Cowley County, Kansas Demographics 2026

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

Cowley County, Kansas has a population of 34,411, the 15th most populous county in Kansas. The median household income is $57,878 and the median home value is $120,900. The poverty rate is 14.3%.

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

Cowley County Quick Facts

Population 34,411

Median Household Income $57,878

Median Home Value $120,900

Poverty Rate 14.3%

Unemployment Rate 3.9%

Median Age 39.2 years

Homeownership Rate 68.1%

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 24.5%

High School Graduation 90.6%

Cities/Places 12

Population 34,411 15th of 105

Median Income $57,878 22% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.3%

Unemployment 3.9%

How Cowley County 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	34,487	34,411	-0.2%
Median household income	$58,263	$57,878	-0.7%
Median home value	$111,600	$120,900	+8.3%

Median Household Income

Cowley

$57,878

$74,275

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Cowley

$120,900

$217,200

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.6%

$25K-$50K 25.4%

$50K-$100K 30.1%

$100K+ 25.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.7%

$10K-$15K

4.2%

$15K-$20K

4.1%

$20K-$25K

4.6%

$25K-$30K

5.8%

$30K-$35K

5.1%

$35K-$40K

4.5%

$40K-$45K

4.8%

$45K-$50K

5.3%

$50K-$60K

8.3%

$60K-$75K

10.0%

$75K-$100K

11.8%

$100K-$125K

9.4%

$125K-$150K

5.5%

$150K-$200K

6.4%

$200K+

4.5%

Employment

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

57.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 68.1%

Renter 31.9%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $809/mo 16.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.6%

18-34

20.9%

35-54

24.1%

55-74

23.4%

75+

8.1%

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+)

Cities & Places in Cowley County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Arkansas City	11,884	$49,629	17.2%	$86,800
Winfield	11,711	$56,656	15.3%	$132,700
Udall	807	$70,667	12.9%	$96,100
Burden	554	$55,833	12.9%	$58,600
Dexter	540	$52,357	2.8%	$81,800
Parkerfield	527	$125,938	1.1%	$221,400
Geuda Springs	223	$51,528	3.6%	$86,300
Atlanta	169	$59,792	15.5%	$72,800
Silverdale	116	$31,188	82.8%	$186,900
Rock	90	$62,000	0.0%	N/A
Cambridge	69	$103,125	0.0%	$47,500
New Salem	12	N/A	0.0%	N/A

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

Population Overview

Cowley County is located in Kansas with a total population of 34,411. It is the 15th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cowley County is 39.2 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cowley County is $57,878. This is 22% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.3%. This is 26% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 1% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $120,900. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Cowley County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cowley County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.2%. The Black or African American population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.

Education

24.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% 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 90.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cowley 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 Cowley County, Kansas?

Cowley County has a population of 34,411, making it the 15th most populous county in Kansas.

What is the median income in Cowley County?

The median household income in Cowley County is $57,878 with a poverty rate of 14.3%.

How many cities are in Cowley County, Kansas?

Cowley County contains 12 Census-designated places.