1st Advantage MortgageThe median Geary County household earns $59,317, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Geary County
- Income in Geary County compared with Kansas
- Geary County housing compared with Kansas
- The Geary County job picture
- Geary County and the counties next door
- Geary County towns compared
- More Geary County figures
- What the numbers mean for Geary County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Geary County's medians
- Steps before you apply in Geary County
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Geary County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Geary County's population at 35,815; only 12 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. It covers 385 square miles of land, or about 93 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Manhattan, KS metropolitan area. Junction City is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 22,331 people (62% of the county total).
Income in Geary County compared with Kansas
At $59,317, the typical Geary County household income is 10% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 79th of 105.
| Yearly household income | Geary County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.7% | +5.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.2% | +8.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.5% | -7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.6% | -7.0 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 18.0% of Geary County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.388 here. A household earning below the $59,317 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Geary County housing compared with Kansas
A typical Geary County rental runs $1,104 a month including utilities, which is 4% above Kansas. By the Census definition, 41% of Geary County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $172,700, or 2.9 years of median income. 44% of Geary County households own their home and 56% rent. The median year built is 1987.
| Housing | Geary County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,104/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $172,700 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 44% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 22% | n/a |
With renters making up 56% of households, many Geary County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more.
The Geary County job picture
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 16%. Retail trade stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 5% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Geary County share | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.0% | +5.4 pts |
| Public administration | 8.5% | +3.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.9% | -4.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Geary County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 20 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Geary County; Pottawatomie County is highest at $92,325 and Morris County lowest at $58,686.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geary County | - | $59,317 | $1,104/mo | 44% |
| Riley County, KS | 20 mi | $61,098 | $1,046/mo | 46% |
| Morris County, KS | 23 mi | $58,686 | $724/mo | 80% |
| Dickinson County, KS | 23 mi | $68,417 | $901/mo | 79% |
| Wabaunsee County, KS | 31 mi | $76,908 | $780/mo | 81% |
| Clay County, KS | 32 mi | $66,176 | $937/mo | 78% |
| Pottawatomie County, KS | 35 mi | $92,325 | $924/mo | 82% |
Geary County towns compared
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 93% of Geary County residents live in one of the 4. Junction City has the highest median household income on the list ($61,181) and Grandview Plaza the lowest ($41,871), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Grandview Plaza ($901) and steepest in Fort Riley ($1,234). This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junction City | city | 22,331 | $61,181 | $1,024 | 5 mi |
| Fort Riley | CDP | 8,606 | $54,362 | $1,234 | 8 mi |
| Grandview Plaza | city | 2,015 | $41,871 | $901 | 2 mi |
| Milford | city | 337 | $79,250 | $1,016 | 14 mi |
More Geary County figures
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. 7.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Geary County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.1 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.2% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.0% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.9% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.4% |
| 60+ min | 2.3% |
What the numbers mean for Geary County borrowers
A few patterns in the Geary County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 18% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Debt-to-income at Geary County's medians
How much room does a median Geary County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,943 a month: gross income for a household at the Geary County median
- 22% goes to median rent ($1,104)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,780 total minus rent leaves $676
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Steps before you apply in Geary County
Quick steps for Geary County:
- Price the Geary County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
Before sharing details with a lender, a Geary County resident can confirm its license with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Kansas state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Geary County a high-income county?
Its $59,317 median ranks 79th of 105 Kansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Geary County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,104 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Geary County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Junction City, Fort Riley, Grandview Plaza, Milford.
Can Geary 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Geary County residents?
The Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner licenses consumer lenders in Kansas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.