Income needed to buy a house in Kansas
A median-priced home in Kansas costs $238,700. With 20% down you'd need about $71,999 a year, within reach of the state's median household income of $75,514. Kansas ranks #12 of 51 for the lowest income needed.
Income needed: $71,999 a year
Defaults: state median home value and property tax (Census ACS 2024), median homeowners insurance paid by owners with a mortgage (Census ACS 2024; quotes vary by home and ZIP code), 30-year rate 6.95% (Freddie Mac, week of 2026-09-17).
You'd need a household income of about $71,999 a year to buy a $238,700 home in Kansas with $47,740 down.
Based on lenders' 28/36 rule: housing costs under 28% of gross income, all debt under 36%.
| Monthly cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Principal & interest | $1,264 |
| Property tax | $249 |
| Homeowners insurance | $167 |
| Total | $1,680 |
Monthly cost by down payment
| Down payment | Cash down | Monthly cost | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | $11,935 | $2,011 | $86,206 |
| 10% | $23,870 | $1,927 | $82,607 |
| 20% | $47,740 | $1,680 | $71,999 |
Under 20% down includes estimated private mortgage insurance of 0.5% of the loan per year.
Buying in Kansas: what's different
- Transfer tax
- None
- On the median home
- $0
- Homestead break
- $75,000 off the school levy
- First-time buyer help
- Kansas Housing Resources Corporation
- Transfer and recording taxes. Kansas has no transfer tax, and its mortgage registration tax was phased out by 2019, so buyers pay only recording fees.
- Property tax breaks for your home. Since 2024, the first $75,000 of a home's appraised value is exempt from the statewide 20-mill school levy. Local levies still apply to the full value.
- First-time buyer help. The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation offers the First Time Homebuyer program through participating lenders. Check its site for income and price limits.
Checked against official sources on September 25, 2026. Local transfer taxes and exemptions vary, so confirm with the county before you close.
Home prices in the Kansas metro areas we cover
| Metro area | Income needed | Median home value | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO (41% in KS) | $89,385 | $314,300 | $83,785 |
| Wichita, KS | $67,412 | $223,700 | $71,810 |
With 20% down, the median home takes about $67,412 a year in the Wichita area and $89,385 in the Kansas City area, compared with $71,999 for the statewide median.
Metro medians from Census ACS 2024 cover the whole metro area, including any part in a neighboring state. The metro area centered in Missouri is included because many of its residents live in Kansas; the share in the state is in parentheses. Rows are ordered by how many residents live in Kansas. Income needed: 20% down at 6.95%, the metro's median property tax and its main state's median homeowners insurance for homes with a mortgage (Census ACS 2024), under the 28% rule.
What makes owning in Kansas less expensive than most states
- Home prices: the median value of $238,700 is 34% below the U.S. median of $360,600.
- Property tax: about 1.25% of value a year ($249 a month on the median home).
- Insurance: owners with a mortgage paid a median $2,008 a year for homeowners insurance in 2024 (Census ACS). Premiums have risen in most states since then, and they vary a lot by home and ZIP code, so get quotes.
- Mortgage rate: each 1-point rise in rates adds roughly $130 a month on this loan.
2 states need at least 20% less income to buy their median home. States with a similar income requirement:
- Michigan $72,520
- Missouri $70,941
- New Mexico $74,367
- Ohio $69,191
- North Dakota $74,999
- Iowa $67,151
Frequently asked questions
How much do you need to make to buy a house in Kansas?
About $71,999 a year for the median home of $238,700 with 20% down at 6.95%. With 10% down it's about $82,607.
What is the property tax rate in Kansas?
The median Kansas homeowner pays $2,983 a year, about 1.25% of the median home value (Census ACS 2024). Rates vary by county and city.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kansas?
Median rent is $1,079 a month, while owning the median home costs about $1,680 a month with 20% down, before maintenance. Renting affordably takes about $43,160 a year under the 30% rule.