1st Advantage MortgageIn Jewell County, Kansas, the typical household earns $52,634 a year and the typical rent is $608. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Kansas license first.
On this page
- Jewell County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Jewell County
- What Jewell County households earn
- Renting and owning in Jewell County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Jewell County
- Budget math at the Jewell County median
- Reading the Jewell County data as a borrower
- People and households in Jewell County
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Jewell County by the numbers
Jewell County is home to about 2,916 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 82nd most populous of 105 county-level areas in Kansas. Spread over 910 square miles, that works out to roughly 3.2 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Jewell County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Jewell County, Mankato leads by population with about 925; 7 of the 8 are incorporated. Because Jewell County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Jobs and commutes in Jewell County
The biggest employer of Jewell County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by retail trade (14%). Compared with Kansas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (12% against 3%). Averaged over the five survey years, 1.3% 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. 1.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Jewell County workers | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.2% | +3.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.4% | +9.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.6% | +3.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.8% | -4.6 pts |
| Other services | 6.8% | +2.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Jewell County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Jewell County households earn
Jewell County households have a median income of $52,634 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 103rd of 105 in Kansas.
| Households earning | Jewell County | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.6% | +11.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | -0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -5.4 pts |
About 34% of households earn under $35,000, while 24% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 10.6%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.3%. 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 Jewell County
A typical Jewell County rental runs $608 a month including utilities, which is 43% below Kansas. 29% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 11% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $64,600, about 1.2 times the median household income. Owners occupy 74% of homes. The median home was built in 1945, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Jewell County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $608/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $64,600 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.6% | 4.0% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Jewell 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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Mitchell County is closest, 27 miles from center to center; the sixth, Cloud County, is 37 miles off. Nuckolls County leads the group on income ($73,976), Republic County trails ($56,833), and Jewell County out-earns 0 of the six. The list crosses into Nebraska, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewell County | - | $52,634 | $608/mo | 74% |
| Mitchell County, KS | 27 mi | $64,246 | $604/mo | 69% |
| Nuckolls County, NE | 29 mi | $73,976 | $585/mo | 83% |
| Smith County, KS | 30 mi | $59,135 | $635/mo | 85% |
| Republic County, KS | 31 mi | $56,833 | $664/mo | 78% |
| Webster County, NE | 31 mi | $64,347 | $647/mo | 81% |
| Cloud County, KS | 37 mi | $58,770 | $769/mo | 74% |
Places inside Jewell County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Jewell County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 1,882 residents, leaving about 35% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato | city | 925 | $50,893 | $639 | 1 mi |
| Jewell | city | 469 | $45,000 | $557 | 8 mi |
| Randall | city | 184 | $29,826 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Burr Oak | city | 114 | $32,500 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Formoso | city | 89 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Esbon | city | 82 | $43,750 | $600 | 12 mi |
| Webber | city | 19 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Ionia | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
Budget math at the Jewell County median
Jewell County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,386 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $608 uses 14%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $971 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 Jewell County's.
Reading the Jewell County data as a borrower
What the Jewell County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Older households. A 51.2 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
People and households in Jewell County
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.3%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Indicator | Jewell County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.2% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.0% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.3% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.8% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.3% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Jewell County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Jewell County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Kansas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Jewell County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Jewell County earn?
The median is $52,634; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 34% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Jewell County?
$608 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Does this page cover Mankato?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Jewell County, such as Jewell, Randall, Burr Oak.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Jewell County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Jewell 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.