1st Advantage MortgageThe median Seward County household earns $63,827, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- 21,486 residents: Seward County basics
- Seward County industries and commutes
- Where Seward County households live
- The $63,827 median and what sits around it
- Seward County at the extremes
- Seward County towns compared
- Seward County next to its neighbors
- Age, degrees and coverage in Seward County
- Reading the Seward County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Seward County
- A Seward County borrower's checklist
- Kansas lender licensing
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
21,486 residents: Seward County basics
With an estimated 21,486 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Seward County ranks 26th of 105 in Kansas for population. It covers 640 square miles of land, or about 34 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Liberal is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 19,316 people (90% of the county total).
Seward County industries and commutes
Top Seward County industry by residents employed: manufacturing, 27%; second, education and health care, 19%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 27% locally and 12% for Kansas. Unemployment in Seward County, ACS five-year: 4.9%; Kansas: 3.9%. 68% of Seward County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 6% need 45 or more. Households without a car make up 9.6% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Seward County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 27.4% | +15.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -5.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.9% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.1% | -2.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Where Seward County households live
Half of Seward County renters pay more than $905 a month and half pay less; the Kansas midpoint is $1,060. 33% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 13% spend half or more. Home values center on $136,500, or 2.1 years of median income. 62% of Seward County households own their home and 38% rent.
| Housing | Seward County | Kansas statewide | Seward County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 43% | -10.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 22% | +6.6 pts |
| Owners | 62% | 67% | -5.3 pts |
| Median home value | $136,500 | $217,200 | 37% lower |
| Vacant units | 13% | 9% | +3.4 pts |
| Median gross rent | $905/mo | $1,060/mo | 15% lower |
The $63,827 median and what sits around it
Seward County households have a median income of $63,827 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 56th of 105 in Kansas.
| Income band | Share in Seward County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.3% | +0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.0% | +7.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -5.1 pts |
On the low end, 22% of Seward County households report under $35,000; at the top, 28% report $100,000-plus. Seward County counts about 2,624 residents below the poverty line, 12.2% of the population. 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 Seward County median.
Seward County at the extremes
Where Seward County lands at the extremes of Kansas's county rankings:
- On median age, Seward County sits near the bottom of Kansas at 31.0, 3rd lowest of 105. A young county means many first-time borrowers; read every fee line.
- On households without a vehicle, Seward County sits near the top of Kansas at 9.6%, the highest of 105. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
- On the share of adults with a bachelor's degree, Seward County sits near the bottom of Kansas at 11%, the lowest of 105. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
Seward County towns compared
2 Census places fall mainly inside Seward County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 19,730 residents, leaving about 8% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | city | 19,316 | $63,706 | $900 | 10 mi |
| Kismet | city | 414 | $60,197 | $932 | 9 mi |
Seward County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 45 miles). Seward County's $63,827 median trails 6 of the six and beats 0; the range runs $64,178 (Stevens County) to $79,122 (Gray County). Some neighbors are in Oklahoma. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Seward County resident follows Kansas rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seward County | - | $63,827 | $905/mo | 62% |
| Stevens County, KS | 25 mi | $64,178 | $927/mo | 74% |
| Haskell County, KS | 26 mi | $66,162 | $830/mo | 76% |
| Meade County, KS | 28 mi | $71,852 | $790/mo | 74% |
| Grant County, KS | 35 mi | $66,476 | $718/mo | 77% |
| Beaver County, OK | 36 mi | $64,276 | $790/mo | 81% |
| Gray County, KS | 45 mi | $79,122 | $808/mo | 77% |
Age, degrees and coverage in Seward County
11% of Seward County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 12.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Seward County | Gap to Kansas | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.4% | -24.2 pts | -10.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 28.1% | +20.1 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 3.4% | -8.4 pts | -5.3 pts |
| Median age | 31.0 | -6.4 yrs | -10.5 yrs |
| No vehicle | 9.6% | +4.5 pts | +4.2 pts |
| No health insurance | 12.5% | +3.7 pts | +4.7 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | +1.0 pts | +0.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | +0.9 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Commute length | Seward County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 68.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.7% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Reading the Seward County data as a borrower
Based on the Seward County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Room for a loan payment in Seward County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Seward County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Seward County: $5,319
- Rent at the median, $905, takes 17% of that
- $1,223: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $905, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
A Seward County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Seward County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Kansas lender licensing
Consumer lenders serving Seward County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kansas that is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Kansas state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Seward County household make?
About $63,827 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 14% below the Kansas median.
What is the median rent in Seward County, KS?
$905 a month, utilities included, or $10,860 a year.
Which towns does the Seward County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Liberal, Kismet.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Seward County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Seward County?
Look it up with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.