Americans on the whole were doing well financially heading into 2020, with major markers like unemployment reaching 50-year lows. The pandemic changed all that: During the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, our nation's real GDP fell by a whopping 31.4%, a number that hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. Since then the GDP has recovered, the first quarter of 2022 was 11% above the fourth quarter of 2019.
While GDP has recovered since the height of the pandemic, wage growth has not kept pace with inflation. In 2021 average hourly wages increased 4.7% while there was 7% inflation, meaning the worker's purchasing power dropped by 2.4%.
Where you live can make a big impact on your financial situation. The highest earning county in the U.S. earns $147,111, while the lowest earns $22,292. Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-earning counties in Kansas using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the Census' 2020 5-year estimate median household income.
1 / 50
#50. Rooks County
- Median household income: $51,362
--- 15.9% below state average, 21.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.7%
--- #2,200 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.4%
--- #1,368 highest among all counties nationwide
2 / 50
#49. Logan County
- Median household income: $51,136
--- 16.3% below state average, 21.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.5%
--- #1,874 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.4%
--- #1,334 highest among all counties nationwide
3 / 50
#48. Riley County
- Median household income: $51,098
--- 16.4% below state average, 21.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.8%
--- #1,298 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.8%
--- #1,328 highest among all counties nationwide
4 / 50
#47. Marion County
- Median household income: $50,816
--- 16.8% below state average, 21.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.7%
--- #2,395 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.4%
--- #1,297 highest among all counties nationwide
5 / 50
#46. Cowley County
- Median household income: $50,786
--- 16.9% below state average, 21.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.4%
--- #2,072 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #1,294 highest among all counties nationwide
6 / 50
#45. Osborne County
- Median household income: $50,774
--- 16.9% below state average, 21.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.0%
--- #1,961 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.1%
--- #1,292 highest among all counties nationwide
7 / 50
#44. Atchison County
- Median household income: $50,683
--- 17.0% below state average, 22.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.7%
--- #1,656 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.6%
--- #1,284 highest among all counties nationwide
8 / 50
#43. Brown County
- Median household income: $50,649
--- 17.1% below state average, 22.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.2%
--- #2,294 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.4%
--- #1,280 highest among all counties nationwide
9 / 50
#42. Russell County
- Median household income: $50,630
--- 17.1% below state average, 22.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.2%
--- #2,839 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.4%
--- #1,278 highest among all counties nationwide
10 / 50
#41. Republic County
- Median household income: $50,411
--- 17.5% below state average, 22.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.4%
--- #2,589 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.8%
--- #1,258 highest among all counties nationwide
11 / 50
#40. Lyon County
- Median household income: $50,141
--- 17.9% below state average, 22.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.6%
--- #2,419 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.4%
--- #1,224 highest among all counties nationwide
12 / 50
#39. Edwards County
- Median household income: $50,028
--- 18.1% below state average, 23.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.2%
--- #2,839 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #1,209 highest among all counties nationwide
13 / 50
#38. Rice County
- Median household income: $49,688
--- 18.7% below state average, 23.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.7%
--- #2,200 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.3%
--- #1,173 highest among all counties nationwide
14 / 50
#37. Wilson County
- Median household income: $49,682
--- 18.7% below state average, 23.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.9%
--- #1,979 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.8%
--- #1,171 highest among all counties nationwide
15 / 50
#36. Barber County
- Median household income: $49,668
--- 18.7% below state average, 23.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.8%
--- #1,637 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.3%
--- #1,170 highest among all counties nationwide
16 / 50
#35. Wallace County
- Median household income: $49,632
--- 18.8% below state average, 23.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.3%
--- #2,606 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.1%
--- #1,167 highest among all counties nationwide
17 / 50
#34. Neosho County
- Median household income: $49,493
--- 19.0% below state average, 23.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.1%
--- #2,482 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.0%
--- #1,155 highest among all counties nationwide
18 / 50
#33. Seward County
- Median household income: $49,395
--- 19.1% below state average, 24.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.7%
--- #2,200 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.6%
--- #1,142 highest among all counties nationwide
19 / 50
#32. Harper County
- Median household income: $49,283
--- 19.3% below state average, 24.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.1%
--- #2,641 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.4%
--- #1,131 highest among all counties nationwide
20 / 50
#31. Chase County
- Median household income: $48,906
--- 19.9% below state average, 24.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.5%
--- #2,226 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.6%
--- #1,087 highest among all counties nationwide
21 / 50
#30. Barton County
- Median household income: $48,863
--- 20.0% below state average, 24.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.9%
--- #1,979 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.8%
--- #1,081 highest among all counties nationwide
22 / 50
#29. Norton County
- Median household income: $48,486
--- 20.6% below state average, 25.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.5%
--- #1,690 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.4%
--- #1,046 highest among all counties nationwide
23 / 50
#28. Linn County
- Median household income: $48,325
--- 20.9% below state average, 25.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.1%
--- #1,587 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.8%
--- #1,036 highest among all counties nationwide
24 / 50
#27. Cloud County
- Median household income: $48,295
--- 20.9% below state average, 25.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.0%
--- #2,643 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.4%
--- #1,033 highest among all counties nationwide
25 / 50
#26. Comanche County
- Median household income: $48,125
--- 21.2% below state average, 26.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.2%
--- #2,615 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.2%
--- #1,011 highest among all counties nationwide
26 / 50
#25. Wyandotte County
- Median household income: $48,093
--- 21.3% below state average, 26.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.3%
--- #2,087 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.6%
--- #1,010 highest among all counties nationwide
27 / 50
#24. Allen County
- Median household income: $47,983
--- 21.5% below state average, 26.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.3%
--- #2,834 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.1%
--- #1,000 highest among all counties nationwide
28 / 50
#23. Labette County
- Median household income: $47,922
--- 21.6% below state average, 26.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.5%
--- #2,576 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #991 highest among all counties nationwide
29 / 50
#22. Clay County
- Median household income: $47,880
--- 21.6% below state average, 26.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.8%
--- #2,377 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.7%
--- #989 highest among all counties nationwide
30 / 50
#21. Mitchell County
- Median household income: $47,375
--- 22.5% below state average, 27.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.6%
--- #2,912 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.2%
--- #943 highest among all counties nationwide
31 / 50
#20. Pawnee County
- Median household income: $46,559
--- 23.8% below state average, 28.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.5%
--- #2,576 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.8%
--- #869 highest among all counties nationwide
32 / 50
#19. Lincoln County
- Median household income: $46,523
--- 23.8% below state average, 28.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.1%
--- #2,306 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.8%
--- #867 highest among all counties nationwide
33 / 50
#18. Kearny County
- Median household income: $46,464
--- 23.9% below state average, 28.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.1%
--- #1,601 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.0%
--- #861 highest among all counties nationwide
34 / 50
#17. Bourbon County
- Median household income: $46,369
--- 24.1% below state average, 28.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.7%
--- #2,686 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.5%
--- #852 highest among all counties nationwide
35 / 50
#16. Rush County
- Median household income: $46,333
--- 24.2% below state average, 28.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.5%
--- #2,989 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.9%
--- #847 highest among all counties nationwide
36 / 50
#15. Montgomery County
- Median household income: $45,288
--- 25.9% below state average, 30.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.8%
--- #2,532 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.9%
--- #757 highest among all counties nationwide
37 / 50
#14. Hamilton County
- Median household income: $44,894
--- 26.5% below state average, 30.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.7%
--- #2,791 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.8%
--- #721 highest among all counties nationwide
38 / 50
#13. Decatur County
- Median household income: $44,125
--- 27.8% below state average, 32.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.6%
--- #2,699 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.9%
--- #661 highest among all counties nationwide
39 / 50
#12. Greenwood County
- Median household income: $43,320
--- 29.1% below state average, 33.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.5%
--- #1,874 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.4%
--- #592 highest among all counties nationwide
40 / 50
#11. Cheyenne County
- Median household income: $42,802
--- 29.9% below state average, 34.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.1%
--- #2,140 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.0%
--- #558 highest among all counties nationwide
41 / 50
#10. Woodson County
- Median household income: $42,692
--- 30.1% below state average, 34.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.2%
--- #2,733 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #549 highest among all counties nationwide
42 / 50
#9. Crawford County
- Median household income: $42,615
--- 30.2% below state average, 34.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.5%
--- #2,430 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.0%
--- #542 highest among all counties nationwide
43 / 50
#8. Elk County
- Median household income: $42,564
--- 30.3% below state average, 34.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.1%
--- #2,490 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.7%
--- #536 highest among all counties nationwide
44 / 50
#7. Smith County
- Median household income: $42,098
--- 31.1% below state average, 35.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.6%
--- #2,222 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.1%
--- #498 highest among all counties nationwide
45 / 50
#6. Cherokee County
- Median household income: $41,936
--- 31.4% below state average, 35.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.2%
--- #2,740 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.3%
--- #485 highest among all counties nationwide
46 / 50
#5. Morton County
- Median household income: $41,866
--- 31.5% below state average, 35.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.3%
--- #2,100 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.4%
--- #478 highest among all counties nationwide
47 / 50
#4. Lane County
- Median household income: $41,318
--- 32.4% below state average, 36.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.0%
--- #2,143 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.5%
--- #439 highest among all counties nationwide
48 / 50
#3. Graham County
- Median household income: $40,890
--- 33.1% below state average, 37.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.1%
--- #2,964 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.8%
--- #407 highest among all counties nationwide
49 / 50
#2. Chautauqua County
- Median household income: $39,500
--- 35.3% below state average, 39.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 8.9%
--- #3,072 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.5%
--- #326 highest among all counties nationwide
50 / 50
#1. Jewell County
- Median household income: $38,188
--- 37.5% below state average, 41.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.4%
--- #2,928 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.8%
--- #265 highest among all counties nationwide
