Decatur County, Kansas Demographics 2026

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

Decatur County, Kansas has a population of 2,726, the 86th most populous county in Kansas. The median household income is $53,870 and the median home value is $89,500. The poverty rate is 12.7%.

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

Decatur County Quick Facts

Population 2,726

Median Household Income $53,870

Median Home Value $89,500

Poverty Rate 12.7%

Unemployment Rate 4.1%

Median Age 50.1 years

Homeownership Rate 77.7%

Affordability Ratio 1.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 27.0%

High School Graduation 94.1%

Cities/Places 4

Population 2,726 86th of 105

Median Income $53,870 27% lower than state

Poverty Rate 12.7%

Unemployment 4.1%

How Decatur 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	2,746	2,726	-0.7%
Median household income	$52,030	$53,870	+3.5%
Median home value	$78,500	$89,500	+14.0%

Median Household Income

Decatur

$53,870

$74,275

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Decatur

$89,500

$217,200

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.1%

$25K-$50K 29.0%

$50K-$100K 34.5%

$100K+ 21.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.8%

$10K-$15K

3.6%

$15K-$20K

3.9%

$20K-$25K

3.8%

$25K-$30K

9.5%

$30K-$35K

7.3%

$35K-$40K

4.8%

$40K-$45K

4.8%

$45K-$50K

2.7%

$50K-$60K

13.0%

$60K-$75K

9.2%

$75K-$100K

12.4%

$100K-$125K

6.4%

$125K-$150K

7.3%

$150K-$200K

3.8%

$200K+

3.8%

Employment

4.1% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9%|National: 5.2%

61.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.7%

Renter 22.3%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $676/mo 15.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.8%

18-34

14.4%

35-54

19.2%

55-74

32.4%

75+

13.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very 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 Decatur County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Oberlin	1,734	$52,284	11.5%	$88,700
Norcatur	197	$53,906	12.7%	$65,000
Jennings	118	$51,250	14.4%	$41,200
Dresden	60	N/A	10.0%	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

Decatur County is located in Kansas with a total population of 2,726. It is the 86th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Decatur County is 50.1 years. This is 34% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. 13.2% 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 Decatur County is $53,870. This is 27% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.7%. This is 13% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $89,500. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Decatur County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Decatur County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.8%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.8%) is well below the state average of 13.6%.

Education

27.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 94.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Decatur 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 Decatur County, Kansas?

Decatur County has a population of 2,726, making it the 86th most populous county in Kansas.

What is the median income in Decatur County?

The median household income in Decatur County is $53,870 with a poverty rate of 12.7%.

How many cities are in Decatur County, Kansas?

Decatur County contains 4 Census-designated places.