Which Kansas counties are the poorest? This analysis says one has median income of $47K
The poorest county in Kansas has a median income of $47,109, according to a recent report from financial website SmartAsset. The site named Jewell County the poorest in the state.
Sedgwick County took the 11th wealthiest spot in the Sunflower State, but some areas farther north didn’t fare as well. The most recent ranking reflects data from 2024, according to SmartAsset.
The report used sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, real estate site Zillow and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to compile the ranking. The three metrics considered included investment income, property value and median income.
While Jewell County was named the least wealthy in the state overall, another county had the lowest median income. Graham County has the lowest median income across Kansas, SmartAsset reports, at $47,071.
Jewell County’s poverty rate is 12.1%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but it’s improved slightly since 2023, when it came in at 13.2%.
Statewide, Kansas’ median household income is $72,639, according to the Census Bureau, and 11.2% of the state’s residents live in poverty.
Purchasing power has been reduced across the U.S. recently, with a 3% overall inflation rate from January 2024 to January 2025. An additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods and more proposed tariffs are likely to cause consumer prices to increase, as well.
The poorest counties in Kansas
Here’s how the 10 poorest counties in Kansas compare, according to SmartAsset:
1. Jewell County
Median income: $47,109
Investment income: $19,956
Median home value: $90,391
Poverty level: 12.1% (The poverty level is not used in SmartAsset’s ranking criteria. The poverty rate data is from the Census Bureau).
2. Graham County
Median income: $47,071
Investment income: $20,362
Median home value: $91,890
Poverty level: 12.7%
3. Comanche County
Median income: $49,754
Investment income: $23,169
Median home value: $72,291
Poverty level: 12.1%
4. Decatur County
Median income: $49,412
Investment income: $23,501
Median home value: $91,794
Poverty level: 13.9%
5. Elk County
Median income: $50,000
Investment income: $28,960
Median home value: $78,163
Poverty level: 17.1%
6. Woodson County
Median income: $50,670
Investment income: $21,421
Median home value: $86,868
Poverty level: 13.9%
7. Smith County
Median income: $50,943
Investment income: $22,509
Median home value: $90,809
Poverty level: 11.9%
8. Chautauqua County
Median income: $51,210
Investment income: $31,827
Median home value: $76,787
Poverty level: 14.7%
9. Cloud County
Median income: $51,197
Investment income: $23,210
Median home value: $98,436
Poverty level: 12.1%
10. Edwards County
Median income: $52,750
Investment income: $24,358
Median home value: $73,640
Poverty level: 12%
Several counties switched places from 2023’s ranking, which named these the 10 poorest Kansas counties: Chautauqua, Elk, Jewell, Edwards, Republic, Decatur, Comanche, Greenwood, Smith and Woodson.
