1st Advantage MortgageThe median Miami County household earns $89,000, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Miami County
- Work, industries and travel time in Miami County
- Paychecks and income spread in Miami County
- Renting and owning in Miami County
- Counties near Miami County
- Miami County towns compared
- Debt-to-income at Miami County's medians
- Before borrowing in Miami County
- Miami County households compared
- Four steps for Miami County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Miami County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Miami County
Miami County is home to about 34,938 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 14th most populous of 105 county-level areas in Kansas. Packed into 576 square miles, that is close to 61 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 7 Census places inside Miami County, Paola leads by population with about 5,770; 4 of the 7 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Miami County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 10%. Compared with Kansas, the county leans toward construction (10% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Miami County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Miami County workers | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.1% | -1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.6% | -3.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.4% | +1.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Miami County
At $89,000, the typical Miami County household income is 36% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 5th of 105.
| Yearly household income | Miami County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.3% | -1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.2% | -7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.3% | +6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.2% | +1.7 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 45% have six-figure incomes. 7.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.410 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $89,000 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Miami County
A typical Miami County rental runs $1,107 a month including utilities, which is 4% above Kansas. By the Census definition, 45% of Miami County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $287,700, or 3.2 years of median income. 78% of Miami County households own their home and 22% rent. The median year built is 1987.
| Cost | Miami County | Kansas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,107/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $287,700 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.0% | 4.0% | n/a |
Because most Miami 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.
Counties near Miami County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Miami County's, from 22 to 34 miles away. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Miami County; Johnson County is highest at $109,208 and Linn County lowest at $59,069. Some neighbors are in Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Miami County resident follows Kansas rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami County | - | $89,000 | $1,107/mo | 78% |
| Johnson County, KS | 22 mi | $109,208 | $1,434/mo | 69% |
| Franklin County, KS | 24 mi | $77,207 | $1,042/mo | 72% |
| Linn County, KS | 24 mi | $59,069 | $691/mo | 81% |
| Cass County, MO | 26 mi | $87,535 | $1,205/mo | 76% |
| Douglas County, KS | 34 mi | $69,746 | $1,099/mo | 50% |
| Bates County, MO | 34 mi | $60,733 | $786/mo | 75% |
Miami County towns compared
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 45% of Miami County residents live in one of the 7. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $66,991 in Osawatomie to $74,662 in Paola. Median rent ranges from $699 in Osawatomie to $1,439 in Louisburg. Live in one of these Miami County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paola | city | 5,770 | $74,662 | $1,091 | 2 mi |
| Louisburg | city | 5,094 | $68,824 | $1,439 | 9 mi |
| Osawatomie | city | 4,182 | $66,991 | $699 | 8 mi |
| Fontana | city | 409 | $51,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Bucyrus | CDP | 168 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Hillsdale | CDP | 117 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Somerset | CDP | 40 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
Debt-to-income at Miami County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Miami County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,417 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,107, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,860 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Miami County
Based on the Miami County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 21% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Miami County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 45% of Miami County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Miami County households compared
31% of Miami County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Miami County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.0% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.8% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.1% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Miami County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
Four steps for Miami County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- 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.
Lender oversight for Miami County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Miami County resident can confirm its license with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Kansas: Kansas personal loans.
Related local guides
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Miami County?
$89,000 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,275 for Kansas. It ranks 5th of 105 in the state.
How does Miami County rent compare with Kansas?
$1,107 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 4% above.
Should Miami County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Miami County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Miami County?
By population: Paola, Louisburg, Osawatomie, Fontana, Bucyrus. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Miami County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.