Fort Scott city, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Fort Scott city is a small city located in Kansas, within Bourbon County. The total population is 7,551. It ranks as the 49th most populous out of 726 cities and towns in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fort Scott city is 39.2 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fort Scott city is $60,799. This is 16% lower than the state median of $72,639. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.9%. This is 5% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. The median home value is $89,400. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $203,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Fort Scott city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Fort Scott city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

21.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 91.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Fort Scott city, Kansas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Kansas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 726 Census-designated places in Kansas. For official data, visit data.census.gov.