1st Advantage MortgageRush County households have a median income of $59,970 and median rent of $711 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Rush County
- What it costs to live in Rush County
- What Rush County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Rush County
- How Rush County compares with nearby counties
- Rush County towns compared
- A Rush County household budget, worked through
- Rush County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Rush County data as a borrower
- Who licenses lenders for Rush County residents
- Checklist for Rush County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Rush County
Roughly 2,947 residents live in Rush County, Kansas, 80th by population among the state's 105 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 718 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Rush County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (8 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is La Crosse, with about 1,154 residents, or 39% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Rush County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What it costs to live in Rush County
Renters in Rush County pay a median of $711 a month, 33% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. Home values center on $83,600, or 1.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 78%.
| Rush County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $711/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $83,600 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 13% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.6% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Rush County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
What Rush County households earn
The median household income in Rush County is $59,970; statewide it is $74,275, so Rush County runs 19% below Kansas as a whole. In the state ranking that is 75th of 105.
| Household income | Rush County | vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.7% | +9.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.7% | -12.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.4% | -1.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 22% of Rush County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. Census counts 11.1% of Rush County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. A household earning below the $59,970 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 Rush County
The biggest employer of Rush County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (12%). Compared with Kansas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (12% against 3%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Rush County. About 80% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 3.6% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Top industries | Rush County share | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.4% | +9.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.1% | -1.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.7% | +5.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Other services | 6.9% | +2.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Rush County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Rush County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Rush County's, from 24 to 41 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Rush County; Trego County is highest at $81,528 and Barton County lowest at $58,851.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rush County | - | $59,970 | $711/mo | 78% |
| Pawnee County, KS | 24 mi | $63,517 | $795/mo | 66% |
| Ellis County, KS | 27 mi | $63,084 | $943/mo | 63% |
| Barton County, KS | 29 mi | $58,851 | $761/mo | 65% |
| Ness County, KS | 33 mi | $68,616 | $538/mo | 82% |
| Russell County, KS | 40 mi | $62,392 | $805/mo | 75% |
| Trego County, KS | 41 mi | $81,528 | $720/mo | 82% |
Rush County towns compared
8 Census places fall mainly inside Rush County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 2,234 residents, leaving about 24% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Rush County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | city | 1,154 | $53,750 | $725 | 1 mi |
| Otis | city | 413 | $63,194 | $900 | 14 mi |
| McCracken | city | 200 | $38,281 | $539 | 15 mi |
| Rush Center | city | 179 | $70,750 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Bison | city | 141 | $65,822 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Liebenthal | city | 87 | $51,250 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Timken | city | 36 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Alexander | city | 24 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
A Rush County household budget, worked through
Rush County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $59,970 a year is $4,998 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $711, which is 14% of it
- $1,088: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,438 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Rush County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.2%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Measure | Rush County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.2% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.0% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Rush County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 17.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
Reading the Rush County data as a borrower
Based on the Rush County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Older households. A 45.2 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Who licenses lenders for Rush County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Rush County resident can confirm its license with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
Checklist for Rush County applicants
Steps that save money for Rush 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.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kansas borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Rush County household make?
About $59,970 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 19% below the Kansas median.
How does Rush County rent compare with Kansas?
$711 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 33% below.
Does this page cover La Crosse?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Rush County, such as Otis, McCracken, Rush Center.
Will a Rush County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Rush 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.