1st Advantage MortgageThe median Edwards County household earns $52,692, and 19% 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
- Edwards County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Edwards County
- Paychecks and income spread in Edwards County
- What it costs to live in Edwards County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Edwards County
- The counties around Edwards County
- What a median Edwards County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Edwards County
- People and households in Edwards County
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Edwards County
- More guides for Edwards County
- Frequently asked questions
Edwards County by the numbers
Edwards County is home to about 2,779 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 84th most populous of 105 county-level areas in Kansas. Spread over 622 square miles, that works out to roughly 4.5 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 4 Census places inside Edwards County, Kinsley leads by population with about 1,328; 4 of the 4 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Edwards County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Jobs and commutes in Edwards County
The biggest employer of Edwards County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (21%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 21% locally and 3% for Kansas. The survey's unemployment rate for Edwards County averages 6.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). About 79% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 6.1% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Edwards County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -3.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 21.3% | +18.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.7% | +2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.3% | -4.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.0% | -0.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Edwards County
The median household income in Edwards County is $52,692; statewide it is $74,275, so Edwards County runs 29% below Kansas as a whole. Only 101 Kansas counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Edwards County | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.4% | +9.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | -0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.2% | -5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -4.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Edwards County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. Census counts 18.9% of Edwards County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Edwards County
Renters in Edwards County pay a median of $740 a month, 30% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. By the Census definition, 42% of Edwards County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $70,900, a typical Edwards County house costs 1.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 79%. Half the housing stock was built before 1948.
| Housing | Edwards County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $740/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $70,900 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 22% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Edwards 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Edwards County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Edwards County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 2,004 people, so roughly 28% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinsley | city | 1,328 | $49,206 | $745 | 6 mi |
| Lewis | city | 489 | $37,833 | $525 | 5 mi |
| Offerle | city | 151 | $49,688 | $938 | 14 mi |
| Belpre | city | 36 | $36,042 | n/a | 12 mi |
The counties around Edwards County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 35 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Edwards County; Kiowa County is highest at $75,539 and Hodgeman County lowest at $59,955.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edwards County | - | $52,692 | $740/mo | 79% |
| Pawnee County, KS | 21 mi | $63,517 | $795/mo | 66% |
| Kiowa County, KS | 22 mi | $75,539 | $762/mo | 73% |
| Stafford County, KS | 34 mi | $64,226 | $710/mo | 82% |
| Ford County, KS | 34 mi | $70,781 | $1,010/mo | 62% |
| Pratt County, KS | 35 mi | $66,022 | $802/mo | 73% |
| Hodgeman County, KS | 35 mi | $59,955 | $941/mo | 79% |
What a median Edwards County budget can carry
Here is the Edwards County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $52,692 a year is $4,391 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $740, which is 17% of it
- $797: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,236 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Edwards County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Edwards County
Based on the Edwards County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
People and households in Edwards County
21% of Edwards County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 10.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Edwards County | Kansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.5% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.8% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.9% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.8% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 54.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.0% |
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Edwards County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kansas.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Edwards County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Edwards County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Kansas state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Edwards County
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Edwards County?
$52,692 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,275 for Kansas. It ranks 102nd of 105 in the state.
Is Edwards County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $740 against $1,060 statewide, and 42% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Edwards County?
By population: Kinsley, Lewis, Offerle, Belpre. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Can Edwards County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Kansas county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Edwards County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kansas it is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner.