1st Advantage MortgageThe median Barber County household earns $61,926, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Kansas license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Barber County
- How Barber County residents earn a living
- Paychecks and income spread in Barber County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Barber County
- Barber County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Barber County
- Debt-to-income at Barber County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Barber County borrowers
- Barber County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Steps before you apply in Barber County
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- More guides for Barber County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Barber County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Barber County's population at 4,069; only 70 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 1,134 square miles, that works out to roughly 3.6 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Barber County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (7 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Medicine Lodge, with about 1,578 residents, or 39% of the county. With so few households sampled, Barber County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How Barber County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Barber County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (21%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 21% locally and 3% for Kansas. The survey's unemployment rate for Barber County averages 1.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.3% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Sector | Barber County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.2% | +5.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 21.4% | +18.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -2.0 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | +2.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 5.9% | -6.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.4% | -0.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Barber County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Barber County
The median household income in Barber County is $61,926; statewide it is $74,275, so Barber County runs 17% below Kansas as a whole. That places it 67th among Kansas's 105 county-level areas.
| Household income | Barber County | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.0% | -0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 52.4% | +10.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.3% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -5.2 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.8% of Barber County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.434 here. A household earning below the $61,926 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Barber County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $830 in Barber County versus $1,060 statewide. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 5% spend half or more. Home values center on $97,000, or 1.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 81% of homes. Median construction year: 1956.
| Home costs | Barber County | Kansas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $830/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $97,000 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.2% | 4.0% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Barber County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (29 to 39 miles). Pratt County leads the group on income ($66,022), Woods County trails ($53,275), and Barber County out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into Oklahoma, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barber County | - | $61,926 | $830/mo | 81% |
| Pratt County, KS | 29 mi | $66,022 | $802/mo | 73% |
| Comanche County, KS | 31 mi | $54,545 | $692/mo | 73% |
| Harper County, KS | 34 mi | $53,488 | $690/mo | 75% |
| Woods County, OK | 36 mi | $53,275 | $850/mo | 65% |
| Kingman County, KS | 37 mi | $59,842 | $846/mo | 66% |
| Alfalfa County, OK | 39 mi | $64,615 | $705/mo | 78% |
Towns and communities in Barber County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Barber County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 2,969 people, so roughly 27% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine Lodge | city | 1,578 | $59,392 | $841 | 7 mi |
| Kiowa | city | 811 | $50,833 | $705 | 18 mi |
| Hardtner | city | 216 | $50,179 | $908 | 15 mi |
| Sharon | city | 133 | $68,750 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Hazelton | city | 103 | $45,000 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Isabel | city | 93 | $62,132 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Sun City | city | 35 | $56,250 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Lake City | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Debt-to-income at Barber County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Barber County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,160 a month: gross income for a household at the Barber County median
- Housing at the median rent of $830 uses 16%
- $1,234: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Barber County borrowers
A few patterns in the Barber County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Barber County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Barber County residents: age, schooling, coverage
27% of Barber County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Barber County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.3% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.1% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.2% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Barber County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 61.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.0% |
Steps before you apply in Barber County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Barber County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Barber County, check the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
More guides for Barber County
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Barber County?
$61,926 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,275 for Kansas. It ranks 67th of 105 in the state.
How does Barber County rent compare with Kansas?
$830 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 22% below.
Which towns does the Barber County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Medicine Lodge, Kiowa, Hardtner, Sharon, Hazelton.
Does living in Barber County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Barber County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Barber County check a lender's license?
With the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.