Chautauqua County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Chautauqua County is located in Kansas with a total population of 3,370. It is the 78th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chautauqua County is 45.2 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. 11.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chautauqua County is $56,438. This is 24% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.9%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $65,500. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Chautauqua County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chautauqua County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.0%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.0%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

18.6% 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 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Chautauqua 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.