Kansas Population Growth in 2024 – Key Insights

As of 2024, Kansas’s population is estimated to be approximately 2,944,380 according to World Population Review.

This reflects a modest increase from the 2010 Census figure of 2,853,118, indicating a steady growth over the past 14 years.

The state’s annual growth rate has been around 0.57%, ranking it 31st among all 50 states in terms of population growth.

Kansas is centrally located in the United States and shares its borders with Nebraska to the north, Missouri to the east, Oklahoma to the south, and Colorado to the west.

Population by Age

The largest percentage of the population is in the 20-24 age group (7.47%), indicating a significant representation of young adults, likely influenced by college-age individuals.

The smallest percentage belongs to the 80-84 age group (1.88%), reflecting the challenges of longevity in the aging population.

Population distribution shows a fairly even spread across younger and middle-aged cohorts, suggesting a balanced demographic structure.

Population by Age Cohort

The working-age population (18-64 years) forms the majority, making up nearly 60% of the total, aligning with national trends.

Kansas has a higher percentage of individuals under 18 (23.89%) compared to the nationwide average of 22.11%, showcasing a strong presence of youth.

The senior population (65 years and older) at 16.31% is slightly below the national average of 16.53%, indicating relatively fewer elderly residents.

Population Pyramid Insights (Key Ratios)

• Youth Dependency Ratio: 30.9 (children aged 0-14 per 100 working-age adults).
• Old-Age Dependency Ratio: 25.5 (seniors aged 65+ per 100 working-age adults).
• Total Dependency Ratio: 56.4 (non-working population per 100 working-age adults).
• Potential Support Ratio: 3.9 (working-age individuals per elderly person).

Population By Race

The majority of Kansas’s population is White (79.75%), reflecting the demographic trend seen in many Midwestern states according to Neilsberg.

Multiracial individuals account for 7.33% of the population, while “Some other race” contributes another 3.49%, showing growing racial diversity.

The Asian population (3.01%) and the Black or African American population (5.57%) represent smaller yet significant communities.

American Indian and Alaska Native residents constitute 0.75%, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander individuals make up a very small fraction (0.09%).

Factors Influencing Population Change

Migration Patterns

Kansas’s migration patterns reveal a growing and diverse foreign-born population, making up 7.1% of the state’s residents. Most migrants come from Latin America (54.8%), especially Mexico, followed by Asia (29.6%), with significant numbers from India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Recent arrivals dominate, with over a third migrating since 2010 according to migration policy.

Naturalized citizens account for 41.8% of the foreign-born population, while 58.2% remain non-citizens. Children with foreign-born parents make up 15.2% of Kansas’s youth, and nearly 20% of these children live in low-income families. These trends reflect a dynamic immigrant community contributing to Kansas’s growth while facing economic and integration challenges.

Birth and Death Rates

Kansas’s health indicators reveal a moderate fertility rate (60.3 births per 1,000 women) and progress in reducing teen births (16.2 per 1,000). However, 36% of births to unmarried mothers and an infant mortality rate of 5.81 per 1,000 highlight health disparities.

Kansas had highest life expectancy in the US in 1959. But after failing to invest in human capital (not even expanding Medicaid), it now ranks 29th. OK has also tumbled. Meanwhile, NY did invest in its people and now ranks third. Interesting stats: https://t.co/ocTlVOcaxM

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) November 26, 2019

Life expectancy is 76 years, impacted by leading causes of death like heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19. Drug overdose and firearm-related deaths (26.5 and 16.8 per 100,000, respectively) indicate mental health and safety challenges according to the CDC.

Stable marriage (5.5 per 1,000) and divorce rates (1.9 per 1,000) reflect steady family dynamics. Efforts are needed to improve maternal health and address chronic diseases and preventable deaths.

Kansas Counties Population 2024

Education System

Educational Attainment (Population 25 Years and Older) in Kansas

Kansas’s educational attainment highlights that a significant proportion of residents (35.8%) have a bachelor’s degree or higher, slightly below the national average of 36.2% according to the official Census of 2020.

A large percentage, 25.1%, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, while another 21.5% attended some college without earning a degree.

