1st Advantage MortgageThe median Barton County household earns $58,851, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Kansas before sharing details.
On this page
- Barton County at a glance
- Household income in Barton County
- Renting and owning in Barton County
- Work, industries and travel time in Barton County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Barton County
- How Barton County compares with nearby counties
- Barton County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Barton County
- A Barton County household budget, worked through
- Kansas rules that apply in Barton County
- Four steps for Barton County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Barton County at a glance
Roughly 25,097 residents live in Barton County, Kansas, 24th by population among the state's 105 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 895 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 28 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Barton County is not part of any metropolitan area. Great Bend is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 14,479 people (58% of the county total).
Household income in Barton County
At $58,851, the typical Barton County household income is 10% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 83rd among Kansas's 105 county-level areas.
| Band | Barton County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.0% | +6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.1% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.8 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. Census counts 15.4% of Barton County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. A household earning below the $58,851 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Barton County
Renters in Barton County pay a median of $761 a month, 28% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. 38% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $126,400, about 2.1 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 65%.
| Housing | Barton County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $761/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $126,400 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.9% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 9% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Barton County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 10%. Compared with Kansas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (8% against 3%). The survey's unemployment rate for Barton County averages 3.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). About 81% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Barton County workers | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | -1.5 pts |
| Construction | 10.5% | +4.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.3% | +5.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.9% | -4.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Barton County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Barton County
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Barton County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 20,349 people, so roughly 19% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $52,277 in Hoisington to $56,379 in Ellinwood. No Barton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Bend | city | 14,479 | $54,139 | $759 | 9 mi |
| Hoisington | city | 2,643 | $52,277 | $965 | 3 mi |
| Ellinwood | city | 2,192 | $56,379 | $683 | 13 mi |
| Claflin | city | 455 | $63,438 | $483 | 13 mi |
| Pawnee Rock | city | 258 | $48,026 | $588 | 19 mi |
| Olmitz | city | 113 | $76,250 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Albert | city | 100 | $58,750 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Odin | CDP | 58 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Susank | city | 31 | $72,500 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Galatia | city | 20 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Beaver | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
How Barton County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (29 to 34 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Barton County; Ellsworth County is highest at $65,560 and Rush County lowest at $59,970.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barton County | - | $58,851 | $761/mo | 65% |
| Rush County, KS | 29 mi | $59,970 | $711/mo | 78% |
| Russell County, KS | 30 mi | $62,392 | $805/mo | 75% |
| Stafford County, KS | 31 mi | $64,226 | $710/mo | 82% |
| Rice County, KS | 32 mi | $63,925 | $753/mo | 77% |
| Pawnee County, KS | 33 mi | $63,517 | $795/mo | 66% |
| Ellsworth County, KS | 34 mi | $65,560 | $708/mo | 80% |
Barton County households compared
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 11.2%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Indicator | Barton County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.7% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 61.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.5% |
Local borrowing considerations for Barton County
Where the Barton County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Barton County borrower sees (free reports).
A Barton County household budget, worked through
Barton County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,904 a month: gross income for a household at the Barton County median
- 16% goes to median rent ($761)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,005 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $2,109 total minus rent leaves $1,348
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Barton County's.
Kansas rules that apply in Barton County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Barton County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Kansas state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Barton County borrowers
A short checklist for Barton County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kansas borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Barton County earn?
The median is $58,851; 25% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Barton County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $761 against $1,060 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Barton County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Great Bend, Hoisington, Ellinwood, Claflin, Pawnee Rock and 6 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Barton County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Barton 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.