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CITY

Emporia

Kansas · 24,137 residents (2025 est.) · 12.315 sq mi
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The short version

Emporia has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,704. Population has declined 10% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $132,700. At a median age of 30.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 29% less than the Kansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
24,131
−10%since 2000
from 26,760 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,959 / sq mi
−10%since 2000
from 2,173 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
30.2
+6%since 2000
from 28.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:24,137 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
24K25K25K26K27K1990201020202024Emporia
202424K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,704
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,809 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,304
+80%since 2000
from $15,157 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.0%
+18.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 17.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.396
−10%since 2010
from 0.438 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade24.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade2.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$132,700
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$815
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $421 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
49.9%
−3.7 ptssince 2000
from 53.6% in 2000
50.1% rent
Vacancy rate
10.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.7%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.7%
−13.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+18%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
46
RELATED:See current rent listings in Emporia on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic71.1%(19,032)
Black2.9%(763)
Hispanic / Latino21.5%(5,752)
Asian2.6%(697)
Other0%
Diversity Score53.1%(14,200)
2024
White, non-Hispanic61.2%(14,765)
Black1.8%(443)
Hispanic / Latino30%(7,251)
Asian2.2%(529)
Other4.7%(1,143)
Diversity Score66.5%(16,055)
Diversity Score
67
+25%since 2000
from 53 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 23.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.8%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 79.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.3 min
+9%since 2000
from 11.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 75.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.3%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.1%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.7%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.0%
−6.2 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 69.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.7%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.0%
−28.3 ptssince 2009
from 57.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
51.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
13.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.1%
−43.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.0%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 11.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.9%
−67.5 ptssince 2013
from 80.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.0%
+11.9 ptssince 2017
from 78.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
79.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2016
from 76.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
18.2%
−2.3 ptssince 2016
from 20.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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EMPORIA VS
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EMPORIA VS
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EMPORIA VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Emporia, Kansas?

Emporia, Kansas has about 24,131 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Emporia, Kansas?

The typical household in Emporia, Kansas earns about $52,704 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Emporia, Kansas expensive?

In Emporia, Kansas, the median home is worth about $132,700, and the typical rent is about $815 a month.

How educated are people in Emporia, Kansas?

About 24.4% of adults age 25 and over in Emporia, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Emporia, Kansas?

About 17.8% of people in Emporia, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Emporia, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Emporia, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,381 residents, a change of about -5 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →