Sylvan Grove, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 314, Sylvan Grove'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

Sylvan Grove is a small community located in Kansas, within Lincoln County. The total population is 314. It ranks as the 368th most populous out of 721 Census-designated places in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sylvan Grove is 47.4 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. With 29.6% of the population under 18, Sylvan Grove has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.2% 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 Sylvan Grove is $53,750. This is 28% 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 20.7%. This is 84% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.9%. This is 77% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $90,300. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Sylvan Grove is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sylvan Grove has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.1%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

33.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 7% 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 98.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sylvan Grove, 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.