Barton County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Barton County is located in Kansas with a total population of 25,275. It is the 24th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Barton County is 38.8 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Barton County is $56,733. This is 22% lower than the state median of $72,639. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.7%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $117,200. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $203,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Barton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Barton County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.4%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

21.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 90.3%.