Bourbon
Kansas

What stands out

Against every county in America, Bourbon County is unusual in three ways: the home price against local income is in the bottom 4% of American counties (1.3 years of income), the school test score is in the bottom 6% of American counties (2.50 where 3.0 is grade level), and the property tax rate is in the top 7% of American counties (1.77%). Within Kansas it ranks 30th of 105 counties for the home price against local income, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Bourbon County, Kansas. 14,405 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.2% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -17).

Kansas stopped taxing Social Security entirely in 2024 and consolidated its brackets, and property taxes fall heavily on homeowners because agricultural land is assessed on use value. Johnson County, in the Kansas City suburbs, has the state's best-rated schools and highest home prices. The state sits squarely in Tornado Alley.

Money

The typical household here brings in $55,826 a year, lower than 65% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $42,850. Unemployment runs 3.5%, higher than 53% of American counties. 10% of workers work from home.

Kansas takes 5.4% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,028 a year.

Home

The median home costs $134K, cheaper than 90% of American counties, about 1.3 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $863 a month. Property tax is 1.77% of home value, roughly $1,694 a year on that median home, higher than 93% of American counties. 71% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.4 per 1,000 residents, lower than 74% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 14 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 74.8 years, shorter than 61% of American counties. There are 12 active physicians in the county, about 8.3 per 10,000 people. 10.2% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.67 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 94% of American counties. 90% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 52 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 62% of eligible voters turned out. Under Kansas law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is illegal.

Weather and risk

The year averages 57°F, highs near 68 and lows near 47, warmer than 58% of American counties. About 42 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 31 out of 100, safer than 69% of American counties; the county has had 18 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 196 Mbps down, slower than 52% of American counties. There are 4 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.0 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 brewery, 1 National Park Service site.