1st Advantage MortgageIn Ellis County, Kansas, the typical household earns $63,084 a year and the typical rent is $943. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Kansas license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Ellis County
- Renting and owning in Ellis County
- Household income in Ellis County
- Work, industries and travel time in Ellis County
- Regional comparison for Ellis County
- Ellis County towns compared
- Ellis County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Ellis County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Ellis County
- Steps before you apply in Ellis County
- Lender oversight for Ellis County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Ellis County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Ellis County's population at 28,920; only 20 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 900 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 32 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Ellis County is not part of any metropolitan area. Hays is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 21,143 people (73% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Ellis County
Renters in Ellis County pay a median of $943 a month, 11% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 55% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $216,300, about 3.4 times the median household income. Owners occupy 63% of homes.
| Home costs | Ellis County | Kansas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $943/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $216,300 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.2% | 4.0% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Household income in Ellis County
Half of Ellis County households take in less than $63,084 a year and half take in more, 15% below the Kansas median of $74,275.
| Band | Ellis County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.2% | +6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | -0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.4% | -1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -5.2 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 18.3%, 7 points higher than the state's 11.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.489 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $63,084 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Ellis County
By the Census industry count, 34% of employed Ellis County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Education and health care stands out: 34% of workers here, versus 25% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 78% drive to work alone and 4% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Ellis County workers | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.6% | +8.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.4% | +4.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.0% | -4.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Construction | 5.2% | -1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Regional comparison for Ellis County
Rush County is closest, 27 miles from center to center; the sixth, Barton County, is 42 miles off. Income ranges from $58,851 in Barton County to $81,528 in Trego County; 1 of these neighbors top Ellis County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellis County | - | $63,084 | $943/mo | 63% |
| Rush County, KS | 27 mi | $59,970 | $711/mo | 78% |
| Russell County, KS | 29 mi | $62,392 | $805/mo | 75% |
| Trego County, KS | 29 mi | $81,528 | $720/mo | 82% |
| Rooks County, KS | 30 mi | $62,500 | $676/mo | 74% |
| Osborne County, KS | 42 mi | $63,011 | $595/mo | 77% |
| Barton County, KS | 42 mi | $58,851 | $761/mo | 65% |
Ellis County towns compared
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Ellis County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 25,041 people, so roughly 13% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $77,500 at the median in Victoria, $58,459 in Hays. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hays | city | 21,143 | $58,459 | $922 | 2 mi |
| Ellis | city | 2,189 | $73,000 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Victoria | city | 1,095 | $77,500 | $941 | 10 mi |
| Munjor | CDP | 247 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Catharine | CDP | 186 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
| Schoenchen | city | 181 | $63,750 | n/a | 14 mi |
Ellis County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 39% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Ellis County | Kansas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.9% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.1% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.3% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 72.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 3.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.1% |
What the numbers mean for Ellis County borrowers
Where the Ellis County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 18% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 55% of Ellis County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Room for a loan payment in Ellis County
Ellis County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $63,084 a year is $5,257 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $943, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- $897: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,423 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Ellis County's.
Steps before you apply in Ellis County
A short checklist for Ellis County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Ellis County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kansas.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Ellis County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Ellis County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
Related local guides
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ellis County a high-income county?
Its $63,084 median ranks 60th of 105 Kansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Ellis County rent compare with Kansas?
$943 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 11% below.
What are the biggest places in Ellis County?
By population: Hays, Ellis, Victoria, Munjor, Catharine. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Ellis County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Ellis County?
Start with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.