1st Advantage MortgageIn Decatur County, Kansas, the typical household earns $53,870 a year and the typical rent is $676. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Decatur County
- How much Decatur County households make
- Renting and owning in Decatur County
- Work, industries and travel time in Decatur County
- Places inside Decatur County
- Regional comparison for Decatur County
- More Decatur County figures
- Before borrowing in Decatur County
- Room for a loan payment in Decatur County
- Steps before you apply in Decatur County
- Kansas rules that apply in Decatur County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Decatur County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Decatur County's population at 2,726; only 85 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. It covers 894 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 4 Census places inside Decatur County, Oberlin leads by population with about 1,734; 4 of the 4 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Decatur County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How much Decatur County households make
Half of Decatur County households take in less than $53,870 a year and half take in more, 27% below the Kansas median of $74,275. Only 98 Kansas counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Decatur County | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.9% | +10.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.7% | +4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.6% | -8.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -5.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Decatur County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. 12.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.417 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Decatur County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Decatur County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $676 in Decatur County versus $1,060 statewide. By the Census definition, 21% of Decatur County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $89,500, or 1.7 years of median income. 78% of Decatur County households own their home and 22% rent.
| Decatur County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $676/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $89,500 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 21% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Decatur County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Work, industries and travel time in Decatur County
The biggest employer of Decatur County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 24% of workers, followed by education and health care (22%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 24% locally and 3% for Kansas. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home. 3.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Decatur County share | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 23.9% | +20.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.6% | -3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.6% | -4.8 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.5% | -1.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Decatur County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 77% of Decatur County residents live in one of the 4. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oberlin | city | 1,734 | $52,284 | $593 | 5 mi |
| Norcatur | city | 197 | $53,906 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Jennings | city | 118 | $51,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Dresden | city | 60 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
Regional comparison for Decatur County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Decatur County's, from 27 to 41 miles away. Income ranges from $51,567 in Hitchcock County to $73,750 in Sheridan County; 5 of these neighbors top Decatur County's median. The list crosses into Nebraska, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur County | - | $53,870 | $676/mo | 78% |
| Red Willow County, NE | 27 mi | $63,697 | $819/mo | 73% |
| Norton County, KS | 30 mi | $54,050 | $609/mo | 76% |
| Sheridan County, KS | 30 mi | $73,750 | $689/mo | 77% |
| Rawlins County, KS | 33 mi | $67,742 | $817/mo | 71% |
| Furnas County, NE | 41 mi | $61,048 | $763/mo | 76% |
| Hitchcock County, NE | 41 mi | $51,567 | $714/mo | 79% |
More Decatur County figures
27% of Decatur County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Decatur County | Kansas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.1 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.0% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 55.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.7% |
| 60+ min | 9.1% |
Before borrowing in Decatur County
What the Decatur County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Retirees. At a median age of 50.1, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Consolidating cards in Decatur County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Decatur County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Room for a loan payment in Decatur County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Decatur County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Decatur County: $4,489
- Less median rent of $676, which is 15% of it
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,120 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Steps before you apply in Decatur County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Decatur County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Decatur County-area credit union.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Kansas rules that apply in Decatur County
The Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner is the place to verify any lender's Kansas license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Kansas: Kansas personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Decatur County earn?
The median is $53,870; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 32% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Decatur County rent compare with Kansas?
$676 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 36% below.
I own my home in Decatur County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Decatur County?
By population: Oberlin, Norcatur, Jennings, Dresden. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does living in Decatur 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 Decatur County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.