1st Advantage MortgageAbout 86% of Jefferson County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $81,278. 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
- Who lives in Jefferson County
- What Jefferson County households earn
- Renting and owning in Jefferson County
- Employment and commuting in Jefferson County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Jefferson County
- A Jefferson County household budget, worked through
- Jefferson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Jefferson County
- Four steps for Jefferson County borrowers
- Kansas rules that apply in Jefferson County
- More guides for Jefferson County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Jefferson County
Jefferson County is home to about 18,349 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 30th most populous of 105 county-level areas in Kansas. Spread over 533 square miles, that works out to roughly 34.5 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Topeka, KS metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (8 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Valley Falls, with about 1,382 residents, or 8% of the county.
What Jefferson County households earn
The median household income in Jefferson County is $81,278; statewide it is $74,275, so Jefferson County runs 9% above Kansas as a whole.
| Band | Jefferson County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.7% | -4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.8% | -0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.5% | +5.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.0% | -0.6 pts |
About 18% of households earn under $35,000, while 40% clear $100,000. 5.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.396 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Jefferson County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $835 in Jefferson County versus $1,060 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. With a median value of $216,900, a typical Jefferson County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 86% of homes. Median construction year: 1979.
| Jefferson County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $835/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $216,900 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.6% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Jefferson 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.
Employment and commuting in Jefferson County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 14% locally and 6% for Kansas. The survey's unemployment rate for Jefferson County averages 2.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Jefferson County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 14.3% | +7.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% | -2.0 pts |
| Public administration | 7.6% | +2.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -2.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Jefferson County's, from 18 to 34 miles away. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Jefferson County; Leavenworth County is highest at $89,218 and Atchison County lowest at $61,112.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | - | $81,278 | $835/mo | 86% |
| Leavenworth County, KS | 18 mi | $89,218 | $1,219/mo | 69% |
| Atchison County, KS | 21 mi | $61,112 | $765/mo | 72% |
| Douglas County, KS | 24 mi | $69,746 | $1,099/mo | 50% |
| Shawnee County, KS | 25 mi | $67,104 | $1,000/mo | 67% |
| Jackson County, KS | 25 mi | $75,215 | $814/mo | 77% |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 34 mi | $63,631 | $1,122/mo | 62% |
The communities that make up Jefferson County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Jefferson County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 7,033 residents, leaving about 62% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $100,156 at the median in Ozawkie, $46,681 in Valley Falls. Median rent ranges from $785 in Valley Falls to $1,125 in Ozawkie. Live in one of these Jefferson County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Falls | city | 1,382 | $46,681 | $785 | 8 mi |
| Oskaloosa | city | 1,113 | $83,750 | $846 | 4 mi |
| Perry | city | 1,069 | $82,375 | $798 | 11 mi |
| McLouth | city | 864 | $73,967 | $994 | 9 mi |
| Meriden | city | 716 | $76,667 | $839 | 11 mi |
| Nortonville | city | 715 | $58,571 | $970 | 12 mi |
| Ozawkie | city | 604 | $100,156 | $1,125 | 5 mi |
| Winchester | city | 417 | $55,833 | $800 | 8 mi |
| Grantville | CDP | 122 | $65,063 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Williamstown | CDP | 31 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
A Jefferson County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Jefferson County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $6,773 gross per month ($81,278 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $835 uses 12%
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,536 a month
- With a 45% ceiling, about $2,213 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Jefferson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
25% of Jefferson County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Jefferson County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.6% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.6% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.6% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.4% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Jefferson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.4% |
| 60+ min | 9.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Jefferson County
What the Jefferson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Jefferson County budgets.
- Consolidation math. With 40% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Four steps for Jefferson County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Jefferson County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Kansas rules that apply in Jefferson County
Jefferson County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Kansas state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Jefferson County
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jefferson County a high-income county?
Its $81,278 median ranks 8th of 105 Kansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Jefferson County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $835 against $1,060 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Jefferson County?
By population: Valley Falls, Oskaloosa, Perry, McLouth, Meriden. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Does living in Jefferson County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Jefferson County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Jefferson County residents?
The Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner licenses consumer lenders in Kansas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.