Great Bend city, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Great Bend city is a small city located in Kansas, within Barton County. The total population is 14,596. It ranks as the 26th most populous out of 726 cities and towns in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Great Bend city is 37.0 years. This is about average than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Great Bend city is $53,323. This is 27% lower than the state median of $72,639. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 32% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.0%. This is 47% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $118,700. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $203,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Great Bend city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 57.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Great Bend city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 25.0%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (25.0% vs 13.3%). The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

20.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% 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 85.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Great Bend 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.