Riley County, Kansas Demographics 2026
Riley County, Kansas has a population of 71,946, the 7th most populous county in Kansas. The median household income is $61,098 and the median home value is $237,100. The poverty rate is 19.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Riley County Quick Facts
How Riley County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,710 | 71,946 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $59,560 | $61,098 | +2.6% |
| Median home value | $231,200 | $237,100 | +2.6% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Riley County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | 54,239 | $60,172 | 23.3% | $246,700 |
| Fort Riley | 8,606 | $54,362 | 10.7% | N/A |
| Ogden | 1,696 | $68,421 | 5.9% | $156,800 |
| Riley | 943 | $93,750 | 4.9% | $163,100 |
| Leonardville | 514 | $77,083 | 7.4% | $110,400 |
| Keats | 182 | $36,557 | 0.0% | N/A |
| Randolph | 178 | $82,500 | 12.9% | $150,000 |
Explore Kansas Rankings
Population Overview
Riley County is located in Kansas with a total population of 71,946. It is the 7th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Riley County is 25.5 years. This is 32% lower than the state median of 37.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Riley County is $61,098. This is 18% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.9%. This is 76% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $237,100. Housing costs are 9% higher than the state median of $217,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 46.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% lower than the state average of 67.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Riley County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.0%.
Education
48.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Riley County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 37% higher 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 97.0%. Notably, 22.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Riley 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 Riley County, Kansas?
Riley County has a population of 71,946, making it the 7th most populous county in Kansas.
What is the median income in Riley County?
The median household income in Riley County is $61,098 with a poverty rate of 19.9%.
How many cities are in Riley County, Kansas?
Riley County contains 7 Census-designated places.