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Norton County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Norton County, Kansas has a population of 5,359, the 64th most populous county in Kansas. The median household income is $54,050 and the median home value is $101,500. The poverty rate is 7.2%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Norton County Quick Facts

Population 5,359
Median Household Income $54,050
Median Home Value $101,500
Poverty Rate 7.2%
Unemployment Rate 1.7%
Median Age 41.3 years
Homeownership Rate 76.2%
Affordability Ratio 1.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 22.4%
High School Graduation 95.1%
Cities/Places 5
Population 5,359 64th of 105
Median Income $54,050 27% lower than state
Poverty Rate 7.2%
Unemployment 1.7%

How Norton County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population5,3925,359-0.6%
Median household income$50,305$54,050+7.4%
Median home value$106,300$101,500-4.5%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.1%
$25K-$50K 27.1%
$50K-$100K 35.5%
$100K+ 20.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
2.3%
$10K-$15K
5.0%
$15K-$20K
3.6%
$20K-$25K
6.3%
$25K-$30K
6.2%
$30K-$35K
8.5%
$35K-$40K
3.0%
$40K-$45K
4.5%
$45K-$50K
5.0%
$50K-$60K
10.0%
$60K-$75K
12.7%
$75K-$100K
12.8%
$100K-$125K
6.8%
$125K-$150K
7.5%
$150K-$200K
4.8%
$200K+
1.3%

Employment

1.7% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9%|National: 5.2%
46.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 76.2%
Renter 23.8%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
1.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $609/mo 13.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

26out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Norton County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Norton2,689$53,1253.2%$96,800
Almena523$63,9179.4%$107,100
Lenora183$31,25022.9%$46,100
Edmond49$25,55634.7%$9,999
Clayton33$74,25018.2%N/A

Population Overview

Norton County is located in Kansas with a total population of 5,359. It is the 64th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Norton County is 41.3 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Norton County is $54,050. This is 27% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.2%. This is 36% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.7%. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $101,500. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Norton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Norton County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.9%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

22.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% 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 95.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Norton 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Norton County, Kansas?

Norton County has a population of 5,359, making it the 64th most populous county in Kansas.

What is the median income in Norton County?

The median household income in Norton County is $54,050 with a poverty rate of 7.2%.

How many cities are in Norton County, Kansas?

Norton County contains 5 Census-designated places.