Jewell County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jewell County is located in Kansas with a total population of 2,916. It is the 82nd most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jewell County is 51.2 years. This is 37% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. 14.2% 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 Jewell County is $52,634. This is 29% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.6%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.4%. This is 65% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $64,600. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Jewell County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Jewell County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

18.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 49% 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 94.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Jewell 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.