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Buying a home in Plains, Kansas

The typical owner-occupied home in Plains is worth about $151,400, 30% below the Kansas median of $217,200 and 54% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,664 a year in property taxes, about 1.10% of their home's value, lower than the Kansas rate of 1.29%. The median household earns $71,136 a year, so the median home costs 2.1 times the median income (2.9 times for Kansas). 73% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 54% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Plains at a glance

Plains Kansas U.S.
Median home value $151,400 $217,200 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,664 $2,798 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.10% 1.29% 0.94%
Median household income $71,136 $74,275 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 73% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 54% 57% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,522 $1,689 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 28.9% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $778 $1,060 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 14.7% 27.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1968 1976 1980
Vacant homes 17.6% 9.2% 10.1%
Population 1,171 2,947,197 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Plains

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Plains home of $151,400 with 20% down costs about $1,017 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,269, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $43,571 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Plains household income of $71,136; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $247,000.

The median rent here is $778 a month, so owning the median home costs about $239 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$30,280
Loan amount$121,120
Principal and interest$815
Property taxes (1.10% a year)$139
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$63
PMI$0
Total per month$1,017

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,299
Loan amount$148,658
Principal and interest$1,000
Property taxes (1.10% a year)$139
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$63
FHA mortgage insurance$67
Total per month$1,269

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Questions about home buying in Plains

What is the median home value in Plains?

About $151,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Plains?

Homeowners pay a median $1,664 a year, which is about 1.10% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Plains?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,017 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $43,571 a year.

More about Plains

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data