Brown
Kansas

What stands out

What stands out about Brown County: home internet speed is in the bottom 4% of American counties (65 Mbps), population growth is in the bottom 6% of American counties (-1.3% a year), and the home price against local income is in the bottom 11% of American counties (1.5 years of income). Within Kansas it ranks 10th of 105 counties for home internet speed, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Brown County, Kansas. 9,486 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population shrank 1.3% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -80).

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 $55,876 a year, lower than 65% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $50,553. Unemployment runs 2.4%, lower than 88% of American counties. 7% of workers work from home.

Kansas takes 5.4% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,030 a year.

Home

The median home costs $157K, cheaper than 81% of American counties, about 1.5 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $677 a month. Property tax is 1.22% of home value, roughly $1,324 a year on that median home, higher than 73% of American counties. 73% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.5 per 1,000 residents, lower than 69% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 14 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 73.4 years, shorter than 76% of American counties. There are 10 active physicians in the county, about 10.5 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 9.3% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.80 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 80% of American counties. 94% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 48 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 63% 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 54°F, highs near 65 and lows near 43, colder than 58% of American counties. About 31 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 33 out of 100, safer than 67% of American counties; the county has had 18 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 65 Mbps down, slower than 96% of American counties. There are 5 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.9 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.