Cost of Living in Douglas 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 Douglas County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Douglas County ranks #2,636 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 16%)
Sourced county brief
Douglas County median home value reaches $309,400 in ACS data
The median home value in Douglas County was $309,400, a figure $170,575 higher than the Kansas unweighted county mean of $138,825. Median selected monthly owner costs were $1,456, which is $595 above the state unweighted county mean of $861. For renters, the median gross rent was estimated at $1,099 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $802. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 30.8%. This canonical measure is 6.2 percentage points higher than the Kansas unweighted county mean of 24.6%. The median renter-household income was estimated at $43,680. These data points provide a statistical snapshot based on the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 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: Douglas County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.8% of renter household income in Douglas County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,099 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,456. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $43,960 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. Douglas County's $1,099 median is 37.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Douglas County
Rent Burden
18.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,627
per month
Owner Cost Burden
25.1%
of gross income
The median home in Douglas County may be a stretch
Median home value is $309,400. Estimated monthly cost: $2,470 vs. your max of $1,627.
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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