1st Advantage MortgageGrant County households have a median income of $66,476 and median rent of $718 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Grant County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Grant County
- Employment and commuting in Grant County
- Housing costs in Grant County
- Grant County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Grant County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Grant County
- Debt-to-income at Grant County's medians
- Steps before you apply in Grant County
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- More guides for Grant County
- Frequently asked questions
Grant County by the numbers
Grant County is home to about 7,229 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 51st most populous of 105 county-level areas in Kansas. It covers 575 square miles of land, or about 13 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Grant County is not part of any metropolitan area. Ulysses, with about 5,476 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. With so few households sampled, Grant County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Paychecks and income spread in Grant County
The median household income in Grant County is $66,476; statewide it is $74,275, so Grant County runs 11% below Kansas as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Grant County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.3% | -5.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.3% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.1% | -0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.4% | +2.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Grant County households make $100,000 or more, and 16% make less than $35,000. 9.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.403 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Grant County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Grant County
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 16%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 27% of workers here, versus 3% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Grant County averages 0.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 5.1% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Grant County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 27.3% | +24.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.1% | -8.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 15.4% | +9.8 pts |
| Construction | 10.3% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.8% | -3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.6% | -5.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Housing costs in Grant County
Renters in Grant County pay a median of $718 a month, 32% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. 26% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 7% spend half or more. With a median value of $110,300, a typical Grant County house costs 1.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 77% of homes. Median construction year: 1974.
| Cost | Grant County | Kansas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $718/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $110,300 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 26% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.9% | 4.0% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Grant County towns compared
Ulysses is the only Census place mainly inside Grant County, with about 5,476 of the county's 7,229 residents. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulysses | city | 5,476 | $63,857 | $717 | 4 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Haskell County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Morton County, is 38 miles off. Income ranges from $63,827 in Seward County to $89,135 in Kearny County; 2 of these neighbors top Grant County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant County | - | $66,476 | $718/mo | 77% |
| Haskell County, KS | 23 mi | $66,162 | $830/mo | 76% |
| Stevens County, KS | 24 mi | $64,178 | $927/mo | 74% |
| Stanton County, KS | 27 mi | $71,700 | $705/mo | 77% |
| Kearny County, KS | 31 mi | $89,135 | $1,056/mo | 72% |
| Seward County, KS | 35 mi | $63,827 | $905/mo | 62% |
| Morton County, KS | 38 mi | $66,447 | $632/mo | 85% |
Grant County residents: age, schooling, coverage
25% of Grant County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 16.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Grant County | Kansas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.1% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 22.2% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.7% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Grant County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 11.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 4.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.6% |
| 60+ min | 19.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Grant County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Grant County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 16% of Grant County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Grant County budgets.
- 23% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
Debt-to-income at Grant County's medians
Grant County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,540 before taxes
- 13% goes to median rent ($718)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,276 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $718, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Steps before you apply in Grant County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Grant County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Grant County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kansas.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Grant County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Kansas: Kansas personal loans.
More guides for Grant County
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Grant County earn?
The median is $66,476; 38% earn $100,000 or more and 16% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Grant County rent compare with Kansas?
$718 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 32% below.
Should Grant County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Grant County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Grant County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: Ulysses.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Grant County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.