1st Advantage MortgageCrawford County households have a median income of $52,844 and median rent of $849 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Crawford County offer.
On this page
- Population and place: Crawford County
- The Crawford County housing market in figures
- Earnings across Crawford County households
- Employment and commuting in Crawford County
- Crawford County's most unusual numbers
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Crawford County
- Crawford County, Cherokee County and other neighbors
- Crawford County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Crawford County
- What a median Crawford County budget can carry
- Who licenses lenders for Crawford County residents
- A Crawford County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Crawford County
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Crawford County
With an estimated 39,008 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Crawford County ranks 11th of 105 in Kansas for population. Land area is 590 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 66 per square mile. Crawford County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Of the 18 Census places inside Crawford County, Pittsburg leads by population with about 20,637; 10 of the 18 are incorporated.
The Crawford County housing market in figures
Crawford County rent at the median: $849 a month, utilities in ($1,060 in Kansas). Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $132,600, about 2.5 times the median household income. Homeowners 61%, renters 39%. Median construction year: 1972. Nationally, Crawford County's $849 rent is 3% below the middle county.
| Measure | Crawford County | Kansas | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 43% | +7.2 pts |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | -6.4 pts |
| Median home value | $132,600 | $217,200 | 39% lower |
| Vacant units | 13% | 9% | +3.4 pts |
| Median gross rent | $849/mo | $1,060/mo | 20% lower |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | +1.5 pts |
| Mobile homes | 4.8% | 4.0% | +0.8 pts |
51% of Crawford County renters are already past the 30% line; one more payment should leave room for a late paycheck.
Earnings across Crawford County households
At $52,844, the typical Crawford County household income is 20% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Crawford County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.4% | +10.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.7% | -8.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -5.6 pts |
Six-figure households (22%) are outnumbered by those under $35,000 (32%) in Crawford County. Crawford County counts about 8,040 residents below the poverty line, 20.6% of the population. A household earning below the $52,844 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Crawford County
Education and health care (28%), arts, lodging and food service (13%) and retail trade (12%) lead Crawford County's job mix. Relative to Kansas (7%), arts, lodging and food service is 5 points bigger in Crawford County (13%). Unemployment in Crawford County, ACS five-year: 4.1%; Kansas: 3.9%. 57% of Crawford County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 8% need 45 or more. 1,192 Crawford County households, 7.5%, have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Crawford County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.6% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.6% | +5.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.7% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 6.0% | -0.4 pts |
| Other services | 6.0% | +1.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Crawford County's most unusual numbers
Out of every Kansas county, Crawford County is most unusual on these measures.
- On the poverty rate, Crawford County sits near the top of Kansas at 20.6%, the highest of 105. Nonprofit credit counseling is free or low cost and worth a call first.
- Crawford County ranks 4th highest of 105 Kansas counties for households without a vehicle: 7.5%, against 5.1% statewide. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
- Homeownership: 61% in Crawford County. Only 4 of 105 Kansas counties are lower. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
- On median household income, Crawford County sits near the bottom of Kansas at $52,844, 5th lowest of 105. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Crawford County
18 Census places fall mainly inside Crawford County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 31,614 residents, leaving about 19% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Franklin ($65,784) and Girard ($40,298) mark the top and bottom of Crawford County's income range among larger places. Rent is cheapest in Cherokee ($725) and steepest in Franklin ($1,107). Pittsburg and every other Crawford County community use this county guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburg | city | 20,637 | $43,419 | $854 | 11 mi |
| Frontenac | city | 3,392 | $58,733 | $778 | 9 mi |
| Girard | city | 2,777 | $40,298 | $869 | 1 mi |
| Arma | city | 1,239 | $50,795 | $775 | 9 mi |
| Cherokee | city | 699 | $56,154 | $725 | 11 mi |
| Franklin | CDP | 650 | $65,784 | $1,107 | 9 mi |
| Mulberry | city | 442 | $52,902 | $475 | 13 mi |
| Chicopee | CDP | 412 | $100,673 | n/a | 10 mi |
| McCune | city | 308 | $47,500 | $569 | 14 mi |
| Arcadia | city | 248 | n/a | $775 | 16 mi |
| Walnut | city | 237 | $37,500 | $442 | 14 mi |
| Radley | CDP | 135 | $150,170 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Hepler | city | 120 | $53,750 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Ringo | CDP | 82 | $68,235 | n/a | 5 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Crawford County, Cherokee County and other neighbors
Cherokee County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Jasper County, is 35 miles off. Jasper County leads the group on income ($60,694), Barton County trails ($51,635), and Crawford County out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Crawford County resident follows Kansas rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County | - | $52,844 | $849/mo | 61% |
| Cherokee County, KS | 23 mi | $57,668 | $799/mo | 76% |
| Bourbon County, KS | 24 mi | $59,238 | $752/mo | 74% |
| Neosho County, KS | 26 mi | $56,618 | $681/mo | 77% |
| Barton County, MO | 28 mi | $51,635 | $805/mo | 68% |
| Labette County, KS | 33 mi | $56,325 | $746/mo | 74% |
| Jasper County, MO | 35 mi | $60,694 | $973/mo | 63% |
Crawford County households compared
College graduates make up 32% of the adult population. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Crawford County | vs Kansas | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.6% | +9.3 pts | +7.4 pts |
| Work from home | 5.9% | -5.9 pts | -2.7 pts |
| No health insurance | 13.0% | +4.2 pts | +5.1 pts |
| Median age | 33.6 | -3.8 yrs | -7.9 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.2% | -3.4 pts | +10.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.5% | +2.4 pts | +2.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | -0.3 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | +0.2 pts | -0.3 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Crawford County
What the Crawford County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 21% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
What a median Crawford County budget can carry
How much room does a median Crawford County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,404 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $849 uses 19%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $736 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $849, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who licenses lenders for Crawford County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Crawford County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Kansas: Kansas personal loans.
A Crawford County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Crawford County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Crawford County
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Crawford County rank on income in Kansas?
101st of 105, with a median of $52,844. The state median is $74,275.
What is the median rent in Crawford County, KS?
$849 a month, utilities included, or $10,188 a year.
How many towns are in Crawford County?
The Census Bureau counts 18 places mainly in the county, led by Pittsburg, Frontenac, Girard, Arma, Cherokee.
Will a Crawford County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Crawford 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.