1st Advantage MortgageGove County households have a median income of $66,029 and median rent of $705 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Gove County
- What Gove County households earn
- Gove County housing compared with Kansas
- How Gove County residents earn a living
- Regional comparison for Gove County
- Gove County towns compared
- Debt-to-income at Gove County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Gove County
- People and households in Gove County
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- A Gove County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Gove County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Gove County
Roughly 2,799 residents live in Gove County, Kansas, 83rd by population among the state's 105 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 1,072 square miles, that works out to roughly 2.6 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Quinter, with about 953 residents, or 34% of the county. Because Gove County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What Gove County households earn
Gove County households have a median income of $66,029 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 44th of 105 in Kansas.
| Households earning | Gove County | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.0% | +2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.4% | +5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.7% | -4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | -2.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Gove County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. Census counts 5.1% of Gove County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.440 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $66,029 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Gove County housing compared with Kansas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $705 in Gove County versus $1,060 statewide. 37% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. Home values center on $118,400, or 1.8 years of median income. 79% of Gove County households own their home and 21% rent. The median home was built in 1958, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Gove County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $705/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $118,400 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Gove 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.
How Gove County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Gove County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 31% 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 Gove County averages 2.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 1.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Gove County workers | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.6% | +5.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 21.5% | +18.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.3% | -2.3 pts |
| Other services | 6.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Construction | 5.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 4.8% | -2.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Regional comparison for Gove County
Six nearby counties, 30 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Trego County leads the group on income ($81,528), Lane County trails ($54,526), and Gove County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gove County | - | $66,029 | $705/mo | 79% |
| Sheridan County, KS | 30 mi | $73,750 | $689/mo | 77% |
| Lane County, KS | 30 mi | $54,526 | $590/mo | 89% |
| Trego County, KS | 33 mi | $81,528 | $720/mo | 82% |
| Logan County, KS | 36 mi | $75,662 | $840/mo | 65% |
| Scott County, KS | 38 mi | $68,839 | $685/mo | 67% |
| Ness County, KS | 43 mi | $68,616 | $538/mo | 82% |
Gove County towns compared
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 60% of Gove County residents live in one of the 5. No Gove County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinter | city | 953 | $66,136 | $647 | 17 mi |
| Grinnell | city | 342 | $67,500 | $535 | 16 mi |
| Grainfield | city | 232 | $44,688 | $665 | 14 mi |
| Park | city | 86 | $78,750 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Gove City | city | 79 | $48,438 | n/a | 3 mi |
Debt-to-income at Gove County's medians
How much room does a median Gove County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Gove County: $5,502
- Rent at the median, $705, takes 13% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,276 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,661 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Gove County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Gove County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Gove County borrowers.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Gove County borrower sees (free reports).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
People and households in Gove County
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Gove County | Kansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.2% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.4% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.5% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.1% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Gove County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 57.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.8% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
Consumer lenders serving Gove County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kansas that is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Kansas guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Gove County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Gove County borrowers:
- Price the Gove County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kansas borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Gove County
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gove County a high-income county?
Its $66,029 median ranks 44th of 105 Kansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Gove County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $705 against $1,060 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Gove County?
By population: Quinter, Grinnell, Grainfield, Park, Gove City. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Gove County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.
Is there a Gove County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kansas it is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner.