CensusEasy
CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Liberal

Kansas · 19,666 residents · 12.0 sq mi
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The short version

Liberal is home to 19,666 people in Kansas. This skews young, with a median age of 28.9. About 14% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $65,400. The population is up 19% since 1990. Getting to work takes 11 minutes on average.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 28.9
US median: 35.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

19,666
+19%since 1990
from 16,573 in 1990
1990 – 2025
28.9
−1%since 1990
from 29.2 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
12.0 sq mi
Population, 19902024
16K17K19K20K21K19902000201020202024Liberal
202419K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 59.6%(1,880)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 99%(1,768)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.1%(1,602)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 198.8%(1,732)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 248.2%(1,617)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3416%(3,144)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4414.5%(2,845)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5410.4%(2,053)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 646.2%(1,229)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 744.6%(908)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843%(590)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.5%(298)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$36,482
+4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $26,554 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$15,108
+32%since 1990
from $11,481 in 1990
US average: $21,522
17.7%
+3.0 ptssince 1990
from 14.6% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$65,400
+3%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $48,200 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$466
−3%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $364 in 1990
US average: $602
63.0%
−0.9 ptssince 1990
from 63.9% in 1990
37.0% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic76%(12,588)
Black6.2%(1,021)
Hispanic / Latino21%(3,480)
Asian2.6%(431)
2000
White, non-Hispanic47.6%(9,353)
Black4%(782)
Hispanic / Latino43.3%(8,513)
Asian3.2%(634)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican57.2%(11,052)
Central American10.5%(2,023)
Guatemalan10.1%(1,951)
Dominican0.2%(47)
Cuban0.2%(43)
Puerto Rican0.2%(38)
Honduran0.2%(36)
Salvadoran0.2%(36)
Spaniard0.1%(19)
Bolivian0.1%(10)
Asian origin
Vietnamese1.2%(231)
Laotian0.8%(160)
Cambodian0.2%(45)
Asian Indian0.2%(31)
Filipino0.1%(15)
Japanese0.1%(14)
Korean0%(7)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German6.5%(1,253)
American4.5%(861)
English3.1%(590)
Irish2.5%(484)
Italian0.5%(91)
Dutch0.4%(74)
Scottish0.4%(70)
Australian0.4%(68)
French0.3%(67)
British0.3%(52)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.2%(48)
Swedish0.2%(41)
Czech0.2%(33)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(21)
Polish0.1%(20)
Austrian0.1%(19)
Swiss0.1%(16)
Bulgarian0.1%(15)
Russian0.1%(12)
Danish0%(6)
Section 05

Education

13.9%
+2.0 ptssince 1990
from 11.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
63.2%
−8.5 ptssince 1990
from 71.8% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.5%
+0.6 ptssince 1990
from 3.9% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

11.2 min
+13%since 1990
from 10.0 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.1%(2,110)
Married61.8%(4,474)
Widowed1.9%(139)
Divorced7.1%(517)
Women 15+
Never married20.3%(1,455)
Married60.6%(4,337)
Widowed8.5%(607)
Divorced10.5%(753)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

12.7%
−11.3 ptssince 2013
from 24.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
53.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 54.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 11.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
10.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 9.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
20.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 17.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 1.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
66.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2020
from 64.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
29.8%
+3.4 ptssince 2020
from 26.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)19.7%(49)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.1%(55)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era55.4%(138)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.4%(11)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 249 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Liberal, Kansas?

Liberal, Kansas has about 19,666 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Liberal, Kansas?

The typical household in Liberal, Kansas earns about $36,482 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 $65,400, and the typical rent is about $466 a month.

How educated are people in Liberal, Kansas?

About 13.9% 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 17.7% 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 3,093 residents, a change of about 19 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 →