In Liberal, a typical home is worth $137,100 and typical rent is $900 a month. Home values, rent and income are very close to those of all of Seward County.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $135,094 to $147,004.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Liberal is in Seward County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Seward County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Ulysses, the typical home value is $97,400: 29% less than in Liberal ($137,100).
2
Nearby, in Ulysses, the typical rent is $717: 20% less than in Liberal ($900).
3
Liberal has the 5th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 62 cities in Kansas with more than 5,000 people (34%).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Liberal
What homes there are in Liberal, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Liberal
Seward County
Kansas
United States
Kind of home: Liberal and its comparisons
Measure
Liberal
Seward County
Kansas
United States
Detached house
65%
67%
72%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
14%
12%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
13%
19%
Mobile home
9%
10%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
As in Seward County, most homes in Liberal are detached houses (65%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Liberal
Seward County
Kansas
United States
Year built: Liberal and its comparisons
Measure
Liberal
Seward County
Kansas
United States
Before 1960
27%
27%
32%
26%
1960–1979
33%
33%
24%
24%
1980–1999
24%
24%
23%
25%
2000–2009
6%
6%
12%
14%
2010 or later
10%
10%
9%
11%
The typical year built in Liberal is 1973, about the same as in Seward County (1973).
Much as in Seward County, 53% of homes in Liberal have 3 bedrooms or more.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K33%
$100K–$200K50%
$200K–$300K12%
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Liberal and its comparisons
Measure
Liberal
Under $100K
33%
$100K–$200K
50%
$200K–$300K
12%
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99947%
$1,000–$1,49931%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Liberal and its comparisons
Measure
Liberal
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
47%
$1,000–$1,499
31%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,356 a month
Seward County: $1,383 a month
Without a mortgage
$625 a month
Seward County: $621 a month
Owners with a mortgage
42%
Seward County: 42%
Owning costs about the same in Liberal as in Seward County: with a mortgage, $1,356 a month; without one, $625.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Liberal+29%
Seward County+30%
Kansas+43%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Liberal+14%
Seward County+15%
Kansas+25%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Liberal+31%
Seward County+30%
Kansas+25%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Liberal and its comparisons
Measure
Liberal
Seward County
Kansas
United States
Typical home value
+29%
+30%
+43%
+53%
Typical rent
+14%
+15%
+25%
+33%
Typical household income
+31%
+30%
+25%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Liberal rose at about the same pace as in Seward County: 29% against 30%.
Rents in Liberal rose at about the same pace as in Seward County: 14% since 2015–2019, against 15%.
The typical household income in Liberal rose 31% over that time; home values changed +29% and rent +14%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Liberal and its comparisons
Measure
Liberal
Seward County
Kansas
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
6.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.9%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2.1%
3.4%
People per household
2.90
2.91
2.44
2.53
Drive alone
80%
81%
75%
69%
Carpool
12%
12%
9%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
3%
3%
Work from home
3%
3%
12%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
By size, households in Liberal look like those in Seward County: 2.90 people on average.
In Liberal, 80% of workers drive alone to work; in Seward County, 81%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Liberal?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Liberal, worth $137,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 23% of the typical household income in Liberal, which is $63,706 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Seward County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Liberal. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $4,799 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,226
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$134,616
Total interest
$193,681
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,315 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,486 a month
Your payment · 23%
Tight
$1,486 to $1,911 a month
Hard
more than $1,911 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Liberal ($63,706 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$912
Property tax
$197
Home insurance
$57
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$61
You need at least $4,799 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,226; principal and interest $912.
The city and its county
Liberal and Seward County
Liberal is in Seward County, Kansas. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Liberal
Map of Seward County, Kansas, with Liberal marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Liberal
Seward County
Liberal's own numbers
Typical home value
$137,100
Typical monthly rent
$900
Typical yearly household income
$63,706
Households that own their home
59%
Effective property tax rate
1.72%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Seward County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,074
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+34%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5.7%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Seward County.
