West Mineral, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 154, West Mineral'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

West Mineral is a small community located in Kansas, within Cherokee County. The total population is 154. It ranks as the 477th most populous out of 721 Census-designated places in Kansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Mineral is 37.3 years. This is about the same as the state median of 37.4 years. 16.2% 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 West Mineral is $35,417. This is 52% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 56% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.8%. This is 31% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The survey records no unemployed residents in West Mineral, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $42,900. Housing costs are 80% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, West Mineral is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in West Mineral is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 13.6%.

Education

1.9% 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 95% 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 91.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Mineral, 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.