1st Advantage MortgageIn Osborne County, Kansas, the typical household earns $63,011 a year and the typical rent is $595. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Osborne County
- Housing costs in Osborne County
- What Osborne County households earn
- The Osborne County job picture
- Osborne County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Osborne County
- What a median Osborne County budget can carry
- Reading the Osborne County data as a borrower
- Osborne County households compared
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- Four steps for Osborne County borrowers
- More guides for Osborne County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Osborne County
Osborne County is home to about 3,452 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 77th most populous of 105 county-level areas in Kansas. Spread over 893 square miles, that works out to roughly 3.9 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Osborne County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Osborne, with about 1,358 residents, or 39% of the county. With so few households sampled, Osborne County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Housing costs in Osborne County
A typical Osborne County rental runs $595 a month including utilities, which is 44% below Kansas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 19% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $86,400, about 1.4 times the median household income. 77% of Osborne County households own their home and 23% rent. The median home was built in 1952, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Osborne County | Kansas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $595/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $86,400 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 19% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.7% | 4.0% | 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).
What Osborne County households earn
Osborne County households have a median income of $63,011 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 62nd of 105 in Kansas.
| Yearly household income | Osborne County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.6% | +3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.3% | +7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.0% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.0% | -6.5 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. 8.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.410 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Osborne County job picture
The biggest employer of Osborne County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (19%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 19% locally and 3% for Kansas. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Only 2.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Osborne County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.3% | +2.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 19.0% | +15.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.2% | -3.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 4.7% | -0.9 pts |
| Wholesale trade | 4.4% | +2.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Osborne County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Osborne County's, from 30 to 41 miles away. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Osborne County; Mitchell County is highest at $64,246 and Jewell County lowest at $52,634.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osborne County | - | $63,011 | $595/mo | 77% |
| Rooks County, KS | 30 mi | $62,500 | $676/mo | 74% |
| Russell County, KS | 30 mi | $62,392 | $805/mo | 75% |
| Mitchell County, KS | 30 mi | $64,246 | $604/mo | 69% |
| Smith County, KS | 30 mi | $59,135 | $635/mo | 85% |
| Lincoln County, KS | 36 mi | $57,500 | $634/mo | 80% |
| Jewell County, KS | 41 mi | $52,634 | $608/mo | 74% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Osborne County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Osborne County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 2,725 people, so roughly 21% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osborne | city | 1,358 | $51,776 | $579 | 7 mi |
| Downs | city | 749 | $62,333 | $582 | 16 mi |
| Natoma | city | 427 | $58,438 | $667 | 18 mi |
| Alton | city | 121 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Portis | city | 70 | $88,125 | n/a | 15 mi |
What a median Osborne County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Osborne County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Osborne County: $5,251
- Housing at the median rent of $595 uses 11%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,243 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,768: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $595, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Osborne County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Osborne County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Osborne County households compared
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.3%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Measure | Osborne County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.8% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.3% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.4% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.6% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 74.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 14.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Osborne County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
Four steps for Osborne County borrowers
Quick steps for Osborne County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Osborne County
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Osborne County household make?
About $63,011 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% below the Kansas median.
How much is rent in Osborne County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $595 a month; 19% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Osborne?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Osborne County, such as Downs, Natoma, Alton.
Can Osborne 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.
Where can someone in Osborne County check a lender's license?
With the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.