 161 births against 181 deaths, with net migration of 143. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Seward County?
$82,444. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $241,300, which is 2.9 times income, and median gross rent is $980 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Seward County?
485 establishments, employing 5,434 people with an annual payroll of $254.7 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 Seward County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 875 jobs, 14.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 5,990 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,719, or $995 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Seward County?
14 7(a) approvals totaling $13.6 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $330,500, plus 2 504 approvals worth $1.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Seward County?
101 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $23.0 m. Multifamily was 47.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Seward 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 Seward County come from?
The largest single origin is Lancaster County, with 172 households. Arriving households report an average income of $55,286 against $56,143 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Seward 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 Seward 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.
Seward County
Cities and places in Seward.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Seward County. All 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seward | city | 7,678 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Milford | city | 2,565 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Utica | village | 1,015 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Beaver Crossing | village | 357 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Staplehurst | village | 322 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Goehner | village | 309 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bee | village | 281 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pleasant Dale | village | 244 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Garland | village | 180 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cordova | village | 131 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tamora | CDP | 12 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby