Ford County, Kansas Income Statistics
Ford County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Ford County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Ford County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,069 | $74,287 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,719 | $56,052 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 4.1% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.8% | 11.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.8% | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Ford County is about 3% lower than in Kansas. Income has been growing faster in Ford County (4.8%/yr) than in Kansas (4.1%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Ford County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Kansas average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Ford County, Kansas grew by 58.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $72,069 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Ford County
| Metric | Ford County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.517 | 0.525 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,993 | $65,134 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,223 | $51,314 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.9% | 21.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Ford County, it is 0.517, lower than Kansas's 0.525, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 19% more than women's income in Ford County, Kansas. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $306,950 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ford County, Kansas has widened from about 12% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,096 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Ford County widened by 4.4 points while Kansas's narrowed by 3.4 points.
Employment
| Metric | Ford County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 2.9% | 11.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 11 | 17 | 22 |
Approximately 896 people are unemployed in Ford County, Kansas.
The average commute time in Ford County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 17 minutes in Kansas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
The unemployment rate in Ford County, Kansas has stayed about flat at 5.0% since 2011. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.2% in 2016 and fell as low as 3.2% in 2022.
Ford County, KS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Ford County, KS is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 34,074 residents against a local median of 2,422. Where Ford County, KS breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 90% above the local median of 2.7% at 5.0%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.8%/yr against a local median of 3.8%/yr, 27% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Ford County, KS is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 5.8% on unemployment, so Ford County, KS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Ford County, KS has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford County, KS | 34,074 | $72,069 #3/6 | 4.8%/yr #3/6 | 5.0% #5/6 | 0.517 #5/6 |
| Hodgeman County, KS | 1,652 | $59,952 | 1.0%/yr | 1.0% | 0.480 |
| Clark County, KS | 1,974 | $63,846 | 5.2%/yr | 2.8% | 0.473 |
| Gray County, KS | 5,701 | $79,973 | 3.8%/yr | 2.7% | 0.501 |
| Edwards County, KS | 2,779 | $51,720 | 0.8%/yr | 6.8% | 0.556 |
| Kiowa County, KS | 2,422 | $76,474 | 7.0%/yr | 2.2% | 0.514 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Ford County, Kansas has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Kansas, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Ford County, Kansas.
How Rich Is Ford County, Kansas?
Ford County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $72,069, about 3% lower than the Kansas average of $74,287.
How fast is household income rising in Ford County, Kansas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Ford County, Kansas rose 58%, from $45,509 to $72,069. Over the same years, income here outpaced Kansas as a whole: +58% against +53%.
What was the median household income in Ford County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Ford County, Kansas was $70,580, up 5% from $67,019 in 2022. The Kansas median that year was $72,660.
What was the median household income in Ford County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Ford County, Kansas was $55,343. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $72,069.
Is it hard to find a job in Ford County, Kansas?
Unemployment in Ford County, Kansas is 5.0%, well above the Kansas rate of 3.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Ford County, Kansas?
The Gini coefficient in Ford County is 0.517. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Ford County, Kansas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ford County, Kansas has widened from about 12% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,096 since 2009.
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