Kearny County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Kearny County is located in Kansas with a total population of 3,864. It is the 74th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kearny County is 37.1 years. This is about the same as the state median of 37.4 years. With 28.4% of the population under 18, Kearny County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kearny County is $89,135. This is 20% higher than the state median of $74,275. It is also 10% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.5%. This is 60% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 2.2%. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $200,900. Housing costs are 8% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Kearny County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Kearny County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 58.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 35.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (35.6% vs 13.6%).

Education

19.4% 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 46% 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 81.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Kearny 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.