Menlo, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 24, Menlo'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

Menlo is a small community located in Kansas, within Thomas County. The total population is 24. It ranks as the 683rd most populous out of 721 Census-designated places in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Menlo is 42.3 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. With 29.2% of the population under 18, Menlo has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 33.3%. This is 195% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Menlo, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $256,300. Housing costs are 18% higher than the state median of $217,200. 81.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Menlo is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.7%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (16.7% vs 2.9%).

Education

23.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 23.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Menlo, 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.