Seward County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Seward County is located in Kansas with a total population of 21,486. It is the 26th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Seward County is 31.0 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 37.4 years. With 30.3% of the population under 18, Seward County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Seward County is $63,827. This is 14% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.2%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 27% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $136,500. Housing costs are 37% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Seward County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Seward County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 67.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 25.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (25.1%) is well below the state average of 72.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (67.4% vs 13.6%).

Education

11.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 68% 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 71.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Seward 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.