Russell County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Russell County is located in Kansas with a total population of 6,679. It is the 54th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Russell County is 44.4 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. 11.1% 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 Russell County is $62,392. This is 16% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.7%. This is 30% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $119,000. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Russell County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Russell County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.2%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.2%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

19.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% 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 94.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Russell 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.