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Wilson County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Wilson County, Kansas has a population of 8,505, the 45th most populous county in Kansas. The median household income is $60,677 and the median home value is $93,500. The poverty rate is 15.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Wilson County Quick Facts

Population 8,505
Median Household Income $60,677
Median Home Value $93,500
Poverty Rate 15.5%
Unemployment Rate 3.0%
Median Age 42.7 years
Homeownership Rate 77.7%
Affordability Ratio 1.5x
Bachelor's Degree+ 19.9%
High School Graduation 90.3%
Cities/Places 8
Population 8,505 45th of 105
Median Income $60,677 18% lower than state
Poverty Rate 15.5%
Unemployment 3.0%

How Wilson County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population8,5598,505-0.6%
Median household income$57,056$60,677+6.3%
Median home value$93,900$93,500-0.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.5%
$25K-$50K 21.8%
$50K-$100K 30.7%
$100K+ 27.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.3%
$10K-$15K
5.3%
$15K-$20K
5.0%
$20K-$25K
6.9%
$25K-$30K
4.0%
$30K-$35K
3.2%
$35K-$40K
3.7%
$40K-$45K
5.7%
$45K-$50K
5.2%
$50K-$60K
7.1%
$60K-$75K
10.0%
$75K-$100K
13.7%
$100K-$125K
9.2%
$125K-$150K
7.7%
$150K-$200K
6.6%
$200K+
3.4%

Employment

3.0% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9%|National: 5.2%
60.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.7%
Renter 22.3%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
1.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $736/mo 14.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

18out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Wilson County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Neodesha2,503$50,79216.5%$91,400
Fredonia1,945$59,12519.3%$76,000
Altoona467$48,8755.8%$48,000
Buffalo282$68,7508.2%$36,000
New Albany88$82,81351.9%$46,400
Lafontaine78$52,69212.8%$45,500
Coyville62N/A41.9%$49,100
Benedict61$46,25013.1%$24,300

Population Overview

Wilson County is located in Kansas with a total population of 8,505. It is the 45th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wilson County is 42.7 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wilson County is $60,677. This is 18% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.5%. This is 37% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $93,500. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Wilson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Wilson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.8%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.8%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

19.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% 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 90.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Wilson 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 Wilson County, Kansas?

Wilson County has a population of 8,505, making it the 45th most populous county in Kansas.

What is the median income in Wilson County?

The median household income in Wilson County is $60,677 with a poverty rate of 15.5%.

How many cities are in Wilson County, Kansas?

Wilson County contains 8 Census-designated places.