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Barton County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Barton County, Kansas has a population of 25,097, the 24th most populous county in Kansas. The median household income is $58,851 and the median home value is $126,400. The poverty rate is 15.4%.

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

Barton County Quick Facts

Population 25,097
Median Household Income $58,851
Median Home Value $126,400
Poverty Rate 15.4%
Unemployment Rate 3.9%
Median Age 38.8 years
Homeownership Rate 65.2%
Affordability Ratio 2.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 21.7%
High School Graduation 90.5%
Cities/Places 10
Population 25,097 24th of 105
Median Income $58,851 21% lower than state
Poverty Rate 15.4%
Unemployment 3.9%

How Barton County Changed

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

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population25,27525,097-0.7%
Median household income$56,733$58,851+3.7%
Median home value$117,200$126,400+7.8%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.6%
$25K-$50K 25.8%
$50K-$100K 32.7%
$100K+ 24.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.0%
$10K-$15K
4.1%
$15K-$20K
2.9%
$20K-$25K
4.6%
$25K-$30K
6.1%
$30K-$35K
5.3%
$35K-$40K
4.1%
$40K-$45K
4.4%
$45K-$50K
5.9%
$50K-$60K
8.9%
$60K-$75K
10.2%
$75K-$100K
13.6%
$100K-$125K
10.6%
$125K-$150K
4.2%
$150K-$200K
6.3%
$200K+
3.7%

Employment

3.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9%|National: 5.2%
62.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 65.2%
Renter 34.8%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.1x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $761/mo 15.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

35out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Barton County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Great Bend14,479$54,13916.9%$133,900
Hoisington2,643$52,27716.5%$95,000
Ellinwood2,192$56,37914.1%$109,300
Claflin455$63,43820.4%$107,300
Pawnee Rock258$48,02641.1%$59,600
Olmitz113$76,2500.0%$60,000
Albert100$58,7509.0%$70,800
Odin58N/A0.0%N/A
Susank31$72,5006.9%N/A
Galatia20N/A10.0%N/A

Population Overview

Barton County is located in Kansas with a total population of 25,097. It is the 24th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Barton County is 38.8 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Barton County is $58,851. This is 21% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.4%. This is 37% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. The median home value is $126,400. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Barton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Barton County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.7%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Asian population (0.2%) 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 39% 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 90.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Barton County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Kansas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Barton County, Kansas?

Barton County has a population of 25,097, making it the 24th most populous county in Kansas.

What is the median income in Barton County?

The median household income in Barton County is $58,851 with a poverty rate of 15.4%.

How many cities are in Barton County, Kansas?

Barton County contains 10 Census-designated places.