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CITY

Oberlin

Kansas · 1,606 residents (2025 est.) · 1.91 sq mi
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The short version

Oberlin has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,284. Population has declined 13% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $88,700. With a median age of 52.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. 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 52.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% 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
1,734
−13%since 2000
from 1,994 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
908 / sq mi
−13%since 2000
from 1,044 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
52.5
+15%since 2000
from 45.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,606 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Oberlin
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,284
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,816 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,544
+106%since 2000
from $17,271 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.5%
+13.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.416
+1%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing17.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction11.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Information11.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade6.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing5.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Manufacturing5.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$88,700
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$593
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $361 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 74.4% in 2000
23.1% rent
Vacancy rate
20.2%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
26.0%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
+3%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Oberlin on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.2%(1,939)
Black0.3%(5)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(23)
Asian0.2%(4)
Other0%
Diversity Score4%(80)
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.1%(1,562)
Black0.2%(4)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(76)
Asian0%(0)
Other5.3%(92)
Diversity Score23%(398)
Diversity Score
23
+473%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
32.2%
+16.6 ptssince 2000
from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.9%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 86.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.6%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.4 min
+15%since 2000
from 10.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.4%
−11.0 ptssince 2009
from 82.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
2.8%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
5.9%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
19.1%
+12.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.8%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.5%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 5.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.9%
+5.5 ptssince 2011
from 51.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.2%
−40.7 ptssince 2009
from 74.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
Female
49.9%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 56.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−38.8 ptssince 2009
from 43.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 18.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.8%
−81.2 ptssince 2013
from 85.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.3%
+18.3 ptssince 2017
from 72.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 96.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 2.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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OBERLIN VS
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OBERLIN VS
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OBERLIN VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Oberlin, Kansas?

Oberlin, Kansas has about 1,734 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Oberlin, Kansas?

The typical household in Oberlin, Kansas earns about $52,284 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Oberlin, Kansas expensive?

In Oberlin, Kansas, the median home is worth about $88,700, and the typical rent is about $593 a month.

How educated are people in Oberlin, Kansas?

About 32.2% of adults age 25 and over in Oberlin, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Oberlin, Kansas?

About 11.5% of people in Oberlin, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Oberlin, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Oberlin, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 463 residents, a change of about -21 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 →

Oberlin, Kansas: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy