1st Advantage MortgageIn Gray County, Kansas, the typical household earns $79,122 a year and the typical rent is $808. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Kansas before sharing details.
On this page
- Gray County at a glance
- How Gray County residents earn a living
- What Gray County households earn
- Renting and owning in Gray County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Gray County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Gray County's medians
- Before borrowing in Gray County
- Who lives in Gray County, in numbers
- Checklist for Gray County applicants
- Lender oversight for Gray County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Gray County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Gray County's population at 5,701; only 60 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 869 square miles, that works out to roughly 6.6 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 5 Census places inside Gray County, Cimarron leads by population with about 1,949; 5 of the 5 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Gray County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How Gray County residents earn a living
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 21% locally and 3% for Kansas. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 2.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Gray County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 21.0% | +17.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.0% | -6.0 pts |
| Construction | 11.7% | +5.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -2.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.3% | +1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.9% | -5.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What Gray County households earn
The median household income in Gray County is $79,122; statewide it is $74,275, so Gray County runs 7% above Kansas as a whole.
| Band | Gray County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.7% | -3.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.4% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.1% | -0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.8% | +0.2 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. Census counts 8.5% of Gray County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. For a borrower in Gray 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.
Renting and owning in Gray County
Renters in Gray County pay a median of $808 a month, 24% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. 26% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 9% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $206,000, about 2.6 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%. The median home was built in 1976, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Gray County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $808/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $206,000 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 26% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.8% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Gray 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Gray County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Gray County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 3,618 residents, leaving about 37% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Gray County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cimarron | city | 1,949 | $82,422 | $793 | 7 mi |
| Montezuma | city | 864 | $48,438 | $1,012 | 11 mi |
| Copeland | city | 365 | $44,375 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Ingalls | city | 315 | $83,750 | $1,107 | 6 mi |
| Ensign | city | 125 | $100,750 | n/a | 14 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Finney County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Seward County, is 45 miles off. Finney County leads the group on income ($73,009), Hodgeman County trails ($59,955), and Gray County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray County | - | $79,122 | $808/mo | 77% |
| Finney County, KS | 26 mi | $73,009 | $1,048/mo | 65% |
| Haskell County, KS | 27 mi | $66,162 | $830/mo | 76% |
| Ford County, KS | 31 mi | $70,781 | $1,010/mo | 62% |
| Meade County, KS | 35 mi | $71,852 | $790/mo | 74% |
| Hodgeman County, KS | 38 mi | $59,955 | $941/mo | 79% |
| Seward County, KS | 45 mi | $63,827 | $905/mo | 62% |
Debt-to-income at Gray County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Gray County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Gray County: $6,594
- Rent at the median, $808, takes 12% of that
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,027 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Gray County's.
Before borrowing in Gray County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Gray County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Gray County. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 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 Gray County borrower sees (free reports).
Who lives in Gray County, in numbers
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 11.5%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Residents | Gray County | Kansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.9% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 21.2% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.5% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.3% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Gray County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.9% |
| 60+ min | 3.1% |
Checklist for Gray County applicants
Quick steps for Gray County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Gray County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Gray County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Gray County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Gray County resident can confirm its license with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Kansas: Kansas personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Gray County household make?
About $79,122 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 7% above the Kansas median.
How much is rent in Gray County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $808 a month; 26% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Gray County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Cimarron, Montezuma, Copeland, Ingalls, Ensign.
Are Gray County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Gray County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kansas it is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner.