Alton, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 121, Alton's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Alton is a small community located in Kansas, within Osborne County. The total population is 121. It ranks as the 522nd most populous out of 721 Census-designated places in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Alton is 34.3 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 37.4 years. 14.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 14.9%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 30.4%. This is 678% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $32,500. Housing costs are 85% lower than the state median of $217,200. 62.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Alton has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.7%. The Black or African American population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

2.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 94% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 98.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Alton, Kansas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Kansas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 721 Census-designated places in Kansas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.