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Thomas County

KS · Pop. 7,913 · Rural County

62/100Homestead Score

Thomas County, Kansas covers 1,075 square miles with a population of 7,913 and a density of 7.4 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on wheat, corn, sorghum. The median home price is $166,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.32%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 159-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.2°F and average winter lows of 16.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 20.7 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Citizens Medical Center is 2.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 92.7% of homes. On the hazard side, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.32%
Growing Season: 159 days
Broadband: 92.7%
Density: 7.4/sq mi

Pros

  • A median home price of $166,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 92.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Citizens Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 2.5 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 7.4 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 159-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
  • Annual rainfall of just 20.7 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
  • An effective property tax rate of 1.32% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.

At a glance

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

Homestead score
62/100
Median home price
$166k
Property tax
1.32%
Growing season
159 days (zone 6a)
Annual rainfall
20.7"
Broadband
92.7%
Nearest hospital
Citizens Medical Center, 2.5 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.32%
Median Household Income$73,575
Poverty Rate6.9%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$166K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone6a
Growing Season159 days
Annual Rainfall20.7 inches
Avg Summer High88.2°F
Avg Winter Low16.2°F
Top CropsWheat, Corn, Sorghum

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought9/10
Wildfire2/10
Tornado4/10
Flood1/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalCitizens Medical Center (2.5 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage92.7%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate2.7%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Thomas County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Thomas County?
Thomas County is in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 159-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.2°F, and average winter lows of 16.2°F. The established crops are wheat, corn, sorghum.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $166,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.32%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 92.7% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Citizens Medical Center is 2.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Thomas 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.