1st Advantage MortgageWabaunsee County households have a median income of $76,908 and median rent of $780 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Wabaunsee County by the numbers
- What Wabaunsee County households earn
- What it costs to live in Wabaunsee County
- Jobs and commutes in Wabaunsee County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Wabaunsee County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Wabaunsee County
- Before borrowing in Wabaunsee County
- People and households in Wabaunsee County
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Wabaunsee County by the numbers
Wabaunsee County is home to about 7,009 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 53rd most populous of 105 county-level areas in Kansas. Land area is 794 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 9 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Topeka, KS metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (8 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is St. Marys, with about 2,788 residents, or 40% of the county. Because Wabaunsee County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What Wabaunsee County households earn
Half of Wabaunsee County households take in less than $76,908 a year and half take in more, 4% above the Kansas median of $74,275.
| Band | Wabaunsee County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.0% | -7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.3% | +6.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.8% | +2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.9% | -0.7 pts |
About 14% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.5%, 3 points lower than the state's 11.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.385 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Wabaunsee County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Wabaunsee County
A typical Wabaunsee County rental runs $780 a month including utilities, which is 26% below Kansas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 34% of renter households here. Home values center on $177,300, or 2.3 years of median income. Owners occupy 81% of homes.
| Cost | Wabaunsee County | Kansas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $780/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $177,300 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.5% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 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).
Jobs and commutes in Wabaunsee County
The biggest employer of Wabaunsee County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (12%). Compared with Kansas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (10% against 3%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.4% in Wabaunsee County. About 74% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 2.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Wabaunsee County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.1% | +1.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.0% | +6.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +2.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.3% | +2.6 pts |
| Other services | 6.6% | +2.2 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Wabaunsee County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 90% of Wabaunsee County residents live in one of the 10. Incomes vary by place: $101,875 at the median in Maple Hill, $71,875 in Alma. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Marys | city | 2,788 | $76,771 | $892 | 18 mi |
| Alma | city | 1,063 | $71,875 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Maple Hill | city | 772 | $101,875 | $821 | 13 mi |
| Alta Vista | city | 443 | $51,250 | $983 | 17 mi |
| Eskridge | city | 419 | $41,389 | $625 | 8 mi |
| McFarland | city | 363 | $59,500 | $1,614 | 7 mi |
| Paxico | city | 166 | $68,438 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Harveyville | city | 136 | $67,917 | $769 | 17 mi |
| Wabaunsee | CDP | 76 | $74,886 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Newbury | CDP | 50 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 25 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Wabaunsee County; Pottawatomie County is highest at $92,325 and Morris County lowest at $58,686.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wabaunsee County | - | $76,908 | $780/mo | 81% |
| Shawnee County, KS | 25 mi | $67,104 | $1,000/mo | 67% |
| Pottawatomie County, KS | 30 mi | $92,325 | $924/mo | 82% |
| Morris County, KS | 30 mi | $58,686 | $724/mo | 80% |
| Geary County, KS | 31 mi | $59,317 | $1,104/mo | 44% |
| Osage County, KS | 34 mi | $74,467 | $785/mo | 82% |
| Lyon County, KS | 35 mi | $59,912 | $817/mo | 58% |
Room for a loan payment in Wabaunsee County
Here is the Wabaunsee County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,409 a month: gross income for a household at the Wabaunsee County median
- Housing at the median rent of $780 uses 12%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,463 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $2,104 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Wabaunsee County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Wabaunsee County
What the Wabaunsee County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 13% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Vehicle repairs. 18% of Wabaunsee County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Consolidating cards in Wabaunsee County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
People and households in Wabaunsee County
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Wabaunsee County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.0% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.8% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.6% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Wabaunsee County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.6% |
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Wabaunsee County:
- Price the Wabaunsee County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Wabaunsee County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
The Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner is the place to verify any lender's Kansas license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Kansas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Wabaunsee County earn?
The median is $76,908; 38% earn $100,000 or more and 14% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Wabaunsee County?
$780 a month at the median, about 12% of median household income.
I own my home in Wabaunsee County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 81% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Wabaunsee County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers St. Marys, Alma, Maple Hill, Alta Vista, Eskridge and 5 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Wabaunsee County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.