1st Advantage MortgageSherman County (5,858 residents) has a $61,750 median household income and $913 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. For a Sherman County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Kansas license.
On this page
- A quick profile of Sherman County
- Sherman County against other Kansas counties
- Employment and commuting in Sherman County
- Income in Sherman County compared with Kansas
- Housing costs in Sherman County
- The communities that make up Sherman County
- Sherman County, Wallace County and other neighbors
- Before borrowing in Sherman County
- Room for a loan payment in Sherman County
- People and households in Sherman County
- Checklist for Sherman County applicants
- Lender oversight for Sherman County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Sherman County
With an estimated 5,858 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Sherman County ranks 58th of 105 in Kansas for population. It covers 1,056 square miles of land, or about 6 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Sherman County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 3 Census places inside Sherman County, Goodland leads by population with about 4,121; 2 of the 3 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Sherman County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Sherman County against other Kansas counties
Where Sherman County lands at the extremes of Kansas's county rankings:
- On the share of commutes over 45 minutes, Sherman County sits near the bottom of Kansas at 4%, 4th lowest of 105. Less driving means fewer surprise repair bills.
- Sherman County ranks 5th highest of 105 Kansas counties for the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 51%, against 43% statewide. Rent pressure leaves little room; stress-test any payment.
- Sherman County ranks 5th lowest of 105 Kansas counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 0.6%, against 3.9% statewide. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
Employment and commuting in Sherman County
Education and health care (17%), retail trade (15%) and agriculture, forestry and mining (11%) lead Sherman County's job mix. Relative to Kansas (3%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 8 points bigger in Sherman County (11%). Unemployment in Sherman County, ACS five-year: 0.6%; Kansas: 3.9%. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 4%; under 15 minutes: 64%. Households without a car make up 3.4% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Sherman County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.2% | -7.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.3% | +4.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.6% | +7.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.4% | +4.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.9% | -2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +2.1 pts |
Self-employed in Sherman County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Income in Sherman County compared with Kansas
Sherman County households have a median income of $61,750 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 68th of 105 in Kansas.
| Band | Sherman County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.1% | +4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.5% | -7.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.5% | -1.0 pts |
26% under $35,000 and 27% at $100,000 or more: that is the Sherman County income split. Census counts 10.2% of Sherman County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. For a borrower in Sherman County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Housing costs in Sherman County
Renters in Sherman County pay a median of $913 a month, 14% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $136,700, about 2.2 times the median household income. Homeowners 66%, renters 34%. Half the housing stock was built before 1967.
| Measure | Sherman County | Kansas | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 43% | +7.5 pts |
| Vacant units | 17% | 9% | +7.3 pts |
| Median home value | $136,700 | $217,200 | 37% lower |
| Owners | 66% | 67% | -1.6 pts |
| Median gross rent | $913/mo | $1,060/mo | 14% lower |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | -1.0 pts |
| Mobile homes | 4.9% | 4.0% | +0.9 pts |
With rent burdens at 51%, keep any Sherman County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
The communities that make up Sherman County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Sherman County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 4,279 people, so roughly 27% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Sherman County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodland | city | 4,121 | $52,258 | $910 | 0 mi |
| Kanorado | city | 153 | $97,500 | $954 | 17 mi |
| Edson | CDP | 5 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Sherman County, Wallace County and other neighbors
Six nearby counties, 29 to 47 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Sherman County; Logan County is highest at $75,662 and Cheyenne County lowest at $55,429. The list crosses into Colorado, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherman County | - | $61,750 | $913/mo | 66% |
| Wallace County, KS | 29 mi | $63,207 | $601/mo | 75% |
| Cheyenne County, KS | 30 mi | $55,429 | $656/mo | 78% |
| Thomas County, KS | 34 mi | $71,325 | $752/mo | 75% |
| Logan County, KS | 43 mi | $75,662 | $840/mo | 65% |
| Rawlins County, KS | 46 mi | $67,742 | $817/mo | 71% |
| Kit Carson County, CO | 47 mi | $70,259 | $973/mo | 73% |
Before borrowing in Sherman County
What the Sherman County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Sherman County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Room for a loan payment in Sherman County
Sherman County's $61,750 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,146 before taxes
- Less median rent of $913, which is 18% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $939 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 43% cap, $2,213 total minus rent leaves $1,300
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Sherman County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
People and households in Sherman County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24% of Sherman County adults. Uninsured, Sherman County: 10.9%; Kansas: 8.8%.
| People and households | Sherman County | Compared with Kansas | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.1% | -11.5 pts | +1.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.6% | -3.3 pts | -3.8 pts |
| Work from home | 14.5% | +2.7 pts | +5.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 10.9% | +2.1 pts | +3.1 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | -1.7 pts | -2.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.4% | +1.4 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 38.5 | +1.1 yrs | -3.0 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | -1.1 pts | -3.0 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 64.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.3% |
Checklist for Sherman County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Sherman County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kansas.
- Ask a Sherman County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Sherman County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Sherman County, check the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Kansas page has statewide figures to set beside Sherman County's.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Sherman County rank on income in Kansas?
68th of 105, with a median of $61,750. The state median is $74,275.
How much is rent in Sherman County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $913 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live near Goodland. Which guide is mine?
This one. Goodland and the rest of Sherman County have no separate city guide.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Sherman County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.
Is there a Sherman County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kansas it is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner.