1st Advantage MortgageIn Allen County, Kansas, the typical household earns $60,689 a year and the typical rent is $720. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Allen County
- Income in Allen County compared with Kansas
- Employment and commuting in Allen County
- Renting and owning in Allen County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Allen County
- The counties around Allen County
- Allen County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Allen County
- What a median Allen County budget can carry
- Checklist for Allen County applicants
- Kansas rules that apply in Allen County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Allen County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Allen County's population at 12,483; only 35 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 500 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 25 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (8 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Iola, with about 5,348 residents, or 43% of the county.
Income in Allen County compared with Kansas
The median household income in Allen County is $60,689; statewide it is $74,275, so Allen County runs 18% below Kansas as a whole. In the state ranking that is 71st of 105.
| Household income | Allen County | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.4% | +4.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | +0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -6.8 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 9.9%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.399 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Allen County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Allen County
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Allen County residents work in education and health care and 17% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Allen County averages 7.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Allen County share | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.5% | +5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -0.8 pts |
| Public administration | 5.3% | +0.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Renting and owning in Allen County
Renters in Allen County pay a median of $720 a month, 32% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 37% of renter households here. With a median value of $107,600, a typical Allen County house costs 1.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 75% of homes.
| Cost | Allen County | Kansas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $720/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $107,600 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Allen County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Allen County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Allen County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 8,821 residents, leaving about 29% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $47,560 in Humboldt to $55,227 in Gas. Rent is cheapest in Humboldt ($554) and steepest in Iola ($767). Live in one of these Allen County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iola | city | 5,348 | $54,221 | $767 | 6 mi |
| Humboldt | city | 1,793 | $47,560 | $554 | 9 mi |
| Gas | city | 512 | $55,227 | $707 | 4 mi |
| La Harpe | city | 492 | $46,563 | $649 | 2 mi |
| Moran | city | 472 | $57,083 | $411 | 7 mi |
| Savonburg | city | 93 | $48,750 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Elsmore | city | 56 | $36,607 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Mildred | CDP | 33 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Bassett | city | 22 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Allen County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (22 to 34 miles). Income ranges from $50,326 in Woodson County to $70,614 in Anderson County; 2 of these neighbors top Allen County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County | - | $60,689 | $720/mo | 75% |
| Neosho County, KS | 22 mi | $56,618 | $681/mo | 77% |
| Anderson County, KS | 23 mi | $70,614 | $853/mo | 79% |
| Bourbon County, KS | 25 mi | $59,238 | $752/mo | 74% |
| Woodson County, KS | 25 mi | $50,326 | $618/mo | 85% |
| Wilson County, KS | 33 mi | $60,677 | $736/mo | 78% |
| Coffey County, KS | 34 mi | $70,346 | $836/mo | 76% |
Allen County households compared
22% of Allen County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 9.5%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Indicator | Allen County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.4% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.7% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.9% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.9% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Allen County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Allen County borrowers.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
What a median Allen County budget can carry
How much room does a median Allen County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Allen County: $5,057
- Median rent: $720, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,101 a month
- $1,455: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $720, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checklist for Allen County applicants
Quick steps for Allen County:
- Price the Allen County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Kansas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Allen County credit union about member loans.
Kansas rules that apply in Allen County
Consumer lenders serving Allen County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kansas that is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Kansas state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Allen County earn?
The median is $60,689; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Allen County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $720 against $1,060 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Allen County?
By population: Iola, Humboldt, Gas, La Harpe, Moran. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Are Allen County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Allen County residents?
The Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner licenses consumer lenders in Kansas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.