1st Advantage MortgageThe median Thomas County household earns $71,325, and 6% 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
- Thomas County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Thomas County
- Paychecks and income spread in Thomas County
- How Thomas County residents earn a living
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Thomas County
- More Thomas County figures
- Reading the Thomas County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Thomas County
- Lender oversight for Thomas County
- Steps before you apply in Thomas County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Thomas County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Thomas County's population at 7,885; only 47 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 1,075 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 7 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Thomas County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Thomas County, Colby leads by population with about 5,387; 6 of the 7 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Thomas County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Renting and owning in Thomas County
Renters in Thomas County pay a median of $752 a month, 29% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 59% of renter households here. With a median value of $172,700, a typical Thomas County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 75%. Half the housing stock was built before 1967.
| Thomas County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $752/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $172,700 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.3% | 4.0% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Thomas County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Paychecks and income spread in Thomas County
Half of Thomas County households take in less than $71,325 a year and half take in more, 4% below the Kansas median of $74,275. Only 26 Kansas counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Thomas County | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.7% | +3.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.4% | +1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.0% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.0% | -1.6 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. 6.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.448 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Thomas County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 30% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 11% locally and 3% for Kansas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 0.6% in Thomas County. Long commutes are the exception here: 4% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Thomas County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.8% | +4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.0% | +3.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.7% | +7.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -3.0 pts |
| Other services | 6.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.9% | -1.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 30 to 44 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Logan County leads the group on income ($75,662), Decatur County trails ($53,870), and Thomas County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas County | - | $71,325 | $752/mo | 75% |
| Rawlins County, KS | 30 mi | $67,742 | $817/mo | 71% |
| Logan County, KS | 31 mi | $75,662 | $840/mo | 65% |
| Sherman County, KS | 34 mi | $61,750 | $913/mo | 66% |
| Sheridan County, KS | 34 mi | $73,750 | $689/mo | 77% |
| Gove County, KS | 44 mi | $66,029 | $705/mo | 79% |
| Decatur County, KS | 44 mi | $53,870 | $676/mo | 78% |
The communities that make up Thomas County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Thomas County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 8,186 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colby | city | 5,387 | $63,494 | $750 | 3 mi |
| Oakley | city | 2,009 | $77,065 | $793 | 21 mi |
| Brewster | city | 459 | $63,816 | $775 | 16 mi |
| Rexford | city | 146 | $85,769 | $950 | 20 mi |
| Gem | city | 98 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Levant | CDP | 63 | $55,652 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Menlo | city | 24 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
More Thomas County figures
35% of Thomas County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.4%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Indicator | Thomas County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.6% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.7% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.4% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.6% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Thomas County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 72.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 3.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.7% |
| 60+ min | 2.5% |
Reading the Thomas County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Thomas County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 10% of Thomas County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- 59% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Thomas County borrower sees (free reports).
Room for a loan payment in Thomas County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Thomas County's medians:
- Start: $5,944 gross per month ($71,325 / 12)
- Median rent: $752, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,388: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $2,556 total minus rent leaves $1,804
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Lender oversight for Thomas County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Thomas County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Kansas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Thomas County
Steps that save money for Thomas County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Thomas County?
$71,325 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,275 for Kansas. It ranks 27th of 105 in the state.
What do renters pay in Thomas County?
$752 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
Does this page cover Colby?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Thomas County, such as Oakley, Brewster, Rexford.
Will a Thomas County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Thomas County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kansas it is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner.