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Rawlins County

KS · Pop. 2,533 · Rural County

63/100Homestead Score

Rawlins County sits in Kansas across 1,069 square miles, home to 2,533 people at 2.4 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on wheat, corn, sorghum. A median home price of $99,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.66% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 154-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.2°F and average winter lows of 16°F. Annual rainfall averages 22.8 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Rawlins County Health Center is 2.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 91.3% of homes. On the hazard side, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.66%
Growing Season: 154 days
Broadband: 91.3%
Density: 2.4/sq mi

Pros

  • A median home price of $99,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 91.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Rawlins County Health Center, with an emergency room, is just 2.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on wheat, corn, sorghum means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
  • At 2.4 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.

Cons

  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • A 154-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
  • An effective property tax rate of 1.66% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.

At a glance

Rawlins County, KS is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score
63/100
Median home price
$99k
Property tax
1.66%
Growing season
154 days (zone 6a)
Annual rainfall
22.8"
Broadband
91.3%
Nearest hospital
Rawlins County Health Center, 2.8 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.66%
Median Household Income$65,000
Poverty Rate10.1%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$99K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone6a
Growing Season154 days
Annual Rainfall22.8 inches
Avg Summer High90.2°F
Avg Winter Low16°F
Top CropsWheat, Corn, Sorghum

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought8/10
Wildfire4/10
Tornado3/10
Flood1/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalRawlins County Health Center (2.8 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage91.3%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate2.8%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Rawlins County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Rawlins County?
Rawlins County is in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 154-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.2°F, and average winter lows of 16°F. The established crops are wheat, corn, sorghum.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $99,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.66%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 91.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Rawlins County Health Center is 2.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Rawlins 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.