Atchison, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Atchison, Kansas Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

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Very AffordableHome value to income ratio of 2.4x is exceptionally low

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Atchison, Kansas had a total population of 10,785, the 35th largest city in Kansas, with a median household income of $54,474, which is 27% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x.

Atchison Quick Facts

Population 10,785

Median Household Income $54,474

Median Home Value $129,700

Poverty Rate 15.8%

Unemployment Rate 5.3%

Median Age 29.1 years

Homeownership Rate 60.5%

Affordability Ratio 2.4x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 26.8%

High School Graduation Rate 95.4%

Diversity Index 30/100

Population 10,785 35th of 721

Median Income $54,474 below average

Poverty Rate 15.8% 27% higher than national

Median Home Value $129,700 above average

How Atchison Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	10,795	10,785	-0.1%
Median household income	$54,695	$54,474	-0.4%
Median home value	$130,200	$129,700	-0.4%

How Atchison Compares

Median Household Income

Atchison

$54,474

$74,275

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Atchison

$129,700

$217,200

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 22.4%

$25K-$50K 24.1%

$50K-$100K 27.1%

$100K+ 26.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.6%

$10K-$15K

6.3%

$15K-$20K

5.3%

$20K-$25K

4.2%

$25K-$30K

5.4%

$30K-$35K

4.1%

$35K-$40K

3.5%

$40K-$45K

5.8%

$45K-$50K

5.3%

$50K-$60K

6.3%

$60K-$75K

11.9%

$75K-$100K

9.0%

$100K-$125K

8.7%

$125K-$150K

8.4%

$150K-$200K

5.4%

$200K+

3.9%

Employment

5.3% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9%|National: 5.2%

61.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 60.5%

Renter 39.5%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $737/mo 16.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.6%

18-34

32.1%

35-54

19.6%

55-74

18.5%

75+

6.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Atchison Rankings in Kansas

#35 Population of 721

#411 Median Income of 629

#187 Education of 721

#185 Home Value of 605

Explore Kansas Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Atchison County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Effingham	786	$62,500	6.2%	$99,100
Lancaster	325	$39,107	31.7%	$99,100
Muscotah	141	$58,750	11.3%	$90,000
Huron	70	$55,417	34.3%	N/A

Cities Similar to Atchison

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Winfield	11,711	$56,656	$132,700	27.8%	15.3%
Haysville	11,117	$67,740	$161,800	20.0%	11.9%
Arkansas City	11,884	$49,629	$86,800	20.6%	17.2%
Parsons	9,425	$52,428	$71,700	21.7%	20.9%
Merriam	11,085	$73,600	$263,300	45.6%	6.0%

Population Overview

Atchison is a small city located in Kansas, within Atchison County. The total population is 10,785. It ranks as the 35th most populous out of 721 Census-designated places in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Atchison is 29.1 years. This is 22% lower than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Atchison is $54,474. This is 27% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.8%. This is 40% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $129,700. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Atchison is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 60.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Atchison is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.0%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

26.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% 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 95.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Atchison, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Atchison, Kansas?

Atchison, Kansas has a population of 10,785 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Atchison, KS?

The median household income in Atchison is $54,474, which is 33% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Atchison, KS?

The poverty rate in Atchison is 15.8%. This means approximately 1,451 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Atchison, Kansas?

Atchison's population is 82.9% White, 5.3% Black, 5.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.

What is the median home value in Atchison, KS?

The median home value in Atchison is $129,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.4x.

How educated is Atchison, Kansas?

26.8% of adults (25+) in Atchison hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 10.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.