1st Advantage MortgagePawnee County households have a median income of $63,517 and median rent of $795 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Kansas before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Pawnee County
- What Pawnee County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Pawnee County
- Housing costs in Pawnee County
- Pawnee County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Pawnee County
- What a median Pawnee County budget can carry
- Pawnee County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Pawnee County
- Licensing and complaints for Pawnee County
- A Pawnee County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Pawnee County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Pawnee County's population at 6,144; only 55 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 754 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 8 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Larned, with about 3,423 residents, or 56% of the county. Because Pawnee County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What Pawnee County households earn
Pawnee County households have a median income of $63,517 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 58th of 105 in Kansas.
| Household income | Pawnee County | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.6% | +3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.9% | -6.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.3% | +0.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Pawnee County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 11.5%, the same as the state's 11.3%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.466 here. A household earning below the $63,517 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Pawnee County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Pawnee County residents work in education and health care and 14% in agriculture, forestry and mining. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 14% locally and 3% for Kansas. The survey's unemployment rate for Pawnee County averages 1.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). About 71% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.1% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Top industries | Pawnee County share | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% | +0.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.4% | +11.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.2% | +2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.7% | -4.7 pts |
| Public administration | 7.6% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.2% | -3.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Housing costs in Pawnee County
Renters in Pawnee County pay a median of $795 a month, 25% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. By the Census definition, 41% of Pawnee County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $93,000, a typical Pawnee County house costs 1.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 66% of Pawnee County households own their home and 34% rent. The median home was built in 1956, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Pawnee County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $795/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $93,000 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.4% | 4.0% | n/a |
Pawnee County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 21 to 42 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Pawnee County; Ness County is highest at $68,616 and Edwards County lowest at $52,692.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pawnee County | - | $63,517 | $795/mo | 66% |
| Edwards County, KS | 21 mi | $52,692 | $740/mo | 79% |
| Rush County, KS | 24 mi | $59,970 | $711/mo | 78% |
| Stafford County, KS | 30 mi | $64,226 | $710/mo | 82% |
| Barton County, KS | 33 mi | $58,851 | $761/mo | 65% |
| Hodgeman County, KS | 37 mi | $59,955 | $941/mo | 79% |
| Ness County, KS | 42 mi | $68,616 | $538/mo | 82% |
Places inside Pawnee County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 64% of Pawnee County residents live in one of the 4. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larned | city | 3,423 | $55,648 | $764 | 7 mi |
| Burdett | city | 329 | $45,313 | $1,319 | 16 mi |
| Garfield | city | 126 | $47,083 | $625 | 7 mi |
| Rozel | city | 66 | $52,500 | n/a | 9 mi |
What a median Pawnee County budget can carry
Pawnee County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $63,517 a year is $5,293 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $795, takes 15% of that
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,481 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Pawnee County's.
Pawnee County households compared
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Pawnee County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.0% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.9% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.2% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 59.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Pawnee County
Based on the Pawnee County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Pawnee County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.1, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Consolidating cards in Pawnee County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Licensing and complaints for Pawnee County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Pawnee County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
A Pawnee County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Pawnee County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kansas.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pawnee County a high-income county?
Its $63,517 median ranks 58th of 105 Kansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Pawnee County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $795 against $1,060 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Larned?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Pawnee County, such as Burdett, Garfield, Rozel.
Does living in Pawnee County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Pawnee County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Pawnee County?
Start with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.