B-

Rulo, NE

Source:

Affordability Score: 65/100

Population: 353 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Rulo, NE aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 353 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (65/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $75,000, median home value of $137,500, median rent of per month, and 1.9% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $961 per month (studio $666, 1BR $732, 3BR $1,152, 4BR $1,272). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $9,737 per year, consuming 13% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Rulo, NE include housing, rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 2.0% and poverty 13.4% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$75,000
Median household income
Education F
1.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing A+
1.8x
Home value $137,500 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent A
$961/mo
2BR fair market rent (15% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C+
$9,737/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$75,000
▲ 21% vs national
Per Capita Income
$43,441
Unemployment Rate
2.0%
Poverty Rate
13.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
$137,500
▼ 50% vs national
Median Rent
Owner Occupied
93.5%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$961/mo
▼ 20% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$666
1BR
$732
2BR
$961
3BR
$1,152
4BR
$1,272

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
1.9%
▼ 28 ppt vs national
High School+
46.2%
Median Age
52.3
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$9,737/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,230/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,450/yr
School-Age (Center)
$8,190/yr

What This Means

Rulo, NE receives an overall affordability grade of B- (65/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 353. This area performs well in housing and rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Rulo, NE affordable?
Rulo, NE receives an overall affordability grade of B- (65/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $75,000. Median home value is $137,500.
What is the cost of living in Rulo?
Key cost metrics: 2BR fair market rent $961/mo. Infant childcare $9,737/yr. Median home value $137,500.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →