The typical owner-occupied home in Smith County is worth about $94,100, 57% below the Kansas median of $217,200 and 72% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,722 a year in property taxes, about 1.83% of their home's value, higher than the Kansas rate of 1.29%. The median household earns $59,135 a year, so the median home costs 1.6 times the median income (2.9 times for Kansas). 85% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 37% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Smith County at a glance
| Smith County | Kansas | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,100 | $217,200 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,722 | $2,798 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.83% | 1.29% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $59,135 | $74,275 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 85% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 37% | 57% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,126 | $1,689 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.5% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $635 | $1,060 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 31.3% | 27.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1954 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 22.0% | 9.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 3,552 | 2,947,197 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Smith County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Smith County home of $94,100 with 20% down costs about $689 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $846, 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 $29,534 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 14% of the median Smith County household income of $59,135; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $188,000.
The median rent here is $635 a month, so owning the median home costs about $54 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $18,820 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $75,280 |
| Principal and interest | $506 |
| Property taxes (1.83% a year) | $144 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $39 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $689 |
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| Down payment | $3,294 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $92,396 |
| Principal and interest | $622 |
| Property taxes (1.83% a year) | $144 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $39 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $42 |
| Total per month | $846 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Smith County
What is the median home value in Smith County?
About $94,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Smith County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,722 a year, which is about 1.83% 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 Smith County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $689 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $29,534 a year.
More about Smith County
- Mortgage Refinance in Smith County
- Debt Relief in Smith County
- Home Equity Loans in Smith County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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