1st Advantage MortgageScott County households have a median income of $68,839 and median rent of $685 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Scott County, KS: the basics
- Income in Scott County compared with Kansas
- How Scott County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in Scott County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Scott County
- Scott County and the counties next door
- Who lives in Scott County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Scott County
- What a median Scott County budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- Before you sign
- More guides for Scott County
- Frequently asked questions
Scott County, KS: the basics
Scott County is home to about 5,027 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 67th most populous of 105 county-level areas in Kansas. It covers 718 square miles of land, or about 7 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Scott County is not part of any metropolitan area. Scott City is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 3,800 people (76% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Scott County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Scott County compared with Kansas
The median household income in Scott County is $68,839; statewide it is $74,275, so Scott County runs 7% below Kansas as a whole. In the state ranking that is 34th of 105.
| Income band | Share in Scott County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.5% | -2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 55.4% | +13.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -6.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -4.8 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. Census counts 6.5% of Scott County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.401 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Scott County median.
How Scott County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 20%. Compared with Kansas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (20% against 3%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.7% in Scott County. About 90% drive to work alone and 4% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Scott County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | +1.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 20.0% | +17.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.8% | -5.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -3.4 pts |
| Wholesale trade | 6.4% | +4.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Rent, home values and ownership in Scott County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $685 in Scott County versus $1,060 statewide. 20% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 1% spend half or more. Home values center on $160,000, or 2.3 years of median income. Owners occupy 67% of homes.
| Scott County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $685/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $160,000 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 20% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 45% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.2% | 4.0% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Scott County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Scott County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 3,800 people, so roughly 24% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott City | city | 3,800 | $54,880 | $649 | 0 mi |
| Shallow Water | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
Scott County and the counties next door
Lane County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Kearny County, is 40 miles off. Kearny County leads the group on income ($89,135), Lane County trails ($54,526), and Scott County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott County | - | $68,839 | $685/mo | 67% |
| Lane County, KS | 24 mi | $54,526 | $590/mo | 89% |
| Wichita County, KS | 24 mi | $79,063 | $942/mo | 78% |
| Finney County, KS | 31 mi | $73,009 | $1,048/mo | 65% |
| Logan County, KS | 33 mi | $75,662 | $840/mo | 65% |
| Gove County, KS | 38 mi | $66,029 | $705/mo | 79% |
| Kearny County, KS | 40 mi | $89,135 | $1,056/mo | 72% |
Who lives in Scott County, in numbers
College graduates make up 29% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Scott County | Kansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.7% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Scott County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 74.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 12.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.0% |
| 60+ min | 2.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Scott County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Scott County borrowers.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
What a median Scott County budget can carry
Scott County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,737 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $685 uses 12%
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,782 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $685, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
Scott County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Kansas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- 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.
More guides for Scott County
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scott County a high-income county?
Its $68,839 median ranks 34th of 105 Kansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Scott County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $685 a month; 20% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Scott County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Scott City, Shallow Water.
Are Scott County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Scott 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.