1st Advantage MortgageIn Osage County, Kansas, the typical household earns $74,467 a year and the typical rent is $785. 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
- Osage County, KS: the basics
- Housing costs in Osage County
- Paychecks and income spread in Osage County
- The Osage County job picture
- Osage County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Osage County
- Osage County households compared
- Before borrowing in Osage County
- Budget math at the Osage County median
- Checklist for Osage County applicants
- Kansas rules that apply in Osage County
- More guides for Osage County
- Frequently asked questions
Osage County, KS: the basics
With an estimated 15,744 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Osage County ranks 32nd of 105 in Kansas for population. It covers 706 square miles of land, or about 22 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Topeka, KS metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (9 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Osage City, with about 2,828 residents, or 18% of the county.
Housing costs in Osage County
A typical Osage County rental runs $785 a month including utilities, which is 26% below Kansas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $156,800, about 2.1 times the median household income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. Median construction year: 1974.
| Osage County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $785/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $156,800 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.5% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Osage 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Osage County
Half of Osage County households take in less than $74,467 a year and half take in more, about the same as the Kansas median of $74,275. Only 18 Kansas counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Osage County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.4% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.0% | +4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.4% | 0.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -4.4 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. 9.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.381 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Osage County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Osage County job picture
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; transportation, warehousing and utilities is next with 12%. Compared with Kansas, the county leans toward transportation, warehousing and utilities (12% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 77% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Osage County share | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | +0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.0% | +6.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.3% | -3.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -2.9 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Osage County towns compared
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Osage County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 9,979 people, so roughly 37% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $75,750 at the median in Carbondale, $56,793 in Scranton. Rent is cheapest in Carbondale ($617) and steepest in Vassar ($1,167). Live in one of these Osage County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osage City | city | 2,828 | $71,191 | $789 | 6 mi |
| Carbondale | city | 1,341 | $75,750 | $617 | 12 mi |
| Overbrook | city | 1,113 | $68,958 | $742 | 12 mi |
| Burlingame | city | 1,046 | $60,202 | $683 | 10 mi |
| Lyndon | city | 1,023 | $67,227 | $753 | 3 mi |
| Scranton | city | 911 | $56,793 | $768 | 9 mi |
| Vassar | CDP | 832 | $68,036 | $1,167 | 5 mi |
| Quenemo | city | 353 | $50,833 | $831 | 11 mi |
| Melvern | city | 352 | $55,893 | $675 | 11 mi |
| Olivet | city | 180 | $93,594 | n/a | 12 mi |
Regional comparison for Osage County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 34 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Osage County; Franklin County is highest at $77,207 and Lyon County lowest at $59,912.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osage County | - | $74,467 | $785/mo | 82% |
| Franklin County, KS | 24 mi | $77,207 | $1,042/mo | 72% |
| Shawnee County, KS | 27 mi | $67,104 | $1,000/mo | 67% |
| Lyon County, KS | 28 mi | $59,912 | $817/mo | 58% |
| Douglas County, KS | 28 mi | $69,746 | $1,099/mo | 50% |
| Coffey County, KS | 29 mi | $70,346 | $836/mo | 76% |
| Wabaunsee County, KS | 34 mi | $76,908 | $780/mo | 81% |
Osage County households compared
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 8.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Osage County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.6% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.9% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Osage County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Before borrowing in Osage County
What the Osage County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 20% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Osage County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Budget math at the Osage County median
How much room does a median Osage 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: $6,206 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $785, takes 13% of that
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,883 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Checklist for Osage County applicants
Steps that save money for Osage County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kansas.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Kansas rules that apply in Osage County
The Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner is the place to verify any lender's Kansas license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
More guides for Osage County
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Osage County household make?
About $74,467 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24).
How does Osage County rent compare with Kansas?
$785 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 26% below.
I live in a small Osage County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Osage City, Carbondale, Overbrook, Burlingame, Lyndon and 5 more.
Will a Osage County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Osage 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.