1st Advantage MortgageThe median Stafford County household earns $64,226, and 10% 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
- Getting oriented in Stafford County
- The Stafford County job picture
- Income in Stafford County compared with Kansas
- Rent, home values and ownership in Stafford County
- Stafford County towns compared
- Stafford County next to its neighbors
- People and households in Stafford County
- Local borrowing considerations for Stafford County
- A Stafford County household budget, worked through
- Licensing and complaints for Stafford County
- Steps before you apply in Stafford County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Stafford County
With an estimated 3,978 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Stafford County ranks 72nd of 105 in Kansas for population. Spread over 792 square miles, that works out to roughly 5.0 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Stafford County is not part of any metropolitan area. St. John is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 1,172 people (29% of the county total). Because Stafford County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
The Stafford County job picture
By the Census industry count, 29% of employed Stafford County residents work in education and health care and 18% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 3% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.5% in Stafford County. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 2.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Stafford County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.4% | +4.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 17.5% | +14.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -1.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.1% | -1.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.0% | -0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Income in Stafford County compared with Kansas
The median household income in Stafford County is $64,226; statewide it is $74,275, so Stafford County runs 14% below Kansas as a whole. That places it 52nd among Kansas's 105 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Stafford County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.4% | +2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.9% | +5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.2% | -5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -3.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Stafford County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. Census counts 10.5% of Stafford County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. None of these numbers decides a Stafford County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Stafford County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $710 in Stafford County versus $1,060 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. Home values center on $97,600, or 1.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 82%. Median construction year: 1951.
| Stafford County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $710/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $97,600 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 25% | 9% | 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).
Stafford County towns compared
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Stafford County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 2,834 people, so roughly 29% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $42,266 in Stafford to $73,929 in St. John. Rent is cheapest in Macksville ($594) and steepest in St. John ($806). Live in one of these Stafford County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John | city | 1,172 | $73,929 | $806 | 3 mi |
| Stafford | city | 809 | $42,266 | $735 | 8 mi |
| Macksville | city | 651 | $55,742 | $594 | 15 mi |
| Hudson | city | 106 | $62,500 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Seward | city | 80 | $53,239 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Radium | city | 16 | $56,250 | n/a | 13 mi |
Stafford County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Pratt County at 27 miles out to Reno County at 35. Pratt County leads the group on income ($66,022), Edwards County trails ($52,692), and Stafford County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford County | - | $64,226 | $710/mo | 82% |
| Pratt County, KS | 27 mi | $66,022 | $802/mo | 73% |
| Pawnee County, KS | 30 mi | $63,517 | $795/mo | 66% |
| Barton County, KS | 31 mi | $58,851 | $761/mo | 65% |
| Edwards County, KS | 34 mi | $52,692 | $740/mo | 79% |
| Rice County, KS | 35 mi | $63,925 | $753/mo | 77% |
| Reno County, KS | 35 mi | $60,645 | $863/mo | 69% |
People and households in Stafford County
College graduates make up 27% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 6.9%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Measure | Stafford County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.1% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.0% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.9% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.5% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Stafford County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Stafford County borrowers.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
A Stafford County household budget, worked through
Here is the Stafford County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,352 gross per month ($64,226 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $710 uses 13%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,431 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $710, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Licensing and complaints for Stafford County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Stafford County, check the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
Steps before you apply in Stafford County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Stafford County?
$64,226 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,275 for Kansas. It ranks 52nd of 105 in the state.
What do renters pay in Stafford County?
$710 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
I own my home in Stafford County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 82% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Stafford County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers St. John, Stafford, Macksville, Hudson, Seward and 1 more.
Is the fit check different in Stafford County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.