School Enrollment in Kansas (Population 3 Years and Over)

School enrollment in Kansas shows that a majority (68.7%) of students are enrolled in Kindergarten through 12th grade, aligning closely with the national estimate of 67.8%. College undergraduate enrollment represents 19.5%, indicating a robust post-secondary education presence.

Preschool and graduate/professional enrollment account for smaller proportions at 6.2% and 5.7%, respectively, highlighting the focus on foundational and undergraduate education within the state.

Health Care

The disabled population in Kansas makes up 13.9% of the total, slightly above the national average of 13.6%.

The most common disabilities include ambulatory difficulty (6.5%) and cognitive difficulty (6.1%), reflecting challenges in mobility and mental health among residents according to recent data from Census.

Other disability categories, such as hearing (4.1%) and vision difficulties (2.4%), show smaller but significant impacts.

Fertility in Kansas (2023)

Kansas has a significant population of women of childbearing age (671,002), contributing to steady birth rates.

The largest group of women giving birth in the past year were aged 20-34 (27,356), highlighting this cohort as the primary age group for childbirth.

Births among teens (15-19) and older women (35-50) were substantially lower, reflecting national trends in age-specific fertility.

Health Insurance Coverage in Kansas (2023)

The uninsured rate in Kansas stands at 8.4%, slightly higher than the national average of 7.9%.

While the rate has declined over the past decade, from 10.2% in 2013 to 8.4% in 2022, it remains a concern for public health and access to medical care.

The trend suggests gradual improvement in health insurance coverage but indicates room for policy interventions to bridge the gap further.

Labor Force Data (May 2024 – October 2024)

(p) = Preliminary data

BLS notes that the Kansas labor force has shown steady growth from May to October 2024, increasing from 1,507.1k to a preliminary 1,516.8k.

Employment levels, however, have remained relatively stable, fluctuating slightly and ending at 1,465k in October.

Unemployment has risen from 43.9k in May to 51.8k in October, leading to a gradual increase in the unemployment rate from 2.9% to 3.4%.

Kansas Income Statistics (2024)

Kansas household income is slightly below the national average, with average household income 11% lower and median income 7% lower than U.S. figures as per Income By Zip Code.

The poverty threshold remains consistent across the state and nation, emphasizing the need for targeted income support to bridge these gaps.

Richest Zip Codes in Kansas

Kansas’s wealthiest zip code is 66224, with a mean household income of $256,718 and a median household income of $187,781.

Most of the top 10 zip codes are concentrated in Johnson County and the Wichita area, highlighting regional economic disparities.

Mean incomes in these areas are significantly higher than the state average.

Salary and Income Data

Kansas workers earn an average salary of $70,192, with median earnings at $52,943. Individual incomes are notably lower, with a per capita income of $38,108 and median individual income of $35,924.

Family incomes, averaging $113,772, suggest that households with multiple earners fare better economically, indicating the importance of dual-income contributions to financial stability.

Kansas Housing Market

Home prices in Kansas have increased by 7.5% year-over-year, with a median sale price of $284,500, aligning with the national median.

The number of homes sold has grown modestly by 3.8%, while homes are staying on the market slightly longer, with a median of 27 days.

These trends suggest a steady market with rising prices and moderate activity according to Redfin data.

Kansas Housing Supply

Kansas’s housing supply has grown, with an 11.5% increase in homes for sale and a 9.4% rise in newly listed properties. Despite this growth, the supply remains tight, with only 2 months of inventory. This indicates that while options for buyers are increasing, demand is still keeping inventory levels constrained.

Housing Demand and Competitiveness

The percentage of homes sold above the list price has decreased slightly to 14.5%, reflecting a softening in market competition. Similarly, price drops are becoming more common, with 33.1% of homes experiencing reductions. The sale-to-list price ratio of 97.2% indicates sellers are receiving slightly less than their asking prices on average.

Top 10 Metros with Fastest Growing Home Prices in Kansas

Leavenworth leads Kansas metros in home price growth with a 20.7% increase, followed by Kansas City at 13.1%. Other cities like Gardner and Lenexa also show significant gains, reflecting high demand in these areas. However, a few metros, including Derby and Shawnee, experienced declines in home prices, suggesting localized cooling.