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CITY

Fort Scott

Kansas · 7,500 residents (2025 est.) · 5.583 sq mi
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The short version

Fort Scott has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,159. Population has declined 9% since 2000. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $100,500. Households here earn about 30% less than the Kansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,555
−9%since 2000
from 8,297 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,353 / sq mi
−9%since 2000
from 1,486 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.0
+10%since 2000
from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,500 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K8K8K8K8K1990201020202024Fort Scott
20248K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,159
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,871 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,563
+110%since 2000
from $14,997 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.0%
+27.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2000
from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.418
−7%since 2010
from 0.449 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade28.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services9.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration9%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services2.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$100,500
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$755
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $348 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 63.7% in 2000
33.6% rent
Vacancy rate
10.6%
−6.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.7%
−8.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
+18%since 2000
from 1.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
40
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fort Scott on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.6%(7,513)
Black5.1%(421)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(139)
Asian0.5%(44)
Other0%
Diversity Score17.5%(1,455)
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.7%(6,626)
Black2.6%(193)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(267)
Asian0.2%(14)
Other6%(455)
Diversity Score28.2%(2,127)
Diversity Score
28
+61%since 2000
from 18 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.0%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 17.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.0%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.7 min
+35%since 2000
from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
65.6%
−20.2 ptssince 2009
from 85.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
15.2%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.2%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
4.1%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2011
from 5.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.3%
Unchangedsince 2011
from 58.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.3%
−29.8 ptssince 2009
from 60.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
Female
52.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 53.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.6%
−39.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.1%
−4.0 ptssince 2012
from 22.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.6%
−78.4 ptssince 2013
from 87.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.2%
+25.7 ptssince 2017
from 62.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 97.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Scott, Kansas?

Fort Scott, Kansas has about 7,555 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fort Scott, Kansas?

The typical household in Fort Scott, Kansas earns about $52,159 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Scott, Kansas expensive?

In Fort Scott, Kansas, the median home is worth about $100,500, and the typical rent is about $755 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Scott, Kansas?

About 23.0% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Scott, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Scott, Kansas?

About 13.5% of people in Fort Scott, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Scott, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Scott, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 807 residents, a change of about -10 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 →