1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Dickinson County is $901 a month against a median household income of $68,417, about 16% of income (ACS 2020-24). 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
- First look: Dickinson County, KS
- Dickinson County housing compared with Kansas
- What Dickinson County households earn
- Labor force snapshot: Dickinson County
- How Dickinson County ranks in Kansas
- How Dickinson County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Dickinson County
- $5,701 a month: the Dickinson County median budget
- More Dickinson County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Dickinson County
- Steps before you apply in Dickinson County
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
First look: Dickinson County, KS
Dickinson County is home to about 18,445 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 29th most populous of 105 county-level areas in Kansas. Its 847 square miles average 22 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. No metropolitan area includes Dickinson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Largest place: Abilene, about 6,449 residents (35% of Dickinson County); 11 Census places in all.
Dickinson County housing compared with Kansas
Dickinson County rent at the median: $901 a month, utilities in ($1,060 in Kansas). By the Census definition, 45% of Dickinson County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $146,800, or 2.1 years of median income. 79% of Dickinson County households own their home and 21% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1956.
| Measure | Dickinson County | Kansas | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 79% | 67% | +11.4 pts |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 22% | -6.4 pts |
| Median home value | $146,800 | $217,200 | 32% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 43% | +1.9 pts |
| Median gross rent | $901/mo | $1,060/mo | 15% lower |
| Mobile homes | 2.7% | 4.0% | -1.3 pts |
| Vacant units | 9% | 9% | -0.4 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).
What Dickinson County households earn
Half of Dickinson County households take in less than $68,417 a year and half take in more, 8% below the Kansas median of $74,275. Only 36 Kansas counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Dickinson County | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.3% | -2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.4% | +8.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.9% | -1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -4.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Dickinson County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 8.1%, 3 points lower than the state's 11.3%. Gini index for Dickinson County: 0.404. A household earning below the $68,417 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Labor force snapshot: Dickinson County
Education and health care employs 31% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 31% locally and 25% for Kansas. 2.8% of Dickinson County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 11%; under 15 minutes: 38%. Only 4.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Dickinson County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.8% | +5.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.3% | -2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -2.1 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | +2.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.2% | +0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Dickinson County ranks in Kansas
The 2 Dickinson County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Kansas, and what each means for a borrower:
- Few Kansas counties match Dickinson County on the share of mobile homes: 2.7% here, 4.0% for the state, ranking 14th lowest of 105. Few mobile homes means most owners have traditional equity options.
- Few Kansas counties match Dickinson County on the housing vacancy rate: 9% here, 9% for the state, ranking 17th lowest of 105. Few vacant units can mean a tight housing market.
How Dickinson County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 23 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Ottawa County leads the group on income ($74,018), Morris County trails ($58,686), and Dickinson County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson County | - | $68,417 | $901/mo | 79% |
| Geary County, KS | 23 mi | $59,317 | $1,104/mo | 44% |
| Saline County, KS | 27 mi | $65,422 | $961/mo | 67% |
| Morris County, KS | 30 mi | $58,686 | $724/mo | 80% |
| Ottawa County, KS | 33 mi | $74,018 | $809/mo | 77% |
| Clay County, KS | 33 mi | $66,176 | $937/mo | 78% |
| Marion County, KS | 35 mi | $64,695 | $727/mo | 81% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Dickinson County
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Dickinson County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 10,342 people, so roughly 44% of residents live outside any named place. Chapman has the highest median household income on the list ($72,344) and Solomon the lowest ($51,063), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $657 in Solomon to $1,022 in Abilene. Live in one of these Dickinson County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | city | 6,449 | $57,924 | $1,022 | 5 mi |
| Chapman | city | 1,454 | $72,344 | $719 | 10 mi |
| Solomon | city | 892 | $51,063 | $657 | 12 mi |
| Enterprise | city | 710 | $60,707 | $675 | 3 mi |
| Hope | city | 485 | $51,500 | $738 | 13 mi |
| Woodbine | city | 137 | $52,159 | $791 | 12 mi |
| Detroit | CDP | 75 | $120,000 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Manchester | city | 69 | $13,750 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Talmage | CDP | 44 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Carlton | city | 27 | $65,625 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Navarre | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
$5,701 a month: the Dickinson County median budget
Here is the Dickinson County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,701 a month: gross income for a household at the Dickinson County median
- Median rent: $901, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,152: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Dickinson County figures
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24% of Dickinson County adults. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Dickinson County | Difference from Kansas | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.7% | -11.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
| Work from home | 5.7% | -6.1 pts | -2.9 pts |
| Median age | 42.8 | +5.4 yrs | +1.3 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | -3.1 pts | -5.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | -1.8 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | -1.1 pts | -1.6 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | -0.4 pts | -0.8 pts |
| No health insurance | 8.9% | +0.1 pts | +1.1 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.6% |
| 60+ min | 3.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Dickinson County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Dickinson County borrowers.
- Dickinson County rent burden. 45% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Steps before you apply in Dickinson County
Steps that save money for Dickinson County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Dickinson County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
Before sharing details with a lender, a Dickinson County resident can confirm its license with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. State-level detail for Dickinson County borrowers is in the Kansas guide.
Keep exploring
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is $68,417 a good income in Dickinson County?
It is the county median, so half of Dickinson County households earn more and half less; 30% earn $100,000 or more.
What is the median rent in Dickinson County, KS?
$901 a month, utilities included, or $10,812 a year.
I live near Abilene. Which guide is mine?
This one. Abilene and the rest of Dickinson County have no separate city guide.
Are Dickinson County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Dickinson County?
Look it up with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.