1st Advantage MortgageThe median Trego County household earns $81,528, and 6% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Kansas license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Trego County
- Income in Trego County compared with Kansas
- Housing costs in Trego County
- The Trego County job picture
- Regional comparison for Trego County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Trego County
- A Trego County household budget, worked through
- More Trego County figures
- Reading the Trego County data as a borrower
- Who licenses lenders for Trego County residents
- Four steps for Trego County borrowers
- More guides for Trego County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Trego County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Trego County's population at 2,777; only 84 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 889 square miles, that works out to roughly 3.1 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Trego County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 3 Census places inside Trego County, WaKeeney leads by population with about 1,852; 2 of the 3 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Trego County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Trego County compared with Kansas
Trego County households have a median income of $81,528 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 7th of 105 in Kansas.
| Income band | Share in Trego County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.6% | -5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 53.8% | +11.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.2% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.3% | -2.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Trego County households make $100,000 or more, and 17% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 5.5%, 6 points lower than the state's 11.3%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.410 here. For a borrower in Trego 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 Trego County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $720 in Trego County versus $1,060 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 36% of renter households here. With a median value of $120,900, a typical Trego County house costs 1.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 82% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1963.
| Trego County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $720/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $120,900 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.8% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Trego 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.
The Trego County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 18%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 3% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.0% in Trego County. About 74% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 2.6% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Trego County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | -2.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 17.8% | +14.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.9% | -3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -2.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -3.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Regional comparison for Trego County
Ellis County is closest, 29 miles from center to center; the sixth, Rooks County, is 41 miles off. None of the six report a higher median household income than Trego County; Ness County is highest at $68,616 and Graham County lowest at $50,650.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trego County | - | $81,528 | $720/mo | 82% |
| Ellis County, KS | 29 mi | $63,084 | $943/mo | 63% |
| Graham County, KS | 30 mi | $50,650 | $734/mo | 79% |
| Ness County, KS | 31 mi | $68,616 | $538/mo | 82% |
| Gove County, KS | 33 mi | $66,029 | $705/mo | 79% |
| Rush County, KS | 41 mi | $59,970 | $711/mo | 78% |
| Rooks County, KS | 41 mi | $62,500 | $676/mo | 74% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Trego County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 69% of Trego County residents live in one of the 3. Live in one of these Trego County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WaKeeney | city | 1,852 | $68,438 | $756 | 7 mi |
| Collyer | city | 69 | $76,667 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Ogallah | CDP | 8 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
A Trego County household budget, worked through
Here is the Trego County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Trego County: $6,794
- Median rent: $720, or 11 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 43% cap, $2,921 total minus rent leaves $2,201
If your rent is above $720, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Trego County figures
Degree holders: 30% of adults over 25. 4.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Trego County | Kansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.0 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.1% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.7% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.3% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.6% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.0% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 17.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.8% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Reading the Trego County data as a borrower
Where the Trego County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Fixed incomes. Trego County's median age is 48.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Who licenses lenders for Trego County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Trego County borrowers answers to 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.
Four steps for Trego County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Trego County:
- Price the Trego County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Trego County
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Trego County earn?
The median is $81,528; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 17% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Trego County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $720 a month; 36% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Trego County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: WaKeeney, Collyer, Ogallah.
Does living in Trego County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Trego County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Trego County?
Start with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.