Cost of Living in Riley 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 Riley County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Riley County ranks #2,472 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 21%)
Sourced county brief
Official Rent Percentage of Income Reaches 30.4% in Riley County
In Riley County, Kansas, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is estimated at 30.4%. This official B25071 figure is 5.8 percentage points higher than the Kansas unweighted county mean of 24.6%. The median gross rent in the county was recorded at $1,046 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $802. Median renter-household income is estimated at $42,207. For property owners, the median home value is $237,100, exceeding the Kansas unweighted county mean of $138,825. Selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $1,236 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $861. The canonical rent-to-income percentage of 30.4% matches the official B25071 GRAPI estimate. This report utilizes data from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates, specifically dataVersion acs5-2020-2024 and methodologyVersion cost-brief-v1. 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: Riley County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.4% of renter household income in Riley 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 $1,046 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,236. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $41,840 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. Riley County's $1,046 median is 30.4% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Riley County
Rent Burden
20.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,426
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.3%
of gross income
The median home in Riley County may be a stretch
Median home value is $237,100. Estimated monthly cost: $1,893 vs. your max of $1,426.
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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