Loup County
NE · Pop. 564 · Rural County
Loup County sits in Nebraska across 563 square miles, home to 564 people at 1 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, corn, soybeans. The median home price is $121,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.8%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 147-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.4°F and average winter lows of 12.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 26 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Jennie M Melham Memorial Medical Center, Inc is 34.7 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.8% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $121,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- At 1 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
- A low unemployment rate of 4% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- A 147-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- The nearest hospital, Jennie M Melham Memorial Medical Center, Inc, is 34.7 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
- Average winter lows of 12.5°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Loup County, NE is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 76/100
- Median home price
- $121k
- Property tax
- 0.8%
- Growing season
- 147 days (zone 5a)
- Annual rainfall
- 26"
- Broadband
- 99.1%
- Nearest hospital
- Jennie M Melham Memorial Medical Center, Inc, 34.7 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Loup County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Loup County?
- Loup County is in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 147-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.4°F, and average winter lows of 12.5°F. The established crops are hay, corn, soybeans.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $121,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.8%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Jennie M Melham Memorial Medical Center, Inc is 34.7 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
Explore Nebraska Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Nebraska
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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