In Brown County, Kansas, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Brown County, 18.6% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 72% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 70% of U.S. counties.
What drives Brown County's score
In Brown County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 58.0. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 16.6. About one in 15 renters (6.8%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a lower share than in 94% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Brown County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Brown County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 58.0 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202666th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.7% · 2020 to 202449th percentile
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- 55.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.1% · 202449th percentile
- Children below the poverty line15.2% · 202439th percentile
- People with a disability16.6% · 2020 to 202455th percentile
- People without health insurance10.2% · 2020 to 202467th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$62,180 · 202463rd percentile
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- 40.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.8% · August 202533rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people118.9 · 202546th percentile
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- 21.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind2.5% · August 20256th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind1.9% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a subprime credit score41.0% · second quarter of 202653rd percentile
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- 16.6 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent6.8% · 2020 to 20245th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.6% · fiscal year 202727th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Brown County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Brown County, 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Brown County
Kansas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Brown County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 27.7% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Brown County, Kansas, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 27.7%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Brown County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 13.8% in 2011 to 15.7% in 2012.
The share of households in Brown County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2012 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 9.6% in 2017. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Brown County, Kansas.
How Brown County has changed
Brown County's population had its largest drop, from 10,802 in 1999 to 10,253 in 2004.
Brown County's population fell by about a quarter to 9,142, the lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 11,862 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Brown County, Kansas.
The number of jobs located in Brown County had its largest rise, from 4,092 in 1995 to 4,987 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Brown County was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and is down 14% since
High on the chart: 5,032 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Brown County, Kansas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 3.7% | 2025 4.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 17.2% | 2024 13.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $20,729 | 2024 $62,180 |
The table uses 4.4% for 2025; the score uses 4.5% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Brown County's history
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 22,369. The 2020 Census counted 9,508, 43% of the peak. Census Bureau
1984
A tornado in June 1984 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2007
A flash flood in May 2007 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
18 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Brown County, 11 of them for flooding. FEMA
Brown County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Brown County, in Kansas and Nebraska, two score higher. Of the group, Brown County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (27.7%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atchison County, KS | 32 | 13.9% | 26.9% |
| Doniphan County, KS | 30 | 10.6% | 25.2% |
| Brown County, KS | 29 | 13.1% | 27.7% |
| Richardson County, NE | 18 | 11.4% | 27.4% |
| Jackson County, KS | 17 | 8.4% | 23.5% |
| Nemaha County, KS | 0 | 8.6% | 18.0% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Brown County the poorest county in Kansas?
No, Brown County's poverty rate was 13.1% in 2024, 24th highest of 105 in Kansas (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Riley County, at 18.1%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Brown County ranks 40th of 105 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Brown County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Kansas Legal Services
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Brown County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.