Arkansas City city, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Arkansas City city is a small city located in Kansas, within Cowley County. The total population is 11,909. It ranks as the 30th most populous out of 726 cities and towns in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Arkansas City city is 35.5 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Arkansas City city is $53,475. This is 26% lower than the state median of $72,639. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 32% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.9%. This is 46% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 40% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $81,700. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $203,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Arkansas City city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Arkansas City city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 65.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 22.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (22.9% vs 13.3%). The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

19.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Arkansas City city, Kansas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Kansas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 726 Census-designated places in Kansas. For official data, visit data.census.gov.