1st Advantage MortgageThe median Finney County household earns $73,009, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Finney County at a glance
- Rent, home values and ownership in Finney County
- Paychecks and income spread in Finney County
- Jobs and commutes in Finney County
- Finney County and the counties next door
- Finney County towns compared
- A Finney County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Finney County
- Finney County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checklist for Finney County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- More guides for Finney County
- Frequently asked questions
Finney County at a glance
Roughly 38,084 residents live in Finney County, Kansas, 12th by population among the state's 105 counties and county equivalents. It covers 1,302 square miles of land, or about 29 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Finney County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 3 Census places inside Finney County, Garden City leads by population with about 27,819; 2 of the 3 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Finney County
A typical Finney County rental runs $1,048 a month including utilities. 33% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 13% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $201,400, about 2.8 times the median household income. Owners occupy 65% of homes. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Finney County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,048/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $201,400 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 9% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Finney County
Half of Finney County households take in less than $73,009 a year and half take in more, 2% below the Kansas median of $74,275. Only 23 Kansas counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Finney County | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.0% | -4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.4% | +4.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.9% | +4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -3.8 pts |
About 17% of households earn under $35,000, while 37% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.1% of Finney 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.
Jobs and commutes in Finney County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Finney County residents work in manufacturing and 21% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 23% locally and 12% for Kansas. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 4% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Finney County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.0% | +10.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.0% | -3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +1.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.0% | +3.9 pts |
| Construction | 6.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.5% | +0.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Finney County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Finney County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Gray County at 26 miles out to Wichita County at 44. Kearny County leads the group on income ($89,135), Lane County trails ($54,526), and Finney County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finney County | - | $73,009 | $1,048/mo | 65% |
| Gray County, KS | 26 mi | $79,122 | $808/mo | 77% |
| Kearny County, KS | 31 mi | $89,135 | $1,056/mo | 72% |
| Scott County, KS | 31 mi | $68,839 | $685/mo | 67% |
| Lane County, KS | 33 mi | $54,526 | $590/mo | 89% |
| Haskell County, KS | 35 mi | $66,162 | $830/mo | 76% |
| Wichita County, KS | 44 mi | $79,063 | $942/mo | 78% |
Finney County towns compared
3 Census places fall mainly inside Finney County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 30,396 residents, leaving about 20% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Finney County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garden City | city | 27,819 | $72,865 | $1,052 | 8 mi |
| Holcomb | city | 2,577 | $78,571 | $968 | 14 mi |
| Pierceville | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
A Finney County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Finney County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,084 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,048, which is 17% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,142 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Finney County
Where the Finney County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Finney County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured homes. 12% of Finney County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Finney County residents: age, schooling, coverage
19% of Finney County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 12.7%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Measure | Finney County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.9 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.0% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 28.2% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Finney County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.3% |
| 60+ min | 2.8% |
Checklist for Finney County applicants
Quick steps for Finney County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Kansas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
Before sharing details with a lender, a Finney County resident can confirm its license with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Kansas guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Finney County
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Finney County household make?
About $73,009 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 2% below the Kansas median.
How does Finney County rent compare with Kansas?
$1,048 locally, close to the state figure.
I live in a small Finney County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Garden City, Holcomb, Pierceville.
Are Finney 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.
Where can someone in Finney County check a lender's license?
With the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.