Ford County, Kansas Demographics 2026

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

Ford County, Kansas has a population of 34,074, the 16th most populous county in Kansas. The median household income is $70,781 and the median home value is $151,100. The poverty rate is 14.0%.

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

Ford County Quick Facts

Population 34,074

Median Household Income $70,781

Median Home Value $151,100

Poverty Rate 14.0%

Unemployment Rate 5.1%

Median Age 32.3 years

Homeownership Rate 62.5%

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 20.7%

High School Graduation 76.5%

Cities/Places 7

Population 34,074 16th of 105

Median Income $70,781 5% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.0%

Unemployment 5.1%

How Ford 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	34,133	34,074	-0.2%
Median household income	$70,495	$70,781	+0.4%
Median home value	$132,700	$151,100	+13.9%

Median Household Income

Ford

$70,781

$74,275

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Ford

$151,100

$217,200

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.8%

$25K-$50K 20.7%

$50K-$100K 33.3%

$100K+ 33.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.0%

$10K-$15K

1.5%

$15K-$20K

3.1%

$20K-$25K

4.2%

$25K-$30K

5.1%

$30K-$35K

3.3%

$35K-$40K

5.2%

$40K-$45K

4.2%

$45K-$50K

3.0%

$50K-$60K

7.0%

$60K-$75K

11.7%

$75K-$100K

14.6%

$100K-$125K

12.2%

$125K-$150K

7.3%

$150K-$200K

7.8%

$200K+

5.8%

Employment

5.1% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9%|National: 5.2%

70.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 62.5%

Renter 37.5%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,010/mo 17.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

29.9%

18-34

24.0%

35-54

23.1%

55-74

18.3%

75+

4.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Ford County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Dodge City	27,613	$68,721	14.6%	$151,700
Spearville	998	$72,969	10.8%	$206,700
Wilroads Gardens	955	N/A	36.8%	$93,400
Bucklin	652	$60,208	5.7%	$84,600
Ford	228	$68,750	7.9%	$132,500
Wright	106	$31,058	0.0%	$220,100
Fort Dodge	93	$40,217	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

Ford County is located in Kansas with a total population of 34,074. It is the 16th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ford County is 32.3 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 37.4 years. With 29.9% of the population under 18, Ford County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ford County is $70,781. This is 5% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.0%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $151,100. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Ford County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 62.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ford County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 59.1% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 35.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (35.4%) is well below the state average of 72.7%. The Black or African American population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (59.1% vs 13.6%). The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

20.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 76.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Ford 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 Ford County, Kansas?

Ford County has a population of 34,074, making it the 16th most populous county in Kansas.

What is the median income in Ford County?

The median household income in Ford County is $70,781 with a poverty rate of 14.0%.

How many cities are in Ford County, Kansas?

Ford County contains 7 Census-designated places.