A typical home in Liberal is worth $137,100: about the same as the county and 37% below Kansas. With the typical household income in Liberal ($63,706 a year), a typical home costs 2.2 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Liberal2.2 years
Seward2.1 years
Kansas2.9 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Seward County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Seward County rose 37% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Seward County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Seward County, 2016 to 2025
2016: −0.2% −0.2% 2016
2017: −2.8% −2.8% 2017
2018: −0.2% −0.2% 2018
2019: +5.4% +5.4% 2019
2020: +0.5% +0.5% 2020
2021: +7.3% +7.3% 2021
2022: +11.0% +11.0% 2022
2023: +8.9% +8.9% 2023
2024: −1.8% −1.8% 2024
2025: +5.2% +5.2% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Seward County, Kansas and the United States
Period
County
Kansas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.2%
+4.1%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+34%
+49%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+37%
+84%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Liberal next to Seward County, Kansas and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Liberal$137,100
Seward$136,500
Kansas$217,200
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Liberal$900
Seward$905
Kansas$1,060
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Liberal$63,706
Seward$63,827
Kansas$74,275
United States$80,734
See the full table
Liberal next to Seward County and Kansas
Measure
Liberal
Seward County
Kansas
U.S.
Typical home value
$137,100
$136,500
$217,200
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$900
$905
$1,060
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$63,706
$63,827
$74,275
$80,734
Households that own their home
59% ▼2 points below the county
62%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,363 ▲3% above the county
$2,284
$2,798
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.72% ▲0.05 points above the county
1.67%
1.29%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
34% ▲1 points above the county
33%
43%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Seward County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Liberal
For a typical $137,100 home in Liberal, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Liberal's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,226a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$4,799
Cash to close
$8,912
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $61
Conventional, 5% down$1,201a month
Down payment
$6,855
Cash to close
$10,968
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $65
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$997a month
Down payment
$27,420
Cash to close
$31,533
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,123a month
Down payment
$20,565
Cash to close
$24,678
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Liberal
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,226
$4,799
$134,617
7.18%
FHA MIP · $61
$8,912
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,201
$6,855
$130,245
7.18%
PMI · $65
$10,968
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$997
$27,420
$109,680
7.18%
None
$31,533
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,123
$20,565
$116,535
8.18%
None
$24,678
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Liberal is $900 a month: about the same as the county. In Liberal, 34% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Seward County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,074 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.65 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Seward County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$790
$15.19
$31,600
1 bedroom
$821
$15.79
$32,840
2 bedrooms
$1,074
$20.65
$42,960
3 bedrooms
$1,487
$28.60
$59,480
4 bedrooms
$1,678
$32.27
$67,120
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Liberal
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Liberal is in ZIP code 67901.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,080: $6 more than the fair market rent for Seward County ($1,074).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Liberal, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
67901
$790
$820
$1,080
$1,490
$1,680
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
67901 $1,080$1,490
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Liberal when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Liberal. These are the largest.
PARKLANE - Conversion1401 N New York Ave, Liberal 67901100 homes, 99 low-income · Run by Liberal Housing Authority · Average payment: $391 a month · Average wait: 4 months(620) 624-5501
Flor de Sol I555 E Pine St, Liberal 6790132 low-income homes · 2 bd: 16 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2008 · For families
Flor de Sol III750 E Curtis St, Liberal 6790116 low-income homes · 2 bd: 7 · 3 bd: 9 · In service since 2011 · For families
Liberty Place2500 N Grant Ave, Liberal 6790110 low-income homes · For people with disabilities(620) 275-7521
Flor de Sol II777 E Pine St, Liberal 6790132 homes · In service since 2010
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Seward County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Liberal or Seward County. The ones below are statewide in Kansas: they work in Liberal the same as in the rest of the state.
Kansas state corporation 0% loan for 15% or 20% of the price for the down payment and closing costs, forgiven after 10 years in the home, for households with income up to 80% of the area median; not available in Johnson County or in Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka and Wichita.Offered by Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC).
No legal help resource on our list is for Liberal or Seward County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Liberal and all of Seward County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Liberal?
The typical home value in Liberal is $137,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Seward County it is $136,500.
How much does it cost to rent in Liberal?
Typical rent in Liberal is $900 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Seward County is $1,074.
What is the FHA loan limit in Liberal?
Liberal uses the FHA limit for all of Seward County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Liberal?
The typical homeowner in Liberal pays $2,363 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.72% of the home’s value; in Seward County, the rate is 1.67%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Liberal?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Seward County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
