CountyScore

Finney County

Kansas · KS

#104 in Kansas
60.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Finney County, Kansas

Finney County Exceeds National Norm

Finney County's composite score of 64.1 beats the national median of 50.0 by 28%, placing it in the upper-middle tier of American counties. This reflects a county with meaningful economic and housing advantages.

Slightly Below Kansas Average

With a score of 64.1 versus Kansas's 66.0 average, Finney County ranks just below the state median, placing it in the middle-to-lower range statewide. It remains a viable option despite modest underperformance.

Strong Incomes, Reasonable Taxes

Finney County boasts the highest income score (30.7) among these eight counties, with a median household income of $72,437. The tax score of 62.0 and effective rate of 1.430% offer reasonable fiscal efficiency.

Higher Costs, Limited Data

At 74.0, Finney County's cost score is the lowest among peer counties, with median rents at $991/month and home values near $191,100. Critical health, safety, and school information remains unavailable.

Best for Higher-Income Professionals

Finney County suits dual-income households and skilled professionals prioritizing higher salaries over rock-bottom costs. If earning potential matters more than maximum affordability, this county rewards your career focus.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax62Cost74SafetyComing SoonHealth58.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome30.7Risk36.3WaterComing Soon
🏛62
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠74
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼30.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤58.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡36.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Finney County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Arapahoe County
Colorado
60.3
Median income: $97,215
Duval County
Florida
60.3
Median income: $68,447
Bee County
Texas
60.3
Median income: $56,075
Ogle County
Illinois
60.2
Median income: $79,244
Tulsa County
Oklahoma
60.2
Median income: $67,317

Deep Dives

Finney County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Finney County

via TaxByCounty

Finney County just below national average

Finney County's 1.430% effective tax rate sits comfortably below the national median of 2.690%, placing the county in the bottom 40% nationally. The $2,733 median property tax nearly matches the national median of $2,690, making Finney County a surprisingly affordable option despite higher home values.

Below Kansas average with solid rates

At 1.430%, Finney County undercuts the Kansas state average of 1.549% by 0.119 percentage points, ranking among the more tax-friendly counties in the state. The median property tax of $2,733 exceeds the state median of $1,943, reflecting Finney's higher home values rather than aggressive taxation.

Competitive rates in western Kansas

Finney County's 1.430% rate compares favorably to Ford County (1.650%) and Elk County (1.988%), though Ellis County's 1.223% offers a steeper discount. Among high-value property regions, Finney County delivers competitive tax efficiency.

Finney County home costs $2,733 yearly tax

On Finney County's median home value of $191,100, the estimated annual property tax is $2,733, rising to $2,966 when mortgage interest deductions apply. This represents fair value for a county with above-average home prices and below-average tax rates.

Check your assessment for overvaluation

Even in tax-efficient counties, roughly 20% of properties carry inflated assessments, and Finney County residents should verify their valuation against recent comparable sales. Appealing an overassessment could reduce your annual liability by hundreds of dollars.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Finney County

via CostByCounty

Finney County rents track near national pace

At 16.4%, Finney County's rent-to-income ratio sits just above the Kansas state average of 14.7% but remains manageable compared to national trends. With $991 monthly rents and a $72,437 median household income—higher than most Kansas peers—residents maintain moderate affordability despite regional price pressures.

Finney ranks mid-range for Kansas affordability

Finney County's 16.4% rent-to-income ratio places it slightly above the Kansas average, reflecting its role as a regional economic hub. Rents at $991/month exceed the state median by $204, though higher local incomes of $72,437 partially offset the pressure.

Finney among the region's priciest

Finney County's $991 rent is the highest in its peer group, surpassing Ford County ($960), Franklin County ($949), and Ellis County ($899) by $40-92 monthly. Home values of $191,100 rank midway—above Ellsworth ($116,300) but below Ellis ($211,100)—reflecting Finney's agricultural and industrial economy.

Higher incomes support elevated costs

Renters allocate 16.4% of income to housing, while homeowners pay $1,082 monthly—elevated but sustainable given the $72,437 median income. Finney County residents earn among the highest incomes in rural Kansas, which provides a buffer against regional rent increases.

