CountyScore

Kingman County

Kansas · KS

#93 in Kansas
62.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Kingman County, Kansas

Above median with affordable housing

Kingman County scores 63.4 out of 100, outpacing the national median of 50.0 by roughly 13 points. The county benefits primarily from low housing costs that support its overall livability rank.

Below state average, toward lower tier

At 63.4, Kingman falls below the state average of 66.0, ranking seventh out of eight profiled counties in overall livability. Only Hodgeman scores lower in this cohort.

Excellent housing affordability

Kingman's cost score of 82.2 reflects exceptional affordability with a median home value of $107,400 and rent at $807/month. For budget-conscious renters and homebuyers, these prices are genuinely accessible.

Income and tax pressures compound

Median household income of $59,819 with an income score of 22.4 ranks among the lowest profiled, while the effective tax rate of 1.784% is the second-highest. These pressures limit household cash flow despite low housing costs.

Suited for frugal, flexible households

Kingman works best for remote workers, retirees, or those with supplemental income seeking ultra-low housing costs and willingness to accept limited local wage opportunities. The county's exceptional affordability fully compensates for income and tax challenges.

Score breakdown

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

Tax52.1Cost82.2SafetyComing SoonHealth58SchoolsComing SoonIncome22.4Risk64.5WaterComing Soon
🏛52.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼22.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤58
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡64.5
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 Kingman County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Bay County
Florida
62.2
Median income: $70,188
Douglas County
Georgia
62.2
Median income: $80,764
Muscogee County
Georgia
62.2
Median income: $56,622
Sumter County
Georgia
62.2
Median income: $41,877
Douglas County
Illinois
62.2
Median income: $74,186

Deep Dives

Kingman County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Kingman County

via TaxByCounty

Kingman taxes high despite modest home values

Kingman County's effective tax rate of 1.784% ranks in the top 20% of all U.S. counties for property tax burden, substantially above the national median of 1.83%. With a median home value of just $107,400, the median property tax of $1,916 remains well below the national median of $2,690, reflecting the county's high rate applied to lower-valued properties.

Kingman ranks among Kansas's highest rates

At 1.784%, Kingman's effective tax rate ranks in the top 10% statewide—15% above the Kansas average of 1.549%. The county delivers one of the state's steepest property tax burdens relative to home values.

Kingman near regional peak alongside Hodgeman

Kingman's 1.784% rate is the second-highest in the surveyed region, trailing only Jewell County's 1.968% and nearly matching Hodgeman's 1.767%. Combined, Kingman and Jewell represent the southwest Kansas high-tax zone, while Jackson and Kearny offer relief at 1.190% and 1.224%.

Kingman homeowners pay steep percentage rates

A median-value home in Kingman County valued at $107,400 generates an estimated annual property tax of $1,916. Mortgage-holding homeowners typically pay $2,037 annually.

Challenge assessments to reduce tax pain

With Kingman's high rate, assessment accuracy is critical to controlling your tax bill—even modest overvaluations cost hundreds annually. Request a reassessment if your home's assessed value doesn't align with recent sales of comparable properties in your area.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Kingman County

via CostByCounty

Kingman renters face affordability pressure

Kingman County's 16.2% rent-to-income ratio exceeds national averages, indicating meaningful housing burden for renters earning $59,819 median household income—20% below the national average. Monthly rent of $807 consumes a disproportionate share of household earnings, leaving less for other necessities.

Below-average affordability across Kansas

Kingman County ranks below the Kansas state average for affordability, with a 16.2% rent-to-income ratio exceeding the state benchmark of 14.7%. This positions it among the state's less affordable rental markets, though not as strained as Kearny County's 18.4%.

Mid-tier costs with lower income

Kingman's $807 monthly rent falls between Haskell ($776) and Jackson ($856), but the county's lower median income of $59,819 makes the relative burden steeper. Home values at $107,400 remain affordable, with monthly ownership costs of $771 suggesting homeownership may ease financial pressure.

Renters stretch, homeowners stabilize

Renters spend 16.2% of their $59,819 income on housing, exceeding healthy thresholds, while homeowners commit a more sustainable 15.4% to monthly costs of $771. This gap suggests homeownership offers financial relief for Kingman residents seeking stable housing costs.

Consider homeownership over renting

Kingman County suits prospective homebuyers seeking affordable property around $107,400 with manageable monthly payments, but renters should budget carefully as housing costs exceed comfort zones. If you're relocating to Kingman, prioritize paths to homeownership or compare rents in nearby Haskell County before deciding.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Kingman County

via IncomeByCounty

Kingman Trails National Income Significantly

Kingman County's median household income of $59,819 trails the national median of $74,755 by 20%, reflecting rural Kansas's structural income headwinds. This gap is typical for agricultural counties with limited employment diversification and population decline. Kingman ranks in the bottom 35% of U.S. counties by median household income.

