Kansas City city, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Kansas City city is a major urban center located in Kansas, within Cowley County. The total population is 154,776. It ranks as the 3rd most populous out of 726 cities and towns in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kansas City city is 34.0 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kansas City city is $59,183. This is 19% lower than the state median of $72,639. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.9%. This is 56% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 41% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $147,100. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $203,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Kansas City city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 60.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Kansas City city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 34.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (34.4%) is well below the state average of 73.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (20.0% vs 5.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (35.0% vs 13.3%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (5.3% vs 2.9%).

Education

20.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 81.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kansas City 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.