The USDA rural loan eligibility map for Kansas.

Which Kansas markets are USDA-eligible (you’d be surprised)

People assume “USDA” means deep farm country. In Kansas, the eligibility map is far more generous than that. As of 2026, these markets are fully or largely USDA-eligible:

• Derby (population 25,000, Wichita suburb) — fully eligible
• Haysville (population 11,000, Wichita suburb) — fully eligible
• Andover (population 16,000, Wichita suburb) — most of the town
• Park City — fully eligible
• Hesston, McPherson, Buhler, Newton — fully eligible
• Junction City, Manhattan fringe — eligible outside the city cores
• Emporia, Great Bend, Pratt, Dodge City, Garden City, Liberal — fully eligible
• Parts of Salina, Hutchinson, and Lawrence — check street-by-street

What isn’t eligible: downtown Wichita, most of Topeka, most of Lawrence, and most of Kansas City Metro (Johnson, Wyandotte, and the eastern half of Leavenworth County).

Household income limits by Kansas county

USDA income limits are based on household income — every adult in the home who earns money is counted, even non-borrowers. The 2026 moderate-income limits for most Kansas counties:

• 1–4 person household: approximately $121,500
• 5–8 person household: approximately $160,400

Johnson County has a slightly higher cap because of metro adjustment. Rural/frontier counties all use the same base limit. Limits update each June — we always verify current numbers at application.

Important adjustments: deduct $480 per minor child, $400 per elderly household member, and all documented medical expenses over 3% of gross income. These adjustments can bring a household that looks over-income down into qualifying range.

The 100% financing + minimal costs advantage

On a $225,000 home purchase in Derby, here’s the side-by-side:

• USDA: $0 down + 1% upfront guarantee fee financed into loan + 0.35% annual fee. Total cash needed: seller concessions usually cover closing costs. Effective cash-to-close: often $500–$2,500.
• FHA: 3.5% down ($7,875) + 1.75% upfront MIP financed + 0.55% annual MIP. Cash to close: roughly $10,000–$12,000.
• Conventional 3% down: $6,750 down + 0.5–1.2% PMI until 20% equity. Cash to close: $10,000–$12,000.

For a buyer who has 620+ credit and is income-eligible, USDA is almost always the lowest-cost path on an eligible property.

Credit requirements

USDA technically has no minimum credit score (the automated underwriting system GUS decides), but in practice our lender minimum is 580 (GUS automated approval typically 640+). Under 640, files go to manual underwriting, which requires compensating factors like strong reserves, low DTI, or a significant track record of rent payment history. Radley has closed USDA files with scores as low as 580 through manual underwrite when the rest of the file was strong.

Property eligibility rules (what the house itself must be)

• Primary residence only. No second homes, no investment properties.
• Modest-size. The home should be “modest” for the area — no in-ground pools (repair costs), no commercial farming operations, no second kitchens.
• Condition. Must be move-in ready. Major repairs can be escrowed but the USDA appraiser has more authority than an FHA appraiser to flag items.
• Well and septic. Rural properties often have these. The well must be tested for bacteria and nitrates. The septic must be functional.
• No outbuildings producing income. If there’s a barn you want to rent out for weddings, it’s a problem.

How to check if a specific address is eligible

1. Go to eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov.
2. Select “Single Family Housing Guaranteed.”
3. Accept the disclaimer.
4. Enter the exact street address.
5. You’ll see “Eligible” or “Ineligible” on a map.

If I’m screening a property for a buyer, I do this check before we even pull credit. It takes 30 seconds.

Common USDA misconceptions

“USDA is for farmers.” It’s not. It’s a general mortgage product for eligible geographic areas. You can be a software engineer buying a ranch-style home in Hesston and qualify.

“USDA takes forever.” Used to. Since 2016, GUS (Guaranteed Underwriting System) has sped USDA up to within 3–5 days of conventional timelines. Most of our USDA files close in 28–35 days.

“I make too much.” Most buyers haven’t checked the actual adjusted income calculation. Minor children and medical expenses reduce countable income significantly.

“I already own a home.” USDA allows current homeowners to buy a new USDA-eligible home as long as the current home is being sold or rented out and is not within “reasonable commuting distance” (typically 50 miles) of the new home.