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Buying a home in Liberal, Kansas

The typical owner-occupied home in Liberal is worth about $137,100, 37% below the Kansas median of $217,200 and 59% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,363 a year in property taxes, about 1.72% of their home's value, higher than the Kansas rate of 1.29%. The median household earns $63,706 a year, so the median home costs 2.2 times the median income (2.9 times for Kansas). 59% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 42% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Liberal at a glance

Liberal Kansas U.S.
Median home value $137,100 $217,200 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,363 $2,798 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.72% 1.29% 0.94%
Median household income $63,706 $74,275 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 59% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 42% 57% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,356 $1,689 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 24.2% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $900 $1,060 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 22.3% 27.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1973 1976 1980
Vacant homes 12.2% 9.2% 10.1%
Population 19,316 2,947,197 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Liberal

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Liberal home of $137,100 with 20% down costs about $991 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,220, 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 $42,491 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 19% of the median Liberal household income of $63,706; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $206,000.

The median rent here is $900 a month, so owning the median home costs about $91 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$27,420
Loan amount$109,680
Principal and interest$738
Property taxes (1.72% a year)$197
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$57
PMI$0
Total per month$991

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,798
Loan amount$134,617
Principal and interest$906
Property taxes (1.72% a year)$197
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$57
FHA mortgage insurance$61
Total per month$1,220

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Questions about home buying in Liberal

What is the median home value in Liberal?

About $137,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Liberal?

Homeowners pay a median $2,363 a year, which is about 1.72% 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 Liberal?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $991 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $42,491 a year.

More about Liberal

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