CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

42.10° N · 102.88° W · GEOID 3100905

Alliance

Box Butte County, Nebraska

NebraskaAlliance, NEAllianceAlliance

The short answer

Alliance is home to 8,075 people. Median household income is $65,160 a year and median rent is $694 a month, 12.8% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $161,800, about 2.5x annual median household income.

What sets Alliance apart is how tight household budgets are. The median rent takes 12.8% of the median household's income, a smaller share than in 93% of places its size. It is the lowest of 33 Nebraska places we track. Also notable: Household income rose 6% a year while rent rose 0.9% between the 2019 and 2024 surveys, pay gained on rent more than in 87% of places its size. It is the 3rd-lowest of 33 Nebraska places we track.

Median gross rent
$694
49% below the median place
Median household income
$65,160
19% below the median place
Median home value
$161,800
49% below the median place
Unemployment
n/a

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Alliance

  • GrowthThe population has fallen 3.1% since 2020, a steeper drop than in 86% of the 1,634 places under 10,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Alliance

Box Butte County loses about 2.4 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in392
Moved out414
Net−22

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Nebraska, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within NebraskaOther states

Income per tax return

Arrivals$47K
Leavers$50K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Box Butte County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
8.8% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 5.5% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Box Butte County report $47,300 a year in income on average; those leaving, $49,900, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$27,800 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $694 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,360 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $161,800.
Getting to work
11 minutes each way on average; 6.1% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Pinckneyville, IL matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
8.8%
53% above the median place
Income of households moving in7
$47,306
33% below the median place
Moved from another state1
5.5%
179% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureAllianceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year18.8%53% above
Moved from another state1County figure5.5%179% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-2.4300% below
Income of households moving in7County figure$47,30633% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$49,88429% below
02

What it costs to live here

The median home costs 2.5 years of the median household's income, fewer than in 84% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Alliance12.8%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$27,760
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
12.8%
37% below the median place
Home price to income
2.5x
35% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
13%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$56,700
a year, prices not adjusted
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Alliance, $694 a month. It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Alliance, but easier on the budget

Places that match Alliance on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Pinckneyville, IL917.2% vs 12.8%n/aCompare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Alliance.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Alliance? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median home value1
$161,800
49% below the median place
Vacant homes1
12.9%
82% above the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$1,360
27% below the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureAllianceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$69449% below
Rent to income112.8%37% below
Property tax rate11.5%62% above
Home price to income12.5x35% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms2County figure$1,01437% below
HUD area median income3County figure$76,00029% below
Property tax paid (median)1$2,38427% below
Median home value1$161,80049% below
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure2.4%26% below
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure31.6%39% below
Homeownership175.2%13% above
Renters paying 30%+148.8%4% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,36027% below
Vacant homes112.9%82% above
Median year built119651% below
03

Work and pay

Mean commute is 11 min, 57% below the median place.

Mean commute1
11 min
57% below the median place
Income per person1
$30,137
25% below the median place
Median household income1
$65,160
19% below the median place
All 8 work and pay measures
MeasureAllianceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$65,16019% below
Income per person1$30,13725% below
Average annual pay5County figure$48,78226% below
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure5.5%49% above
Jobs5County figure3,72698% below
Poverty rate112.8%18% above
Mean commute111 min57% below
Works from home1County figure6.1%51% below
04

Who lives here

Population change since 2020 is -3.1%, below the median place (median 1.1%).

