City Report · NE

Scottsbluff

Pop. 14,376·14th most expensive in Nebraska·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$912/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-2.7%
vs US Median
-$1,020
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Scottsbluff · $912
More affordable than 99% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
19% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $912/mo, rent takes about 19% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$36,000/yr
Local median income
$56,359/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Scottsbluff's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$660
1 BR
$780
2 BR
$960
3 BR
$1,350
4 BR+
$1,400
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$960/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $912 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($56,359) is $1,409 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,400).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Scottsbluff. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$10,944/yr
At $912/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -2.7% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Scottsbluff, NE is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 26.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
14,376
Median income
$56,359
Median age
38.8
Renters
40.6%
Age distribution
24.2%
21.1%
23.4%
21%
Under 1824.2%
18–3421.1%
35–5423.4%
55–6410.3%
65+21%
Gender
46.6%
53.4%
Male46.6%
Female53.4%
Race & ethnicity
70.3%
30.7%
White70.3%
Hispanic30.7%
Asian0.5%
Education (25+)
27%
38.1%
26.3%
No HS diploma8.6%
HS diploma27%
Some college38.1%
Bachelor's+26.3%
Housing tenure
59.4%
40.6%
Owner59.4%
Renter40.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Scottsbluff, NE has changed in 5 years

Income
$50,788 → $56,359
up 11.0%
Population
14,511 → 14,376
down 0.9%
Renter share
43.4% → 40.6%
-2.8 pts
Bachelor's+
26.7% → 26.3%
-0.4 pts
Median age
35 → 38.8
+3.8 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in Scottsbluff, NE now reports about $56,359, up from $50,788 in 2021. The renter share has eased from 43.4% to 40.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

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View Scottsbluff rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Scottsbluff on your salary?

At $912/mo, how Scottsbluff rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Scottsbluff rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Scottsbluff. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Scottsbluff

About renting in Scottsbluff, NE

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Scottsbluff is $912/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $660/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $960/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $780/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,350/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($56,359/yr), Scottsbluff ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Scottsbluff?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $36,000/year (about $17/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $912/mo in Scottsbluff. The local median household income is $56,359/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Scottsbluff?

Rent in Scottsbluff has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Scottsbluff rent compare to other cities in Nebraska?

Scottsbluff is one of the more affordable among Nebraska cities for rent, ranking #14 of 14 tracked cities at $912/mo.
Income Affordability
19%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $912/mo, rent takes ~19% of Scottsbluff's median household income ($56,359/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Scottsbluff 19%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2.46–5.84%
Run the Scottsbluff affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Scottsbluff, NE

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