1st Advantage MortgageMeade County households have a median income of $71,852 and median rent of $790 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Meade County
- Employment and commuting in Meade County
- How much Meade County households make
- Housing costs in Meade County
- Places inside Meade County
- Regional comparison for Meade County
- Budget math at the Meade County median
- Local borrowing considerations for Meade County
- People and households in Meade County
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Meade County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Meade County
Meade County is home to about 3,903 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 73rd most populous of 105 county-level areas in Kansas. Land area is 978 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Meade County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 3 Census places inside Meade County, Meade leads by population with about 1,341; 3 of the 3 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Meade County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Employment and commuting in Meade County
The biggest employer of Meade County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (18%). Compared with Kansas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (18% against 3%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.5% in Meade County. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Meade County share | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.6% | +3.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 18.0% | +14.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.8% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.1% | -3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.7% | -5.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.0% | -0.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
How much Meade County households make
The median household income in Meade County is $71,852; statewide it is $74,275, so Meade County runs 3% below Kansas as a whole. That places it 25th among Kansas's 105 county-level areas.
| Band | Meade County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.0% | +2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.4% | -0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.4% | +1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -3.3 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 35% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.0% of Meade County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.521 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Meade County median.
Housing costs in Meade County
A typical Meade County rental runs $790 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Kansas. By the Census definition, 31% of Meade County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $148,900, or 2.1 years of median income. Owners occupy 74% of homes. The median home was built in 1959, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Meade County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $790/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $148,900 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.8% | 4.0% | n/a |
Because most Meade County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Places inside Meade County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Meade County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 3,111 people, so roughly 20% of residents live outside any named place. Meade has the highest median household income on the list ($75,321) and Fowler the lowest ($47,679), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Meade ($759) and steepest in Fowler ($900). No Meade County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meade | city | 1,341 | $75,321 | $759 | 3 mi |
| Plains | city | 1,171 | $71,136 | $778 | 13 mi |
| Fowler | city | 599 | $47,679 | $900 | 13 mi |
Regional comparison for Meade County
Seward County is closest, 28 miles from center to center; the sixth, Ford County, is 40 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Meade County; Gray County is highest at $79,122 and Clark County lowest at $63,043. Some neighbors are in Oklahoma. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Meade County resident follows Kansas rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meade County | - | $71,852 | $790/mo | 74% |
| Seward County, KS | 28 mi | $63,827 | $905/mo | 62% |
| Clark County, KS | 30 mi | $63,043 | $789/mo | 74% |
| Beaver County, OK | 35 mi | $64,276 | $790/mo | 81% |
| Gray County, KS | 35 mi | $79,122 | $808/mo | 77% |
| Haskell County, KS | 36 mi | $66,162 | $830/mo | 76% |
| Ford County, KS | 40 mi | $70,781 | $1,010/mo | 62% |
Budget math at the Meade County median
Meade County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,988 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $790, takes 13% of that
- Under a 43% cap, $2,575 total minus rent leaves $1,785
If your rent is above $790, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Meade County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Meade County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Meade County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
People and households in Meade County
27% of Meade County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Meade County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.5% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.3% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.5% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Meade County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Meade County-area credit union.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Meade County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Meade County, check 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.
Related local guides
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Meade County earn?
The median is $71,852; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Meade County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $790 a month; 31% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Meade County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Meade County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Meade, Plains, Fowler.
Is the fit check different in Meade County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.