1st Advantage Mortgage28% of Brown County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $62,233 (ACS 2020-24). County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Brown County, and confirm each one's Kansas license.
On this page
- Brown County in brief
- The Brown County job picture
- Rent, home values and ownership in Brown County
- Brown County's most unusual numbers
- What Brown County households earn
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Brown County
- How Brown County compares with nearby counties
- What the numbers mean for Brown County borrowers
- What a median Brown County budget can carry
- People and households in Brown County
- Four steps for Brown County borrowers
- Kansas rules that apply in Brown County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Brown County in brief
With an estimated 9,343 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Brown County ranks 42nd of 105 in Kansas for population. Its 571 square miles average 16 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Brown County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Hiawatha is the biggest of its 17 Census places, at roughly 3,197 people (34% of the county total). Census margins of error grow as populations shrink; for a county of 9,343, read each figure as a range.
The Brown County job picture
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 16% locally and 12% for Kansas. 5.2% of Brown County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Top industries | Brown County share | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.0% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.1% | +3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.4% | +3.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.0% | +0.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Rent, home values and ownership in Brown County
Renters in Brown County pay a median of $646 a month, 39% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 34% in Brown County, 43% statewide. Brown County homes are worth $118,100 at the median, a 1.9-to-1 ratio to income. 76% of Brown County households own their home and 24% rent. Median construction year: 1964. Nationally, Brown County's $646 rent is 26% below the middle county.
| Cost | Brown County | Kansas figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $646/mo | $1,060/mo | 39% lower |
| Median home value | $118,100 | $217,200 | 46% lower |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | +9.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 43% | -9.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | +1.7 pts |
| Vacant units | 15% | 9% | +6.0 pts |
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).
Brown County's most unusual numbers
- Few Kansas counties match Brown County on the ACS unemployment rate: 5.2% here, 3.9% for the state, ranking 8th highest of 105. Job gaps can make income hard to document; gather records first.
- Brown County ranks 11th lowest of 105 Kansas counties for the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 20%, against 36% statewide. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
- The share of mobile homes: 2.6% in Brown County. Only 12 of 105 Kansas counties are lower. Few mobile homes means most owners have traditional equity options.
What Brown County households earn
$62,233 is the median household income for Brown County, set against $74,275 for Kansas.
| Households earning | Brown County | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.5% | +4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.7% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.8% | -5.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.1% | -2.5 pts |
26% under $35,000 and 28% at $100,000 or more: that is the Brown County income split. Poverty rate, Brown County: 13.8%; Kansas: 11.3%. Gini index for Brown County: 0.459. A household earning below the $62,233 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Brown County
Places, by size: the top 14 of 17. Roughly 4% of Brown County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $28,993, Sabetha over Horton. Median rent ranges from $642 in Horton to $700 in Sabetha. From Hiawatha to the smallest crossroads, Brown County residents share this guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiawatha | city | 3,197 | $68,750 | $652 | 2 mi |
| Sabetha | city | 2,471 | $70,464 | $700 | 13 mi |
| Horton | city | 1,610 | $41,471 | $642 | 11 mi |
| Everest | city | 356 | $47,813 | $707 | 13 mi |
| Fairview | city | 342 | $61,018 | $770 | 8 mi |
| Morrill | city | 210 | $67,750 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Kickapoo Site 5 | CDP | 161 | $70,977 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Robinson | city | 154 | $59,167 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Kickapoo Tribal Center | CDP | 128 | $35,000 | $550 | 11 mi |
| Powhattan | city | 74 | $45,313 | $1,094 | 6 mi |
| Kickapoo Site 7 | CDP | 64 | $86,071 | $546 | 11 mi |
| Kickapoo Site 1 | CDP | 48 | $24,722 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Reserve | city | 48 | $41,250 | $475 | 10 mi |
| Willis | city | 35 | $88,125 | n/a | 8 mi |
How Brown County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Brown County's, from 22 to 31 miles away. Brown County's $62,233 median trails 3 of the six and beats 3; the range runs $60,108 (Richardson County) to $77,348 (Nemaha County). Some neighbors are in Missouri and Nebraska. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Brown County resident follows Kansas rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown County | - | $62,233 | $646/mo | 76% |
| Richardson County, NE | 22 mi | $60,108 | $691/mo | 77% |
| Doniphan County, KS | 23 mi | $74,028 | $776/mo | 81% |
| Nemaha County, KS | 23 mi | $77,348 | $774/mo | 78% |
| Atchison County, KS | 24 mi | $61,112 | $765/mo | 72% |
| Holt County, MO | 26 mi | $61,187 | $650/mo | 77% |
| Jackson County, KS | 31 mi | $75,215 | $814/mo | 77% |
What the numbers mean for Brown County borrowers
Where the Brown County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Brown County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Brown County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
What a median Brown County budget can carry
DTI math using Brown County medians ($62,233 income, $646 rent):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,186 before taxes
- 12% goes to median rent ($646)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,221 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Brown County
In Brown County, 20% of adults have at least a four-year degree (36% in Kansas). 10.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Brown County | Compared with Kansas | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.6% | -16.0 pts | -2.5 pts |
| Work from home | 7.1% | -4.7 pts | -1.6 pts |
| Median age | 41.7 | +4.3 yrs | +0.2 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | +2.5 pts | +0.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.6% | -2.4 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | +1.4 pts | +2.3 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | +1.3 pts | +0.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | -0.4 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
Four steps for Brown County borrowers
Quick steps for Brown County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Kansas rules that apply in Brown County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Brown County, check the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Kansas page has statewide figures to set beside Brown County's.
Related local guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Brown County rank on income in Kansas?
65th of 105, with a median of $62,233. The state median is $74,275.
Can a Brown County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $646 median rent and $5,186 median monthly income, rent alone uses 12%; add other debts before a new payment.
What are the biggest places in Brown County?
By population: Hiawatha, Sabetha, Horton, Everest, Fairview. The county has 17 Census places in all.
Does living in Brown 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 Brown County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Brown 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.