1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Wilson County is $736 a month against a median household income of $60,677, about 15% of income (ACS 2020-24). 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
- 8,505 residents: Wilson County basics
- Where Wilson County works
- The $60,677 median and what sits around it
- Where Wilson County differs from the rest of Kansas
- Where Wilson County households live
- Neodesha and the rest of Wilson County
- How Wilson County compares with nearby counties
- A Wilson County household budget, worked through
- Local borrowing considerations for Wilson County
- Wilson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Steps before you apply in Wilson County
- Lender oversight for Wilson County
- Beyond Wilson County
- Frequently asked questions
8,505 residents: Wilson County basics
With an estimated 8,505 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Wilson County ranks 45th of 105 in Kansas for population. Its 570 square miles average 15 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Metro status: none; Wilson County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Of the 8 Census places inside Wilson County, Neodesha leads by population with about 2,503; 7 of the 8 are incorporated. Census margins of error grow as populations shrink; for a county of 8,505, read each figure as a range.
Where Wilson County works
The biggest employer of Wilson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). Relative to Kansas (12%), manufacturing is 7 points bigger in Wilson County (19%). 3.0% of Wilson County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. About 82% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Wilson County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.0% | +6.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +2.1 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.7% | -3.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.3% | +0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The $60,677 median and what sits around it
Median household income in Wilson County: $60,677 (18% below Kansas, $74,275).
| Band | Wilson County | Compared with Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.7% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.4% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.5% | -2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -6.1 pts |
Six-figure households (27%) are outnumbered by those under $35,000 (28%) in Wilson County. Wilson County counts about 1,317 residents below the poverty line, 15.5% of the population. Gini index for Wilson County: 0.430. For a borrower in Wilson 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.
Where Wilson County differs from the rest of Kansas
Out of every Kansas county, Wilson County is most unusual on these measures.
- On the poverty rate, Wilson County sits near the top of Kansas at 15.5%, 12th highest of 105. Free help, such as utility and rent assistance, should come before any loan.
- Wilson County ranks 15th highest of 105 Kansas counties for the share of mobile homes: 10.7%, against 4.0% statewide. Repairs on manufactured homes are a common loan purpose; get written quotes.
- Wilson County ranks 15th lowest of 105 Kansas counties for the share of workers who work from home: 4.2%, against 11.8% statewide. Most workers travel to a job here, so commuting costs are part of the budget.
- Few Kansas counties match Wilson County on the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 20% here, 36% for the state, ranking 15th lowest of 105. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
Where Wilson County households live
$736 a month is the median gross rent in Wilson County, 31% below the state. By the Census definition, 45% of Wilson County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $93,500, a typical Wilson County house costs 1.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 78% of Wilson County households own their home and 22% rent. Median construction year: 1965.
| Measure | Wilson County | Kansas | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 22% | 9% | +12.5 pts |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | +10.6 pts |
| Mobile homes | 10.7% | 4.0% | +6.6 pts |
| Median home value | $93,500 | $217,200 | 57% lower |
| Median gross rent | $736/mo | $1,060/mo | 31% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 43% | +1.8 pts |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | +0.9 pts |
Wilson County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Neodesha and the rest of Wilson County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Wilson County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 5,486 residents, leaving about 35% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neodesha | city | 2,503 | $50,792 | $752 | 10 mi |
| Fredonia | city | 1,945 | $59,125 | $729 | 5 mi |
| Altoona | city | 467 | $48,875 | $664 | 5 mi |
| Buffalo | city | 282 | $68,750 | n/a | 11 mi |
| New Albany | city | 88 | $82,813 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Lafontaine | CDP | 78 | $52,692 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Coyville | city | 62 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Benedict | city | 61 | $46,250 | n/a | 5 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Wilson County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wilson County's, from 23 to 35 miles away. Richest neighbor: Elk County, $64,609. Poorest: Woodson County, $50,326. Wilson County: $60,677.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson County | - | $60,677 | $736/mo | 78% |
| Woodson County, KS | 23 mi | $50,326 | $618/mo | 85% |
| Neosho County, KS | 24 mi | $56,618 | $681/mo | 77% |
| Montgomery County, KS | 25 mi | $55,697 | $761/mo | 73% |
| Elk County, KS | 28 mi | $64,609 | $552/mo | 79% |
| Allen County, KS | 33 mi | $60,689 | $720/mo | 75% |
| Greenwood County, KS | 35 mi | $60,042 | $715/mo | 80% |
A Wilson County household budget, worked through
Wilson County's $60,677 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $60,677 a year is $5,056 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $736, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,287: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Wilson County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Wilson County
A few patterns in the Wilson County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Wilson County rent burden. 45% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Wilson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. 7.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Wilson County | Gap to Kansas | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.9% | -15.7 pts | -2.3 pts |
| Work from home | 4.2% | -7.5 pts | -4.4 pts |
| Median age | 42.7 | +5.3 yrs | +1.2 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 15.5% | +4.2 pts | +2.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | +1.7 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | -1.6 pts | -0.6 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | -0.9 pts | -1.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | +0.5 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Minutes to work | Wilson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Steps before you apply in Wilson County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Wilson County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Wilson County, check the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Kansas: Kansas personal loans.
Beyond Wilson County
No city in Wilson County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Wilson County earn?
The median is $60,677; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Can a Wilson County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $736 median rent and $5,056 median monthly income, rent alone uses 15%; add other debts before a new payment.
Should Wilson County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Wilson 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 Wilson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Neodesha, Fredonia, Altoona, Buffalo, New Albany.
Does living in Wilson 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 Wilson County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.