1st Advantage MortgageThe median Pottawatomie County household earns $92,325, and 7% 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 Pottawatomie County
- Income in Pottawatomie County compared with Kansas
- Work, industries and travel time in Pottawatomie County
- What it costs to live in Pottawatomie County
- How Pottawatomie County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Pottawatomie County
- A Pottawatomie County household budget, worked through
- Pottawatomie County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Pottawatomie County
- Kansas rules that apply in Pottawatomie County
- Steps before you apply in Pottawatomie County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Pottawatomie County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Pottawatomie County's population at 26,204; only 21 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 841 square miles, that works out to roughly 31.2 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Manhattan, KS metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (10 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Wamego, with about 4,386 residents, or 17% of the county.
Income in Pottawatomie County compared with Kansas
At $92,325, the typical Pottawatomie County household income is 41% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 2nd of 105.
| Income band | Share in Pottawatomie County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.8% | -4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.6% | -4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.2% | +7.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.4% | +1.8 pts |
About 17% of households earn under $35,000, while 46% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 6.7%, 5 points lower than the state's 11.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.386 (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.
Work, industries and travel time in Pottawatomie County
By the Census industry count, 32% of employed Pottawatomie County residents work in education and health care and 10% in manufacturing. Compared with Kansas, the county leans toward education and health care (32% against 25%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 1.7% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Pottawatomie County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.3% | +7.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | -2.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +2.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.4% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.0% | -3.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Pottawatomie County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Pottawatomie County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $924 in Pottawatomie County versus $1,060 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 36% of renter households here. With a median value of $245,900, a typical Pottawatomie County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 82% of Pottawatomie County households own their home and 18% rent. Median construction year: 1987.
| Home costs | Pottawatomie County | Kansas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $924/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $245,900 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.1% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 9% | 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).
How Pottawatomie County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Riley County at 22 miles out to Geary County at 35. Income ranges from $59,317 in Geary County to $77,348 in Nemaha County; none of these neighbors top Pottawatomie County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pottawatomie County | - | $92,325 | $924/mo | 82% |
| Riley County, KS | 22 mi | $61,098 | $1,046/mo | 46% |
| Jackson County, KS | 29 mi | $75,215 | $814/mo | 77% |
| Marshall County, KS | 29 mi | $68,419 | $690/mo | 80% |
| Wabaunsee County, KS | 30 mi | $76,908 | $780/mo | 81% |
| Nemaha County, KS | 33 mi | $77,348 | $774/mo | 78% |
| Geary County, KS | 35 mi | $59,317 | $1,104/mo | 44% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Pottawatomie County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Pottawatomie County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 7,896 people, so roughly 70% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $100,956 at the median in St. George, $49,444 in Onaga. Rent is cheapest in Westmoreland ($796) and steepest in St. George ($1,237). This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wamego | city | 4,386 | $78,809 | $849 | 12 mi |
| St. George | city | 1,039 | $100,956 | $1,237 | 14 mi |
| Onaga | city | 727 | $49,444 | $945 | 12 mi |
| Westmoreland | city | 703 | $64,750 | $796 | 4 mi |
| Olsburg | city | 269 | $77,083 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Emmett | city | 178 | $56,250 | $913 | 16 mi |
| Belvue | city | 175 | $81,111 | $1,375 | 14 mi |
| Louisville | city | 175 | n/a | $1,100 | 9 mi |
| Havensville | city | 172 | $140,134 | $642 | 17 mi |
| Wheaton | city | 72 | $75,417 | $1,114 | 8 mi |
A Pottawatomie County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Pottawatomie County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Pottawatomie County: $7,694
- Less median rent of $924, which is 12% of it
- $2,384: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $924, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Pottawatomie County households compared
College graduates make up 38% of the adult population. 4.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Pottawatomie County | Kansas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.2% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.6% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.7% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.1% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Pottawatomie County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Pottawatomie County
A few patterns in the Pottawatomie County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Strong incomes, long terms. 46% of Pottawatomie County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Kansas rules that apply in Pottawatomie County
Consumer lenders serving Pottawatomie County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kansas that is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Kansas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Pottawatomie County
Steps that save money for Pottawatomie County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Pottawatomie County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Pottawatomie County earn?
The median is $92,325; 46% earn $100,000 or more and 17% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Pottawatomie County?
$924 a month at the median, about 12% of median household income.
Should Pottawatomie County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of Pottawatomie County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Pottawatomie County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Wamego, St. George, Onaga, Westmoreland, Olsburg.
Is the fit check different in Pottawatomie County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.