1st Advantage MortgageWichita County households have a median income of $79,063 and median rent of $942 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Wichita County
- Household income in Wichita County
- The Wichita County job picture
- What it costs to live in Wichita County
- The counties around Wichita County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Wichita County
- What a median Wichita County budget can carry
- More Wichita County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Wichita County
- Four steps for Wichita County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Wichita County
With an estimated 2,091 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Wichita County ranks 98th of 105 in Kansas for population. It covers 719 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (1 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Leoti, with about 1,360 residents, or 65% of the county. Because Wichita County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Household income in Wichita County
At $79,063, the typical Wichita County household income is 20% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 11th of 105.
| Band | Wichita County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.7% | +5.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.0% | -1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.7% | -3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.6% | 0.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Wichita County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. 16.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.475 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Wichita County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Wichita County job picture
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 35% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 35% locally and 3% for Kansas. The survey's unemployment rate for Wichita County averages 0.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). 4% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home.
| Sector | Wichita County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 34.8% | +31.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.4% | -7.6 pts |
| Public administration | 9.1% | +4.5 pts |
| Other services | 7.6% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.4% | -3.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 5.6% | -6.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Wichita County
Renters in Wichita County pay a median of $942 a month, 11% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. Home values center on $99,300, or 1.3 years of median income. 78% of Wichita County households own their home and 22% rent.
| Cost | Wichita County | Kansas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $942/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $99,300 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.3% | 4.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 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).
The counties around Wichita County
Scott County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Hamilton County, is 41 miles off. Income ranges from $63,207 in Wallace County to $89,135 in Kearny County; 2 of these neighbors top Wichita County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita County | - | $79,063 | $942/mo | 78% |
| Scott County, KS | 24 mi | $68,839 | $685/mo | 67% |
| Greeley County, KS | 25 mi | $80,565 | $794/mo | 75% |
| Logan County, KS | 32 mi | $75,662 | $840/mo | 65% |
| Kearny County, KS | 34 mi | $89,135 | $1,056/mo | 72% |
| Wallace County, KS | 38 mi | $63,207 | $601/mo | 75% |
| Hamilton County, KS | 41 mi | $70,250 | $909/mo | 77% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Wichita County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Wichita County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 1,373 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Wichita County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leoti | city | 1,360 | $73,594 | $917 | 1 mi |
| Marienthal | CDP | 13 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
What a median Wichita County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Wichita County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $79,063 a year is $6,589 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $942, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,891 a month
If your rent is above $942, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Wichita County figures
20% of Wichita County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Wichita County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.1% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.7% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.8% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Wichita County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 74.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 11.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.1% |
| 60+ min | 1.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Wichita County
Where the Wichita County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Four steps for Wichita County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Wichita County-area credit union.
- Verify the Kansas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Wichita County borrowers answers to the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Kansas state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Wichita County household make?
About $79,063 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 6% above the Kansas median.
Is Wichita County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $942 against $1,060 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Wichita County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Wichita County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Wichita County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Leoti, Marienthal.
Will a Wichita County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.