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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Elm Creek, NE Housing Affordability Index

Elm Creek, Nebraska has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 147.9 (Highly Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 304th most affordable of 456 scored Nebraska cities, compared with 106.6 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $191,500 home with 20% down, the Nebraska average 30-year fixed rate of 7.26% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,046, or 16% of the city’s $79,148 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Elm Creek is updated every night from live Nebraska mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Elm Creek MBR-HAI 147.9 Highly Affordable
Rank in Nebraska 304 of 456 1 = most affordable
Nebraska 106.6 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.26% Nebraska lenders
Median home value $191,500 U.S. Census Bureau

Elm Creek is 41.4 points above the Nebraska score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Nebraska index

View Elm Creek Mortgage Rates

See What You Can Afford in Elm Creek, Nebraska

Use this Elm Creek, Nebraska home affordability calculator to see how much house you can afford at today’s Nebraska average 30-year mortgage rate of 7.26%. A household earning the Elm Creek median income of $79,148, with no other debts and $38,000 down, can afford a home of about $240,219, compared with a median home value of $191,500. Buying the median priced home with 20% down takes a household income of about $57,900 once property tax and insurance are counted.

Elm Creek median (Census)
Car, student loan, card minimums
Under 20% adds PMI
Nebraska average, 30-year fixed
Elm Creek median bill (Census)
Estimate; use your quote
You can afford a home up to
$240,219
At or above the Elm Creek median home value of $191,500
Loan amount$202,219
Principal & interest$1,380/mo
Property tax$282/mo
Home insurance$100/mo
PMI$84/mo
Total monthly payment$1,847/mo
Compare Elm Creek Mortgage Rates

How much house can you afford in Elm Creek?

Most lenders use two limits. Your housing payment, including principal, interest, property tax, homeowners insurance and any PMI, should stay under about 28% of your gross monthly income, and all of your monthly debt payments together should stay under about 36%. The calculator takes whichever limit is lower, then works backward from that payment to the most expensive home it covers at the current rate.

In Elm Creek, property taxes run about 1.41% of a home’s value each year, based on the Census median tax bill, which counts against the same monthly budget as the mortgage. Each quarter point move in mortgage rates changes the price you can afford by roughly $3,827 for a median income household. A larger down payment, paying down other debts, or a lower rate from a local lender all raise your budget.

What It Takes to Buy in Elm Creek

$1,046/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.26%
$44,800
Income Needed
To keep principal and interest at 28% of income
$79,148
Median Household Income
Nebraska: $76,475
2.4x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Nebraska: 3.1x
$1,135/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$2,708/yr
Median Property Tax
1.41% of median value
6.2%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
22.3%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Elm Creek, Nebraska. The rate is the Nebraska average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Elm Creek Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Elm Creek, Nebraska score: 147.9 (Highly Affordable), ranked 304 of 456 Nebraska cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/nebraska/elm-creek”