1st Advantage MortgageIn Ford County, Kansas, the typical household earns $70,781 a year and the typical rent is $1,010. 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
- Ford County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Ford County
- Ford County housing compared with Kansas
- Work, industries and travel time in Ford County
- How Ford County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Ford County
- Budget math at the Ford County median
- Ford County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Ford County borrowers
- Steps before you apply in Ford County
- Who licenses lenders for Ford County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Ford County at a glance
With an estimated 34,074 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Ford County ranks 16th of 105 in Kansas for population. Land area is 1,098 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 31 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Dodge City is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 27,613 people (81% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Ford County
Half of Ford County households take in less than $70,781 a year and half take in more, 5% below the Kansas median of $74,275. In the state ranking that is 28th of 105.
| Household income | Ford County | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.2% | -0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.7% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.3% | +0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -3.8 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.0%, 3 points higher than the state's 11.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.401 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Ford County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Ford County housing compared with Kansas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,010 in Ford County versus $1,060 statewide. By the Census definition, 28% of Ford County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $151,100, or 2.1 years of median income. Owners occupy 62% of homes. Median construction year: 1972.
| Housing | Ford County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,010/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $151,100 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 28% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Ford County
Manufacturing employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. Manufacturing stands out: 27% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 4% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Ford County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 27.4% | +15.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.8% | -7.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.8% | -1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -2.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | +0.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How Ford County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Ford County's, from 28 to 40 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Ford County; Gray County is highest at $79,122 and Edwards County lowest at $52,692.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford County | - | $70,781 | $1,010/mo | 62% |
| Hodgeman County, KS | 28 mi | $59,955 | $941/mo | 79% |
| Gray County, KS | 31 mi | $79,122 | $808/mo | 77% |
| Clark County, KS | 32 mi | $63,043 | $789/mo | 74% |
| Kiowa County, KS | 34 mi | $75,539 | $762/mo | 73% |
| Edwards County, KS | 34 mi | $52,692 | $740/mo | 79% |
| Meade County, KS | 40 mi | $71,852 | $790/mo | 74% |
The communities that make up Ford County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 90% of Ford County residents live in one of the 7. Incomes vary by place: $72,969 at the median in Spearville, $60,208 in Bucklin. Median rent ranges from $690 in Bucklin to $1,045 in Dodge City. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge City | city | 27,613 | $68,721 | $1,045 | 9 mi |
| Spearville | city | 998 | $72,969 | $723 | 13 mi |
| Wilroads Gardens | CDP | 955 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| Bucklin | city | 652 | $60,208 | $690 | 17 mi |
| Ford | city | 228 | $68,750 | $752 | 8 mi |
| Wright | CDP | 106 | $31,058 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Fort Dodge | CDP | 93 | $40,217 | $644 | 4 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Budget math at the Ford County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Ford County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,898 before taxes
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,010)
- Under a 40% cap, $2,359 total minus rent leaves $1,349
Two-income households and single earners in Ford County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Ford County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. About 16% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Ford County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.7% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 23.5% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.9% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 71.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 4.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.2% |
| 60+ min | 2.5% |
What the numbers mean for Ford County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Ford County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 16% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Ford County borrower sees (free reports).
Steps before you apply in Ford County
Steps that save money for Ford County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Ford County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Ford County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Ford 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.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Ford County household make?
About $70,781 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 5% below the Kansas median.
Is Ford County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,010 against $1,060 statewide, and 28% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Ford County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Dodge City, Spearville, Wilroads Gardens, Bucklin, Ford.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Ford County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Ford 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.