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Market MapNebraskaDawson

Dawson County

NebraskaPopulation: 24,037
73
/100
Hold
#61 of 1,000 counties
#15 in Nebraska (90 counties)
Analysis by RentalCalcs Research·Independent data + algorithm-driven scoring
Updated January 1, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$201,202
Median Home Price
14% below national median
$1,256/mo
Median Rent
17% below national median
7.49%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 15% nationally
-$239
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $1,256/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.
ScenarioPurchase priceMonthly cash flowCap rateCash-on-cash
75% of median
value-add or distressed
$150,901+$25/mo6.5%+0.9%
Median
typical MLS deal
$201,202-$239/mo4.9%-6.2%
125% of median
newer / premium
$251,502-$502/mo3.9%-10.4%

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$201,202
Down Payment (20%)$40,240
Loan Amount$160,962
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,256
Monthly P&I-$1,055
Est. Expenses (35%)-$440
Net Cash Flow-$239/mo
4.9%
Cap Rate (all cash)
-6.2%
Cash-on-Cash Return
7.49%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.9% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full AnalysisTry House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
73/100
73
Cash Flow(30%)
75/100

Based on 7.49% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
83/100

Based on 3.9% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)
85/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.0x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Above-average rent-to-price ratio (7.49%)
  • +Affordable relative to local incomes
  • +Complete rent data available

Challenges

  • -Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$239/mo)
  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 4.9% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population
24,037
Median Income
$67,462
vs $57,059 national est.
Unemployment Rate
—
Data pending
Price-to-Income
3.0x
Very affordable

Who this market fits

Best for
  • +All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield
  • +Value-add operators who can buy below median and force rent up
  • +Institutional or out-of-state investors who target appreciation markets
Skip if
  • −You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
  • −You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)

Compare to Nearby Counties

CountyVerdict
CurrentDawsonNE
73$201,202$1,2567.49%Buy
BrownNE
73$149,197Est. pending—BuyView
SalineNE
73$209,381Est. pending—BuyView
ButlerNE
73$229,333Est. pending—BuyView
DakotaNE
72$228,365Est. pending—BuyView
NanceNE
72$197,789Est. pending—BuyView

The Bottom Line

HoldDawson scores well overall, but a typical leveraged buy-and-hold loses $239/mo at current rates. Consider house hacking, value-add, or all-cash; otherwise a worse score with positive cash flow may be the better deal.

Dawson County in Nebraska scores 73/100, ranking #61 of 1,000 US counties (top 8%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $239/month; the 7.49% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow
$-239/mo
Cap Rate
4.9%
Cash-on-Cash
-6.2%

Related markets

Cheaper alternatives to Dawson

  • Brown County, lower entry price
  • Nance County, lower entry price

Head-to-head comparisons

  • Dawson vs Brown for rentals
  • Dawson vs Saline for rentals
  • Dawson vs Butler for rentals
All counties in Nebraska →

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