Finney County for higher-wage workers

Finney County suits professionals and skilled workers whose incomes align with the $72,437 median—especially those in agriculture or manufacturing. Compare affordability to Ford County (lower rents at $960) or Ellis County (similar pricing) to find your best fit in southwest Kansas.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Finney County

via IncomeByCounty

Finney nearly matches national income

Finney County's median household income of $72,437 sits just $2,318 below the national median of $74,755. This performance ranks Finney among the strongest-earning counties in rural Kansas and well above most national peers.

Top earner in Kansas counties

At $72,437, Finney County ranks among the highest median household incomes in Kansas, exceeding the state average of $64,428 by roughly $8,000. Finney's 12% advantage reflects a robust agricultural and business economy.

Top earner among regional peers

Finney County ($72,437) leads this eight-county cluster, outearning all neighbors including Ford ($70,495), Franklin ($72,142)—which trails by $295—and Ellsworth ($66,792). Only Franklin comes close, but Finney remains the regional income leader.

Moderate housing costs relative to income

Finney County's 16.4% rent-to-income ratio indicates manageable housing expenses, though median home values of $191,100 are elevated. Residents maintain solid affordability compared to national benchmarks while building equity in a strong market.

Leverage strong income for wealth

Finney County's above-national income opens real opportunities for aggressive savings and investment strategies. With moderate housing costs, residents can maximize retirement contributions, diversify investments, and build generational wealth faster than most rural Kansas communities.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Finney County

via HealthByCounty

Finney County faces significant health headwinds

Finney County's 76.2-year life expectancy is 3.8 years below the U.S. average of 80, and nearly one in four residents (22.9%) report poor or fair health. These metrics signal higher-than-normal chronic disease prevalence and medical complexity in the county.

Finney County underperforms Kansas average

At 76.2 years, Finney County's life expectancy is 0.8 years below Kansas's 75.4-year average, putting it in the lower half of state performers. The 22.9% poor/fair health rate is one of the worst in Kansas, reflecting concentrated health disparities.

Finney County struggles against regional benchmarks

Finney County's 76.2-year life expectancy and 22.9% poor/fair health rate place it among the weakest-performing counties in its region, exceeded only by Ford County (76.1 years, 24.1% poor/fair). This pattern suggests shared structural challenges across southwest Kansas.

High uninsured rate signals access gaps

At 17.4%, Finney County's uninsured rate is among the highest statewide and 5.9 percentage points above the Kansas average, leaving many residents vulnerable. With 58 primary care and 139 mental health providers per 100,000, capacity exists but financial barriers and language access may limit utilization.

Take action to close coverage gaps

One in six Finney County residents lacks health insurance—visit Healthcare.gov or call 211 to explore Medicaid, marketplace plans, and immigrant-focused programs. Getting covered unlocks preventive care that can help break the cycle of poor health outcomes.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Finney County

via RiskByCounty

Finney County faces above-average disaster risk

Finney County's composite risk score of 63.74 and Relatively Low rating indicate significantly elevated hazard exposure compared to typical U.S. counties. The county experiences roughly double the national baseline risk across combined disaster types.

Among Kansas's higher-risk counties

At 63.74, Finney County substantially exceeds Kansas's state average of 29.89, ranking in the state's riskier half for natural disasters. Only a handful of Kansas counties face greater combined hazard exposure.

Riskier than most surrounding counties

Finney County's elevated score stands well above neighboring Gray, Haskell, and Kearny counties across multiple hazard categories. The county's southwestern plains location concentrates tornado and wildfire threats.

Tornadoes pose the greatest danger

Tornado risk scores 76.88—Finney County's dominant threat and substantially above state norms. Wildfire exposure at 46.44 and flood risk at 37.75 complete the county's hazard profile, making a multi-hazard protection strategy essential.

Comprehensive coverage is strongly recommended

Finney County residents should prioritize robust homeowners insurance with dedicated tornado coverage and a safe room or shelter. Adding wildfire and flood riders provides critical protection given the county's elevated exposure across multiple hazard types.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.