Howard, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Howard, Kansas had a total population of 516, the 291st largest city in Kansas, with a median household income of $65,625, which is 12% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.8x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.1%.
Howard Quick Facts
How Howard 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 | 553 | 516 | -6.7% |
| Median household income | $53,125 | $65,625 | +23.5% |
| Median home value | $53,400 | $52,600 | -1.5% |
How Howard Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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+)
Howard Rankings in Kansas
Explore Kansas Rankings
Other Cities in Elk County
Cities Similar to Howard
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almena | 523 | $63,917 | $107,100 | 24.3% | 9.4% |
| Assaria | 521 | $69,500 | $151,000 | 43.1% | 7.9% |
| Centralia | 501 | $67,188 | $86,400 | 32.4% | 5.5% |
| Leonardville | 514 | $77,083 | $110,400 | 9.1% | 7.4% |
| Bronson | 537 | $72,222 | $68,100 | 21.9% | 33.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 516, Howard's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Howard is a small community located in Kansas, within Elk County. The total population is 516. It ranks as the 291st most populous out of 721 Census-designated places in Kansas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Howard is 45.5 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. 14.7% 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 Howard is $65,625. This is 12% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.9%. This is 58% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 2.1%. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $52,600. Housing costs are 76% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.8x, Howard is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 67.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Howard has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.3%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.
Education
18.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% 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 90.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Howard, Kansas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Kansas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 721 Census-designated places in Kansas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Kansas city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Howard, Kansas?
Howard, Kansas has a population of 516 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Howard, KS?
The median household income in Howard is $65,625, which is 19% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Howard, KS?
The poverty rate in Howard is 17.9%. This means approximately 90 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Howard, Kansas?
Howard's population is 85.9% White, 0.4% Black, 10.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Howard, KS?
The median home value in Howard is $52,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 0.8x.
How educated is Howard, Kansas?
18.7% of adults (25+) in Howard hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.