Kansas City city, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Kansas City city is a major urban center located in Missouri. The total population is 508,233. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 1,062 cities and towns in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kansas City city is 35.7 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kansas City city is $67,449. This is 2% lower than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.6%. This is 15% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.7%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $227,000. Housing costs are 5% higher than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 54.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Kansas City city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 54.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 25.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (25.5% vs 11.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.3% vs 5.1%).

Education

37.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% higher than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kansas City city, Missouri is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. For official data, visit data.census.gov.