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CITY

Liberal

Kansas · 19,010 residents (2025 est.) · 12.019 sq mi
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The short version

Liberal has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,706. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 10% 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 $137,100. At a median age of 30.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
10% 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
19,316
−2%since 2000
from 19,666 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,607 / sq mi
−2%since 2000
from 1,636 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
30.6
+6%since 2000
from 28.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:19,010 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K17K19K20K21K1990201020202024Liberal
202419K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,706
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,482 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,479
+95%since 2000
from $15,108 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.5%
+24.2 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.1%
−4.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.403
−3%since 2010
from 0.415 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade29.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Construction3.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing1%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$137,100
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$900
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $466 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
59.4%
−3.6 ptssince 2000
from 63.0% in 2000
40.6% rent
Vacancy rate
12.2%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.6%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.7%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 38.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+20%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
43
RELATED:See current rent listings in Liberal on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic47.6%(9,353)
Black4%(782)
Hispanic / Latino43.3%(8,513)
Asian3.2%(634)
Other0%
Diversity Score70.9%(13,940)
2024
White, non-Hispanic23%(4,446)
Black3.2%(624)
Hispanic / Latino69.1%(13,339)
Asian2.6%(503)
Other2.1%(404)
Diversity Score58.5%(11,299)
Diversity Score
58
−17%since 2000
from 71 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
9.8%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
71.4%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 63.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.3 min
+28%since 2000
from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 76.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.3%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 70.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
20.9%
−34.1 ptssince 2009
from 55.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Female
47.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Foreign born
29.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 29.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
1.9%
−49.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2012
from 8.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.7%
−63.3 ptssince 2013
from 76.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.3%
+15.6 ptssince 2017
from 72.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
36.9%
−3.4 ptssince 2016
from 40.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
59.5%
+4.9 ptssince 2016
from 54.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Liberal to nearby cities

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LIBERAL VS
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LIBERAL VS
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LIBERAL VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Liberal, Kansas?

Liberal, Kansas has about 19,316 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Liberal, Kansas?

The typical household in Liberal, Kansas earns about $63,706 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Liberal, Kansas expensive?

In Liberal, Kansas, the median home is worth about $137,100, and the typical rent is about $900 a month.

How educated are people in Liberal, Kansas?

About 9.8% of adults age 25 and over in Liberal, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Liberal, Kansas?

About 13.1% of people in Liberal, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Liberal, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Liberal, Kansas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,743 residents, a change of about 17 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 →