1st Advantage MortgageThe median Cowley County household earns $57,878, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Cowley County at a glance
- Income in Cowley County compared with Kansas
- Jobs and commutes in Cowley County
- Cowley County housing compared with Kansas
- Cowley County next to its neighbors
- Cowley County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Cowley County
- Cowley County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Cowley County
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- Steps before you apply in Cowley County
- More guides for Cowley County
- Frequently asked questions
Cowley County at a glance
Cowley County is home to about 34,411 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 15th most populous of 105 county-level areas in Kansas. Land area is 1,126 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 31 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 12 Census places inside Cowley County, Arkansas City leads by population with about 11,884; 9 of the 12 are incorporated.
Income in Cowley County compared with Kansas
Cowley County households have a median income of $57,878 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 86th of 105 in Kansas.
| Yearly household income | Cowley County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.5% | +7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.7% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.3% | -5.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -5.0 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 14.3%, 3 points higher than the state's 11.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.478 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Cowley County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 19%. Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Cowley County workers | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.3% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.7% | +6.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 5.8% | -0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cowley County housing compared with Kansas
A typical Cowley County rental runs $809 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Kansas. By the Census definition, 51% of Cowley County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $120,900, about 2.1 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 68%.
| Cost | Cowley County | Kansas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $809/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $120,900 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 9% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Cowley County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 33 to 46 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Cowley County; Butler County is highest at $81,610 and Chautauqua County lowest at $56,438. The list crosses into Oklahoma, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowley County | - | $57,878 | $809/mo | 68% |
| Chautauqua County, KS | 33 mi | $56,438 | $708/mo | 82% |
| Kay County, OK | 34 mi | $58,423 | $842/mo | 69% |
| Elk County, KS | 36 mi | $64,609 | $552/mo | 79% |
| Sumner County, KS | 36 mi | $63,951 | $825/mo | 75% |
| Butler County, KS | 37 mi | $81,610 | $956/mo | 78% |
| Sedgwick County, KS | 46 mi | $69,365 | $998/mo | 63% |
Cowley County towns compared
12 Census places fall mainly inside Cowley County; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 26,702 residents, leaving about 22% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $49,629 in Arkansas City to $125,938 in Parkerfield. Median rent ranges from $433 in Dexter to $837 in Udall. No Cowley County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas City | city | 11,884 | $49,629 | $781 | 16 mi |
| Winfield | city | 11,711 | $56,656 | $786 | 8 mi |
| Udall | city | 807 | $70,667 | $837 | 19 mi |
| Burden | city | 554 | $55,833 | $604 | 7 mi |
| Dexter | city | 540 | $52,357 | $433 | 8 mi |
| Parkerfield | city | 527 | $125,938 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Geuda Springs | city | 223 | $51,528 | $235 | 19 mi |
| Atlanta | city | 169 | $59,792 | $914 | 14 mi |
| Silverdale | CDP | 116 | $31,188 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Rock | CDP | 90 | $62,000 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Cambridge | city | 69 | $103,125 | n/a | 11 mi |
| New Salem | CDP | 12 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Cowley County
How much room does a median Cowley County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $57,878 a year is $4,823 of gross monthly income
- 17% goes to median rent ($809)
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,120 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Cowley County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Cowley County households compared
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 8.1%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Cowley County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.5% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.4% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Cowley County
What the Cowley County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Tight rental budgets. With 51% of Cowley County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Consolidating cards in Cowley County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Cowley County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
Steps before you apply in Cowley County
Steps that save money for Cowley County residents:
- Price the Cowley County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kansas.
- Ask a Cowley County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Cowley County
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cowley County a high-income county?
Its $57,878 median ranks 86th of 105 Kansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Cowley County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $809 against $1,060 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Arkansas City?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Cowley County, such as Winfield, Udall, Burden.
Will a Cowley County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Cowley 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.