1st Advantage MortgageThe median Smith County household earns $59,135, and 7% 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
- Smith County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Smith County
- Employment and commuting in Smith County
- What it costs to live in Smith County
- How Smith County compares with nearby counties
- Smith County towns compared
- Who lives in Smith County, in numbers
- Reading the Smith County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income at Smith County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for Smith County
- Four steps for Smith County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Smith County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Smith County's population at 3,552; only 75 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 895 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Smith Center, with about 1,680 residents, or 47% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Smith County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Paychecks and income spread in Smith County
Smith County households have a median income of $59,135 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 81st of 105 in Kansas.
| Households earning | Smith County | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.8% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -4.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Smith County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 7.3%, 4 points lower than the state's 11.3%. A household earning below the $59,135 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Smith County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 20%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 20% locally and 3% for Kansas. The survey's unemployment rate for Smith County averages 0.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). About 77% drive to work alone and 4% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Smith County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.1% | -0.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 20.2% | +17.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.0% | +3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.9% | -4.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Public administration | 5.8% | +1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Smith County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $635 in Smith County versus $1,060 statewide. By the Census definition, 57% of Smith County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $94,100, or 1.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 85% of homes.
| Housing | Smith County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $635/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $94,100 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 10% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% | 4.0% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
How Smith County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Smith County's, from 29 to 41 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Smith County; Webster County is highest at $64,347 and Jewell County lowest at $52,634. Some neighbors are in Nebraska. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Smith County resident follows Kansas rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith County | - | $59,135 | $635/mo | 85% |
| Franklin County, NE | 29 mi | $60,195 | $691/mo | 83% |
| Phillips County, KS | 30 mi | $62,123 | $672/mo | 78% |
| Jewell County, KS | 30 mi | $52,634 | $608/mo | 74% |
| Osborne County, KS | 30 mi | $63,011 | $595/mo | 77% |
| Webster County, NE | 31 mi | $64,347 | $647/mo | 81% |
| Mitchell County, KS | 41 mi | $64,246 | $604/mo | 69% |
Smith County towns compared
6 Census places fall mainly inside Smith County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 2,658 residents, leaving about 25% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Center | city | 1,680 | $56,007 | $678 | 1 mi |
| Kensington | city | 652 | $54,583 | $554 | 13 mi |
| Lebanon | city | 191 | $41,250 | $575 | 12 mi |
| Gaylord | city | 70 | $57,083 | $575 | 10 mi |
| Athol | city | 65 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Cedar | city | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
Who lives in Smith County, in numbers
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.6%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Smith County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.1 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.6% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.4% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.6% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Smith County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 60.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.4% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Reading the Smith County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Smith County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 49, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Renters under pressure. When 57% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Debt-to-income at Smith County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Smith County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Smith County: $4,928
- Less median rent of $635, which is 13% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,336 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Smith County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for Smith County
Consumer lenders serving Smith County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kansas that is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Kansas: Kansas personal loans.
Four steps for Smith County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Smith County:
- Price the Smith County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Smith County-area credit union.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Smith County household make?
About $59,135 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% below the Kansas median.
How does Smith County rent compare with Kansas?
$635 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 40% below.
Should Smith County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 85% of Smith County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Smith Center?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Smith County, such as Kensington, Lebanon, Gaylord.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Smith County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.