Ford County
KS · Pop. 34,133 · Suburban County
Ford County sits in Kansas across 1,098 square miles, home to 34,133 people at 31.1 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on wheat, sorghum, corn. The median home price is $133,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.65%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 181-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.1°F and average winter lows of 21.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 21.6 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Minneola District Hospital is 18.5 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.9% of homes. On the hazard side, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A median home price of $133,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 98.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A strong agricultural economy built on wheat, sorghum, corn means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- A low unemployment rate of 3% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- Annual rainfall of just 21.6 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.65% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
At a glance
Ford County, KS is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 28/100
- Median home price
- $133k
- Property tax
- 1.65%
- Growing season
- 181 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 21.6"
- Broadband
- 98.9%
- Nearest hospital
- Minneola District Hospital, 18.5 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Ford County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Ford County?
- Ford County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 181-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.1°F, and average winter lows of 21.6°F. The established crops are wheat, sorghum, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $133,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.65%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 98.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Minneola District Hospital is 18.5 miles away, without an in-county emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Kansas Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Kansas
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The closest counties to Ford County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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