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CITY · 2010 ACS

Liberal

Kansas · 20,525 residents · 12.019 sq mi
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The short version

Liberal has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $40,247. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $82,400. At a median age of 28.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 28.4
US median: 37.2
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,525
+4%since 2000
from 19,666 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,708 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 1,636 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
28.4
−2%since 2000
from 28.9 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K17K19K20K21K1990201020202024Liberal
202419K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,247
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,482 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,668
+17%since 2000
from $15,108 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
17.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
17.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 17.7% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.415
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade20%
US avg: 10.9%
Information15.4%
US avg: 11.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing12.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing6.5%
US avg: 0.5%
Construction5.7%
US avg: 1.4%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4%
US avg: 7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.5%
US avg: 2.4%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 3.1%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$82,400
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,400 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$623
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $466 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
38.8%
−24.2 ptssince 2000
from 63.0% in 2000
37.0% rent
Vacancy rate
6.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
22.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 38.4% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.0
+14%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic33.3%(6,834)
Black3.3%(675)
Hispanic / Latino58.7%(12,044)
Asian2.8%(578)
Other1.6%(329)
Diversity Score67.5%(13,849)
Diversity Score
67
−5%since 2000
from 71 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
67.1%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 63.2% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.7 min
+22%since 2000
from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
78.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 76.8% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
3.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
5.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
11.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
19.8%
−35.2 ptssince 2009
from 55.0% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Female
49.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Foreign born
31.1%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 29.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
6.8%
−44.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Liberal to nearby cities

LIBERAL VS
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Income$60,075+49%
Home value$182,000+121%
Population12,241−36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LIBERAL VS
Garden City
Income$72,865+81%
Home value$192,000+133%
Population27,402+44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LIBERAL VS
Dodge City
Income$68,721+71%
Home value$151,700+84%
Population27,653+45%
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LIBERAL VS
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Income$54,463+35%
Home value$157,800+92%
Population11,635−39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Liberal, Kansas?

Liberal, Kansas has about 20,525 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Liberal, Kansas?

The typical household in Liberal, Kansas earns about $40,247 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 $82,400, and the typical rent is about $623 a month.

How educated are people in Liberal, Kansas?

About 12.5% 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 17.8% 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 3,952 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.

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

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