Population change since 20206
-3.1%
below the median place (median 1.1%)
Bachelor's or higher1
18.1%
44% below the median place
Household size1
2.3
10% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Homes with broadband88.5% −4%
Median age40.8 +5%
No health insurance5.3% −17%
High school or higher93.9% +2%
All 9 people measures
MeasureAllianceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population18,0754912th largest
Population change since 20206-3.1%below (median 1.1%)
Median age140.85% above
Bachelor's or higher118.1%44% below
High school or higher193.9%2% above
Household size12.310% below
Born abroad1County figure2.0%77% below
No health insurance15.3%17% below
Homes with broadband188.5%4% below
05

Life in Alliance

OpenStreetMap shows 26 parks per 10,000 residents, more than in 85% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

3 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

  • Box Butte County Courthouse listed 1990
  • City of Alliance Central Park Fountain listed 1990
  • Alliance Commercial Historic District listed 2007

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents26.0 2.6×
Playgrounds per 10k23.5 2.5×
Grocery stores per 10k3.7 +75%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k19.8 +78%
Libraries per 10k1.2 +43%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Chimney Rock National Historic Site 37 miles
  • Scotts Bluff National Monument 47 miles
  • Agate Fossil Beds National Monument 49 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars17.7 −15%
Shops38.3 +26%
Arts, recreation and fitness3.7 −10%
Doctors' offices and clinics15.9 −21%
Child care centers3.7 +61%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public school students13
1,310
73% below the median place
Public schools13
5
44% below the median place
Students per teacher13
13.9
10% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureAllianceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools13544% below
Public school students131,31073% below
Students per teacher1313.910% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure17.715% below
Shops per 10k8County figure38.326% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure3.710% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure15.921% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure3.761% above
Parks per 10k926.0156% above
Playgrounds per 10k923.5150% above
Grocery stores per 10k93.775% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k919.878% above
Libraries per 10k91.243% above
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1036.719% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles10350% above
National Register listings11377% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 211, 10% above the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
211
10% above the median place
Property crime per 100k
895
26% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

Natural hazard risk15
21.0
77% below the median place
Heat wave risk15
10.0
89% below the median place
January average low14
14°F
45% below the median place
All 8 weather and risk measures
MeasureAllianceAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high14County figure87°F0% above
January average low14County figure14°F45% below
Average temperature14County figure47°F14% below
Annual precipitation14County figure17.5 in60% below
Natural hazard risk15County figure21.077% below
Tornado risk15County figure31.162% below
Wildfire risk15County figure61.30% above
Heat wave risk15County figure10.089% below
08

Alliance in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 13% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 13% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Alliance does better than 93% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 53%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$694/mo (2024)$870/mo$720 to $1,060/mo+3.9%
Median household income$65,160 (2024)$82,500$70,000 to $98,000+4.1%
Median home value$161,800 (2024)$232,000$169,000 to $320,000+6.2%
Population7,914 (2025)7,8807,560 to 8,220−0.1%

The median home would be worth 2.8 years of the median income in 2030, against 2.5 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Alliance

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Mount Vernon, IN$783$62,263Compare
Wapakoneta, OH$811$65,570Compare
Celina, OH$760$62,849Compare
Conneaut, OH$772$61,741Compare
Conneaut, OHCelina, OHWapakoneta, OHMount Vernon, INAlliance, NEAllianceMount VernonWapakonetaCelinaConneautAllianceMount VernonWapakonetaCelinaConneaut

Places built like Alliance

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Alliance performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Alliance, NE12.8%6.0%/yr-3.1%
Maquoketa, IA15.8%6.2%/yr-1.7%Compare
Sturgis, SD17.2%4.7%/yr-2.4%Compare
Knoxville, IA15.6%5.2%/yr-1.7%Compare
Oelwein, IA21.8%2.2%/yr-2.9%Compare
Glenwood, IA15.4%3.0%/yr3.8%Compare
Winterset, IA19.4%5.1%/yr2.9%Compare

Common questions

Is Alliance a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. The population has fallen 3.1% since 2020, a steeper drop than in 86% of the 1,634 places under 10,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 80 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Alliance expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 12.8% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $161,800.

What salary do you need to live in Alliance?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $27,760 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Alliance safe?

There were 211 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Alliance?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Mount Vernon, IN, Wapakoneta, OH, Celina, OH and Conneaut, OH.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  3. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  13. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  14. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  15. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Alliance with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Alliance itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/alliance-nebraska

Citytistics. “Alliance, Nebraska.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/alliance-nebraska/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.