1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lincoln County household earns $57,500, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Lincoln County by the numbers
- Household income in Lincoln County
- Housing costs in Lincoln County
- How Lincoln County residents earn a living
- The counties around Lincoln County
- The communities that make up Lincoln County
- What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
- Reading the Lincoln County data as a borrower
- Lincoln County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Licensing and complaints for Lincoln County
- Steps before you apply in Lincoln County
- More guides for Lincoln County
- Frequently asked questions
Lincoln County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Lincoln County's population at 2,923; only 80 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. It covers 719 square miles of land, or about 4 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Lincoln Center is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 1,017 people (35% of the county total). Because Lincoln County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Household income in Lincoln County
At $57,500, the typical Lincoln County household income is 12% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Lincoln County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +4.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.3% | +5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.6% | -2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -6.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Lincoln County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. 11.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.3%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Lincoln County
A typical Lincoln County rental runs $634 a month including utilities, which is 40% below Kansas. 35% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $96,900, about 1.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%.
| Lincoln County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $634/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $96,900 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 13% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.1% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 23% | 9% | 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).
How Lincoln County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Lincoln County residents work in education and health care and 18% in agriculture, forestry and mining. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 18% locally and 3% for Kansas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.4% in Lincoln County. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Lincoln County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.9% | -3.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 18.0% | +15.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.3% | +3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.1% | -2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Lincoln County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 36 miles). Ottawa County leads the group on income ($74,018), Russell County trails ($62,392), and Lincoln County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $57,500 | $634/mo | 80% |
| Mitchell County, KS | 24 mi | $64,246 | $604/mo | 69% |
| Ellsworth County, KS | 24 mi | $65,560 | $708/mo | 80% |
| Ottawa County, KS | 31 mi | $74,018 | $809/mo | 77% |
| Russell County, KS | 31 mi | $62,392 | $805/mo | 75% |
| Saline County, KS | 35 mi | $65,422 | $961/mo | 67% |
| Osborne County, KS | 36 mi | $63,011 | $595/mo | 77% |
The communities that make up Lincoln County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 53% of Lincoln County residents live in one of the 4. No Lincoln County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Center | city | 1,017 | $49,423 | $613 | 4 mi |
| Sylvan Grove | city | 314 | $53,750 | $643 | 10 mi |
| Beverly | city | 132 | $30,000 | $913 | 13 mi |
| Barnard | city | 97 | $48,750 | n/a | 13 mi |
What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
Lincoln County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,792 a month: gross income for a household at the Lincoln County median
- Median rent: $634, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,091: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Reading the Lincoln County data as a borrower
What the Lincoln County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Lincoln County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Lincoln County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. 5.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Lincoln County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.9% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.3% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.9% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.4% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.6% |
Licensing and complaints for Lincoln County
Consumer lenders serving Lincoln County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kansas that is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Kansas state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Lincoln County
A short checklist for Lincoln County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Lincoln County
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lincoln County a high-income county?
Its $57,500 median ranks 88th of 105 Kansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Lincoln County?
$634 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
Should Lincoln County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Lincoln County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Lincoln County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lincoln Center, Sylvan Grove, Beverly, Barnard.
Can Lincoln County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Kansas county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.