Brown County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Brown County is located in Kansas with a total population of 9,415. It is the 41st most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Brown County is 42.0 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Brown County is $58,886. This is 19% lower than the state median of $72,639. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.2%. This is 23% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $111,100. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $203,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Brown County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Brown County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.4%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.4%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

18.3% 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 48% 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 95.0%.