1st Advantage MortgageThe median Marshall County household earns $68,419, 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
- Marshall County, KS: the basics
- How much Marshall County households make
- Employment and commuting in Marshall County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Marshall County
- Places inside Marshall County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- More Marshall County figures
- Reading the Marshall County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income at Marshall County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for Marshall County
- Checklist for Marshall County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Marshall County, KS: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Marshall County's population at 9,993; only 38 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. It covers 900 square miles of land, or about 11 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Marshall County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (9 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Marysville, with about 3,422 residents, or 34% of the county. With so few households sampled, Marshall County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How much Marshall County households make
The median household income in Marshall County is $68,419; statewide it is $74,275, so Marshall County runs 8% below Kansas as a whole. In the state ranking that is 36th of 105.
| Household income | Marshall County | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +5.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.2% | +2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.8% | -3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -4.5 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.3% of Marshall County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.432 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Marshall County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Marshall County
The biggest employer of Marshall County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.0% in Marshall County. Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Marshall County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.3% | -0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.3% | +6.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.6% | +5.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | +1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.3% | -3.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Rent, home values and ownership in Marshall County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $690 in Marshall County versus $1,060 statewide. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $127,700, about 1.9 times the median household income. 80% of Marshall County households own their home and 20% rent. Median construction year: 1959.
| Marshall County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $690/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $127,700 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | 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).
Places inside Marshall County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 70% of Marshall County residents live in one of the 12. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $53,214 in Blue Rapids to $70,000 in Frankfort. Median rent ranges from $600 in Waterville to $771 in Blue Rapids. No Marshall County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marysville | city | 3,422 | $55,386 | $692 | 8 mi |
| Blue Rapids | city | 870 | $53,214 | $771 | 10 mi |
| Waterville | city | 748 | $68,611 | $600 | 14 mi |
| Frankfort | city | 726 | $70,000 | $771 | 8 mi |
| Axtell | city | 468 | $61,023 | $850 | 15 mi |
| Bremen | CDP | 192 | $250,001 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Beattie | city | 185 | $58,750 | $486 | 8 mi |
| Summerfield | city | 128 | $45,313 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Oketo | city | 109 | $75,977 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Home | CDP | 92 | $70,179 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Vermillion | city | 52 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Herkimer | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Nemaha County at 27 miles out to Riley County at 36. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Marshall County; Pottawatomie County is highest at $92,325 and Riley County lowest at $61,098. The list crosses into Nebraska, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | - | $68,419 | $690/mo | 80% |
| Nemaha County, KS | 27 mi | $77,348 | $774/mo | 78% |
| Pawnee County, NE | 29 mi | $62,188 | $706/mo | 80% |
| Pottawatomie County, KS | 29 mi | $92,325 | $924/mo | 82% |
| Washington County, KS | 31 mi | $65,482 | $562/mo | 78% |
| Gage County, NE | 34 mi | $67,247 | $774/mo | 74% |
| Riley County, KS | 36 mi | $61,098 | $1,046/mo | 46% |
More Marshall County figures
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.1%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Indicator | Marshall County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.1% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 57.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.6% |
| 60+ min | 4.2% |
Reading the Marshall County data as a borrower
Where the Marshall County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Marshall County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Debt-to-income at Marshall County's medians
How much room does a median Marshall County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,702 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $690, takes 12% of that
- Under a 43% cap, $2,452 total minus rent leaves $1,762
If your rent is above $690, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Licensing and complaints for Marshall County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Marshall County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
Checklist for Marshall County applicants
Quick steps for Marshall County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kansas borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Marshall County household make?
About $68,419 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 8% below the Kansas median.
How does Marshall County rent compare with Kansas?
$690 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 35% below.
Should Marshall County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Marshall County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Marysville?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Marshall County, such as Blue Rapids, Waterville, Frankfort.
Will a Marshall County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.