Personal loans in Graham County, KS: county guide

A quick profile of Graham County

Roughly 2,389 residents live in Graham County, Kansas, 97th by population among the state's 105 counties and county equivalents. It covers 899 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Graham County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 4 Census places inside Graham County, Hill City leads by population with about 1,511; 3 of the 4 are incorporated. Census margins of error grow as populations shrink; for a county of 2,389, read each figure as a range.

Paychecks and income spread in Graham County

Graham County households have a median income of $50,650 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 104th of 105 in Kansas.

About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.8%, 4 points higher than the state's 11.3%. Gini index for Graham County: 0.425. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Graham County median.

What stands out in Graham County

Ranked against the other 104 county-level areas in Kansas, these are the Graham County figures furthest from the middle.

• On median household income, Graham County sits near the bottom of Kansas at $50,650, 2nd lowest of 105. A lean local median makes the size of the loan the most important choice.
• Graham County ranks 6th lowest of 105 Kansas counties for the share of households earning $100,000 or more: 21%, against 36% statewide. Most budgets here are modest, so keep payments small.
• On the uninsured rate, Graham County sits near the bottom of Kansas at 5.0%, 7th lowest of 105. Even insured households face deductibles; ask the provider about a payment plan.
• Few Kansas counties match Graham County on the ACS unemployment rate: 5.0% here, 3.9% for the state, ranking 10th highest of 105. If work is uncertain, keep any loan small and the term short.

Graham County housing compared with Kansas

Half of Graham County renters pay more than $734 a month and half pay less; the Kansas midpoint is $1,060. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $89,900, about 1.8 times the median household income. 79% of Graham County households own their home and 21% rent. Median construction year: 1957. Against the median U.S. county, Graham County rent is 16% below.

With 79% of Graham County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk. 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?

Labor force snapshot: Graham County

The biggest employer of Graham County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (15%). Graham County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 15% versus 3% in Kansas. Unemployment in Graham County, ACS five-year: 5.0%; Kansas: 3.9%. Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.4% of the total (5.1% statewide).

Seasonal work is common in many Graham County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.

Cities, towns and CDPs in Graham County

Places, by size: the top 4 of 4. Roughly 25% of Graham County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. From Hill City to the smallest crossroads, Graham County residents share this guide.

A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.

Graham County and the counties next door

Six nearby counties, 30 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $53,870 in Decatur County to $81,528 in Trego County; all six of these neighbors top Graham County's median.

What the numbers mean for Graham County borrowers

Where the Graham County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:

• Retirees. At a median age of 46.0, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
• Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
• Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).

More Graham County figures

In Graham County, 27% of adults have at least a four-year degree (36% in Kansas). 5.0% of residents have no health coverage.

A Graham County household budget, worked through

Here is the Graham County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.

• Monthly gross at the median, Graham County: $4,221
• Housing at the median rent of $734 uses 17%
• Under a 35% cap, $1,477 total minus rent leaves $743
• At 45%, room after rent is $1,165 a month

Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.

Verifying a lender from Graham County

The Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner is the place to verify any lender's Kansas license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Kansas: Kansas personal loans.

Before you sign

Four checks before you sign anything:

• Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Graham County.
• Shop at least three lenders, including one Graham County-area credit union.
• Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
• Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.

More guides for Graham County

Next step up from Graham County:

• Kansas state guide