Below-Average Kansas County

At $59,819, Kingman County falls 7.1% below Kansas's state average of $64,428, ranking in the lower-middle tier statewide. Per capita income of $32,969 suggests income concentration or significant part-time work within households. Kingman requires economic development to reach state-average income levels.

Below Most Regional Peers

Kingman County's $59,819 median income trails Jackson ($72,703), Jefferson ($77,393), Kearny ($74,135), Haskell ($69,138), and Hodgeman ($63,125), but exceeds only Jewell County ($52,344). The $10,000–20,000 gap to stronger neighbors reflects limited job diversity and wage scales. Kingman faces structural economic challenges shared by declining rural counties.

Affordability Stressed by Rent

Kingman's 16.2% rent-to-income ratio is elevated, approaching the 30% burden threshold and indicating housing costs consume meaningful household income. A median home value of $107,400 is affordable, but renters and lower-wage workers face material affordability strain. Kingman households need income growth or cost reductions to ease housing pressure.

Build Emergency Fund First

Kingman households with constrained incomes should establish a 3-6 month emergency fund before pursuing aggressive investments to weather job transitions. Employer retirement plans, even small contributions, provide immediate tax advantages and long-term compounding that build stability. Conservative, consistent steps beat risky strategies when income is tight.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Kingman County

via HealthByCounty

Kingman faces a health emergency

Kingman County's 61.0-year life expectancy is a crisis: it trails the U.S. average of 76.4 years by 15.4 years, the worst gap of any Kansas county. Nearly one in four (22.2%) report poor health, and limited provider access—just 27 primary care providers per 100K—strains already-fragile infrastructure. This is not gradual health decline; it's a public health emergency demanding immediate intervention.

Kansas's health emergency zone

Kingman County's 61.0-year life expectancy represents a catastrophic 14.4-year gap below the Kansas average of 75.4 years—by far the state's worst outcome. At 10.3% uninsured, Kingman matches state norms for insurance access, yet residents still die 14 years earlier than their Kansas peers, pointing to acute health crises or severe health determinants. This disconnect demands urgent investigation and intervention.

Tragic outlier among peers

Kingman's 61.0-year life expectancy is a staggering 14.1 years below Jackson County (75.4 years) and 19.6 years below Jewell County (80.1 years)—a gap that defines a crisis. Its 16.5% poor/fair health rate, while high, doesn't explain the early mortality; something more acute is at work. With only 27 primary care providers per 100K—less than one-quarter of the regional average—care capacity is critically constrained.

Crisis drivers: access and capacity

Kingman's 10.3% uninsured rate suggests coverage alone isn't the problem; something deeper is driving 61-year-old life expectancy. The county offers just 27 primary care providers per 100K—among the state's lowest—creating severe bottlenecks for preventive and acute care. Yet 99 mental health providers per 100K hints that behavioral health, substance abuse, or suicide may be driving the catastrophically early mortality.

Insurance is a survival step

With Kingman facing such a health crisis, ensuring coverage is non-negotiable. Visit healthcare.gov to explore plans and confirm enrollment; coverage alone won't solve the crisis, but it removes a barrier to the care residents desperately need. Combined with local health initiatives, insurance access is a critical first step toward rebuilding Kingman's health.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Kingman County

via RiskByCounty

Kingman County Above National Average

Kingman County scores 35.56 on the composite risk scale, exceeding the national average and placing it in the Very Low category. However, this reflects significant exposure to wildfires and tornadoes that demand household preparation.

Higher Risk Than Most Kansas Counties

At 35.56, Kingman exceeds the Kansas average of 29.89, placing it in the state's higher-risk tier. The county's wildfire exposure at 86.70 approaches Jackson County levels, making it a regional hazard hotspot.

Riskiest County in Its Cluster

Kingman (35.56) significantly outperforms only Jewell (25.29) and Haskell (15.01) among western neighbors, with wildfire exposure of 86.70 that rivals Jackson County. Its tornado risk at 65.39 also exceeds most surrounding counties.

Wildfires and Tornadoes Dominate Kingman

Wildfire risk reaches 86.70 and tornado risk 65.39, making these Kansas's highest combined exposure in this sample. Both hazards demand year-round preparedness and active risk management.

Dual Preparation for Fire and Storm

Confirm your policy covers both wildfire and wind/tornado damage—Kingman experiences both at above-average rates. Maintain extensive defensible space around your home and establish a basement safe room or reinforced shelter for tornado season.

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.