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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Cherokee County

Kansas · 19,362 residents · 587.567 sq mi
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The short version

Cherokee County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,936. Population has declined 14% since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $80,700. Households here earn about 31% less than the Kansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,362
−14%since 2000
from 22,605 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
33 / sq mi
−14%since 2000
from 38 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.4
+15%since 2000
from 37.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K20K21K22K23K1990201020202024Cherokee County
202419K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,936
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,505 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,238
+58%since 2000
from $14,710 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
25.7%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade20.9%
US avg: 10%
Information10%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Construction2.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$80,700
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$572
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $381 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
73.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 76.1% in 2000
26.3% rent
Afford Score
1.9
+21%since 2000
from 1.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cherokee County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.6%(20,700)
Black0.6%(137)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(291)
Asian0.2%(51)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.6%(1,257)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic83.9%(16,241)
Black0.4%(79)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(514)
Asian0.3%(65)
Other9.1%(1,760)
Diversity Score29.1%(5,633)
Segregation Score16.2%(3,142)
Diversity Score
29
+423%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
16
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.9%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.3%
+7.9 ptssince 2000
from 80.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.6%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.1 min
+42%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 82.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
9.8%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.3%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 5.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
56.6%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 61.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
29.8%
−31.3 ptssince 2009
from 61.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.5%
−75.0 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Cherokee County

Brantley County
Pop 18,936
Madison County
Pop 18,410
Mitchell County
Pop 20,467
Elbert County
Pop 20,072
Places similar to Cherokee County
Head to head

Compare Cherokee County to nearby counties

CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Ottawa County
Income$49,947+19%
Home value$123,300+53%
Population30,438+59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Crawford County
Income$52,844+26%
Home value$132,600+64%
Population39,008+104%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Labette County
Income$56,325+34%
Home value$94,600+17%
Population19,685+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Jasper County
Income$60,694+45%
Home value$166,900+107%
Population127,428+567%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cherokee County, Kansas?

Cherokee County, Kansas has about 19,362 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cherokee County, Kansas?

The typical household in Cherokee County, Kansas earns about $41,936 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cherokee County, Kansas expensive?

In Cherokee County, Kansas, the median home is worth about $80,700, and the typical rent is about $572 a month.

How educated are people in Cherokee County, Kansas?

About 19.9% of adults age 25 and over in Cherokee County, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cherokee County, Kansas?

About 13.2% of people in Cherokee County, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cherokee County, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Cherokee County, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,012 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9586Census Tract 9584Census Tract 9585Census Tract 9583Census Tract 9581Census Tract 9582
9 ZIP codes
ZIP 66713ZIP 66739ZIP 66725ZIP 66781ZIP 67336ZIP 66770ZIP 66773ZIP 66782ZIP 66778
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →