Cost of Living in Brown County, Kansas
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Brown County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Brown County ranks #460 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 15%)
Sourced county brief
Median gross rent in Brown County estimated at $646
In Brown County, the median gross rent was estimated at $646 per month, which is $156 below the Kansas unweighted county mean of $802. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 23.2%. This canonical percentage is 1.4 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 24.6%. The median selected monthly owner cost for owner-occupied units is $715, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $861. The median value of a home in the county is $118,100, while the state unweighted county mean is $138,825. The median income for renter-occupied households is $32,096. This profile provides a static view of residential costs based on official 5-year data. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Brown County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 23.2% of renter household income in Brown County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $646 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $715. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $25,840 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Kansas unweighted mean of county median rents is $802 per month. Brown County's $646 median is 19.5% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Brown County
Rent Burden
12.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,452
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Brown County
Median home value is $118,100. Estimated monthly cost: $943 vs. your max of $1,452.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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