1st Advantage MortgageIn Wallace County, Kansas, the typical household earns $63,207 a year and the typical rent is $601. 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
- Wallace County, KS: the basics
- What Wallace County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Wallace County
- Housing costs in Wallace County
- Places inside Wallace County
- How Wallace County compares with nearby counties
- Budget math at the Wallace County median
- People and households in Wallace County
- Reading the Wallace County data as a borrower
- Who licenses lenders for Wallace County residents
- A Wallace County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Wallace County
- Frequently asked questions
Wallace County, KS: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Wallace County's population at 1,417; only 103 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. It covers 914 square miles of land, or about 2 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Wallace County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (2 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Sharon Springs, with about 817 residents, or 58% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Wallace County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What Wallace County households earn
Wallace County households have a median income of $63,207 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 59th of 105 in Kansas.
| Band | Wallace County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.9% | +3.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.5% | -1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -4.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Wallace County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. 12.3% 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Wallace County
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 23%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 25% locally and 3% for Kansas. The survey's unemployment rate for Wallace County averages 1.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). About 80% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 1.5% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Wallace County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 24.7% | +21.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -1.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.5% | -4.9 pts |
| Public administration | 6.4% | +1.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.2% | -0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Wallace County
Renters in Wallace County pay a median of $601 a month, 43% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. By the Census definition, 13% of Wallace County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $105,000, or 1.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 75% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1961.
| Home costs | Wallace County | Kansas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $601/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $105,000 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 13% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.8% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Wallace County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Places inside Wallace County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Wallace County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 1,036 people, so roughly 27% of residents live outside any named place. No Wallace County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharon Springs | city | 817 | $61,429 | $465 | 2 mi |
| Weskan | CDP | 171 | $71,250 | $675 | 11 mi |
| Wallace | city | 48 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
How Wallace County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wallace County's, from 29 to 47 miles away. Income ranges from $61,750 in Sherman County to $80,565 in Greeley County; 5 of these neighbors top Wallace County's median. The list crosses into Colorado, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallace County | - | $63,207 | $601/mo | 75% |
| Sherman County, KS | 29 mi | $61,750 | $913/mo | 66% |
| Greeley County, KS | 31 mi | $80,565 | $794/mo | 75% |
| Logan County, KS | 33 mi | $75,662 | $840/mo | 65% |
| Wichita County, KS | 38 mi | $79,063 | $942/mo | 78% |
| Cheyenne County, CO | 45 mi | $70,865 | $926/mo | 73% |
| Thomas County, KS | 47 mi | $71,325 | $752/mo | 75% |
Budget math at the Wallace County median
Here is the Wallace County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,267 a month: gross income for a household at the Wallace County median
- Housing at the median rent of $601 uses 11%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,295 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Wallace County
25% of Wallace County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Wallace County | Kansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.5% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.5% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.3% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
Reading the Wallace County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Wallace County borrowers.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Wallace County borrower sees (free reports).
Who licenses lenders for Wallace County residents
Consumer lenders serving Wallace County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kansas that is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Kansas: Kansas personal loans.
A Wallace County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Wallace County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Wallace County
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wallace County a high-income county?
Its $63,207 median ranks 59th of 105 Kansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Wallace County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $601 a month; 13% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Wallace County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Wallace County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Wallace County?
By population: Sharon Springs, Weskan, Wallace. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Wallace County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.