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CITY

Smith Center

Kansas · 1,575 residents (2025 est.) · 1.229 sq mi
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The short version

Smith Center has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,007. Population has declined 13% since 2000. 20% 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 $90,400. With a median age of 44.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% 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
1,680
−13%since 2000
from 1,931 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,367 / sq mi
−13%since 2000
from 1,571 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.7
−5%since 2000
from 46.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,575 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Smith Center
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,007
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,857 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,381
+115%since 2000
from $15,500 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.5%
+20.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.415
+4%since 2010
from 0.399 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information17.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade10.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction9.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade8%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance1.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$90,400
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$678
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $303 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
82.1%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 76.2% in 2000
17.9% rent
Vacancy rate
16.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
10.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
56.2%
+31.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
+1%since 2000
from 1.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
55
RELATED:See current rent listings in Smith Center on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.8%(1,908)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(9)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score1.2%(23)
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.4%(1,519)
Black0.5%(8)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(77)
Asian0%(0)
Other4.5%(76)
Diversity Score22.3%(374)
Diversity Score
22
+1808%since 2000
from 1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.0%
+14.4 ptssince 2000
from 79.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.4 min
+13%since 2000
from 11.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.1%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 74.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.9%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2011
from 1.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.8%
+7.5 ptssince 2011
from 51.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.9%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.1%
−13.9 ptssince 2009
from 57.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 45.8% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 54.2% in 2009
Foreign born
1.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.2%
−35.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.7%
−4.7 ptssince 2012
from 21.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.3%
−77.0 ptssince 2013
from 88.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.6%
+15.2 ptssince 2017
from 69.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.5%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Smith Center, Kansas?

Smith Center, Kansas has about 1,680 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Smith Center, Kansas?

The typical household in Smith Center, Kansas earns about $56,007 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Smith Center, Kansas expensive?

In Smith Center, Kansas, the median home is worth about $90,400, and the typical rent is about $678 a month.

How educated are people in Smith Center, Kansas?

About 20.2% of adults age 25 and over in Smith Center, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Smith Center, Kansas?

About 8.4% of people in Smith Center, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Smith Center, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Smith Center, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 336 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 →