1st Advantage MortgageIn Hamilton County, Kansas, the typical household earns $70,250 a year and the typical rent is $909. 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
- Hamilton County, KS: the basics
- Jobs and commutes in Hamilton County
- Paychecks and income spread in Hamilton County
- Renting and owning in Hamilton County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Hamilton County
- The counties around Hamilton County
- Who lives in Hamilton County, in numbers
- Reading the Hamilton County data as a borrower
- What a median Hamilton County budget can carry
- Checklist for Hamilton County applicants
- Lender oversight for Hamilton County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Hamilton County, KS: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Hamilton County's population at 2,471; only 92 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 997 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Hamilton County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 2 Census places inside Hamilton County, Syracuse leads by population with about 1,699; 2 of the 2 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Hamilton County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Jobs and commutes in Hamilton County
The biggest employer of Hamilton County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 36% of workers, followed by education and health care (20%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 36% of workers here, versus 3% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Hamilton County averages 3.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). About 69% drive to work alone and 4% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Hamilton County workers | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 36.0% | +33.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.5% | -4.5 pts |
| Construction | 10.3% | +3.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -2.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.3% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 4.8% | -5.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Hamilton County
At $70,250, the typical Hamilton County household income is 7% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Hamilton County | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.5% | +3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.1% | -7.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.6% | +7.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -3.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 39% of Hamilton County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. 7.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.407 here. For a borrower in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $909 in Hamilton County versus $1,060 statewide. 31% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. With a median value of $115,800, a typical Hamilton County house costs 1.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 77% of Hamilton County households own their home and 23% rent.
| Housing | Hamilton County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $909/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $115,800 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 9% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.0% | 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).
Cities, towns and CDPs in Hamilton County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Hamilton County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 1,727 residents, leaving about 30% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Hamilton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | city | 1,699 | $67,361 | $734 | 3 mi |
| Coolidge | city | 28 | $61,667 | n/a | 12 mi |
The counties around Hamilton County
Six nearby counties, 26 to 41 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Hamilton County; Kearny County is highest at $89,135 and Prowers County lowest at $53,508. Some neighbors are in Colorado. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Hamilton County resident follows Kansas rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County | - | $70,250 | $909/mo | 77% |
| Kearny County, KS | 26 mi | $89,135 | $1,056/mo | 72% |
| Stanton County, KS | 30 mi | $71,700 | $705/mo | 77% |
| Prowers County, CO | 33 mi | $53,508 | $808/mo | 67% |
| Greeley County, KS | 34 mi | $80,565 | $794/mo | 75% |
| Grant County, KS | 41 mi | $66,476 | $718/mo | 77% |
| Wichita County, KS | 41 mi | $79,063 | $942/mo | 78% |
Who lives in Hamilton County, in numbers
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. About 25% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Hamilton County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.5% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 20.1% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 25.4% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.7% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 58.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.5% |
| 60+ min | 0.0% |
Reading the Hamilton County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Hamilton County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Hamilton County. For the 25% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
What a median Hamilton County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Hamilton County's medians:
- $5,854 a month: gross income for a household at the Hamilton County median
- Housing at the median rent of $909 uses 16%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,198 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Hamilton County's.
Checklist for Hamilton County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Hamilton 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.
Lender oversight for Hamilton County
Hamilton County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
Related local guides
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Hamilton County?
$70,250 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,275 for Kansas. It ranks 31st of 105 in the state.
How does Hamilton County rent compare with Kansas?
$909 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 14% below.
Should Hamilton County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Hamilton County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Hamilton County?
By population: Syracuse, Coolidge. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Hamilton County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.