1st Advantage MortgageThe median Rawlins County household earns $67,742, 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
- Rawlins County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Rawlins County
- How much Rawlins County households make
- Employment and commuting in Rawlins County
- Counties near Rawlins County
- Towns and communities in Rawlins County
- Budget math at the Rawlins County median
- People and households in Rawlins County
- Local borrowing considerations for Rawlins County
- Lender oversight for Rawlins County
- Four steps for Rawlins County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Rawlins County at a glance
Roughly 2,516 residents live in Rawlins County, Kansas, 92nd by population among the state's 105 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 1,069 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Rawlins County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Atwood is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 1,320 people (52% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Rawlins County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Renting and owning in Rawlins County
A typical Rawlins County rental runs $817 a month including utilities, which is 23% below Kansas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 20% of renter households here. With a median value of $103,800, a typical Rawlins County house costs 1.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 71%. Median construction year: 1956.
| Rawlins County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $817/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $103,800 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 20% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.8% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 9% | n/a |
How much Rawlins County households make
The median household income in Rawlins County is $67,742; statewide it is $74,275, so Rawlins County runs 9% below Kansas as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Rawlins County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.8% | +1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 56.0% | +13.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.3% | -7.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.9% | -7.7 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. Census counts 6.8% of Rawlins County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. None of these numbers decides a Rawlins County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Rawlins County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Rawlins County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 18% in education and health care. Compared with Kansas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (22% against 3%). The survey's unemployment rate for Rawlins County averages 1.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home.
| Top industries | Rawlins County share | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 22.5% | +19.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.1% | -6.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | +0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Other services | 6.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -3.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Counties near Rawlins County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (27 to 42 miles). Income ranges from $51,567 in Hitchcock County to $71,325 in Thomas County; 1 of these neighbors top Rawlins County's median. Some neighbors are in Nebraska. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Rawlins County resident follows Kansas rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rawlins County | - | $67,742 | $817/mo | 71% |
| Hitchcock County, NE | 27 mi | $51,567 | $714/mo | 79% |
| Thomas County, KS | 30 mi | $71,325 | $752/mo | 75% |
| Decatur County, KS | 33 mi | $53,870 | $676/mo | 78% |
| Cheyenne County, KS | 35 mi | $55,429 | $656/mo | 78% |
| Red Willow County, NE | 42 mi | $63,697 | $819/mo | 73% |
| Dundy County, NE | 42 mi | $58,922 | $656/mo | 74% |
Towns and communities in Rawlins County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Rawlins County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 1,742 residents, leaving about 31% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Rawlins County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atwood | city | 1,320 | $72,188 | $806 | 2 mi |
| McDonald | city | 249 | $90,764 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Herndon | city | 159 | $65,000 | $375 | 18 mi |
| Ludell | CDP | 14 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Budget math at the Rawlins County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Rawlins County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $67,742 a year is $5,645 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $817, which is 14% of it
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,441 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Rawlins County
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Rawlins County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.0% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.8% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.1% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.8% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.3% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 68.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Rawlins County
A few patterns in the Rawlins County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.5, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Lender oversight for Rawlins County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Rawlins County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Kansas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Rawlins County borrowers
Quick steps for Rawlins 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.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Rawlins County earn?
The median is $67,742; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Rawlins County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $817 a month; 20% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Rawlins County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Atwood, McDonald, Herndon, Ludell.
Can Rawlins 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Rawlins 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.