Palco, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 197, Palco'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

Palco is a small community located in Kansas, within Rooks County. The total population is 197. It ranks as the 427th most populous out of 721 Census-designated places in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Palco is 41.8 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. 23.4% 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 Palco is $60,625. This is 18% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.6%. This is 59% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Palco, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $75,500. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Palco is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Palco has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 13.6%.

Education

17.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% 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 95.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Palco, 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.