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CITY · 2020 ACS

Emporia

Kansas · 24,139 residents · 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 $43,481. Population has declined 10% since 2000. Median home value is $98,200. At a median age of 32.3, 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: $66,278
Younger
median age 32.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
24,139
−10%since 2000
from 26,760 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
32.3
+14%since 2000
from 28.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
24K25K25K26K27K1990201020202024Emporia
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.9%(1,428)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(1,444)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.6%(1,605)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 199%(2,162)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2412.4%(2,996)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.5%(3,260)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.3%(2,727)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 549.4%(2,278)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6411.2%(2,709)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 748.5%(2,063)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844%(972)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.1%(495)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,481
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,809 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,287
+60%since 2000
from $15,157 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
24.7%
+12.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
19.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 17.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade20.7%
US avg: 10%
Information13.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$98,200
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$650
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $421 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
53.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 53.6% in 2000
46.7% rent
Afford Score
2.3
−16%since 2009
from 2.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic62%(14,956)
Black2.4%(584)
Hispanic / Latino28.3%(6,828)
Asian2.2%(538)
Other3.5%(840)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican23%(5,666)
Salvadoran2.9%(706)
Puerto Rican0.7%(184)
Guatemalan0.3%(82)
Cuban0.1%(35)
Peruvian0.1%(32)
Spaniard0.1%(30)
Panamanian0.1%(22)
Ecuadorian0.1%(18)
Asian origin
Chinese1.1%(271)
Vietnamese0.8%(186)
Laotian0.5%(116)
Japanese0.2%(56)
Asian Indian0.1%(32)
Filipino0.1%(23)
Korean0.1%(22)
Sri Lankan0.1%(19)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German20.6%(5,075)
Irish9.9%(2,432)
English7.9%(1,940)
American5.4%(1,337)
French2.2%(531)
Swedish1.8%(434)
Scottish1.7%(416)
Welsh1.2%(296)
Dutch1.1%(273)
Polish1%(258)
Italian1%(250)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(197)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.7%(182)
Czech0.7%(177)
Norwegian0.4%(100)
Swiss0.4%(90)
British0.2%(38)
Nigerian0.1%(35)
Austrian0.1%(25)
Finnish0.1%(24)
Turkish0.1%(18)
Jordanian0.1%(14)
Arab0%(6)
Russian0%(2)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.7%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 23.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
85.4%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 79.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
10.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.7 min
+12%since 2000
from 11.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
76.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 75.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
69.4%
Unchangedsince 2011
from 69.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
28.7%
−28.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
12.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.3%
−71.1 ptssince 2013
from 80.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married47%(4,539)
Married40%(3,857)
Widowed2.7%(261)
Divorced10.3%(992)
Women 15+
Never married43.2%(4,411)
Married39.5%(4,035)
Widowed8.8%(899)
Divorced8.5%(864)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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EMPORIA VS
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EMPORIA VS
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Home value$120,300+23%
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EMPORIA VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Emporia, Kansas?

Emporia, Kansas has about 24,139 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Emporia, Kansas?

The typical household in Emporia, Kansas earns about $43,481 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 $98,200, and the typical rent is about $650 a month.

How educated are people in Emporia, Kansas?

About 26.7% 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 19.6% 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 1,373 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 →