CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Cowley County

Kansas · 34,549 residents · 1,125.738 sq mi
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The short version

Cowley County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $50,786. Population has declined 5% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $88,600.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
23% 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
34,549
−5%since 2000
from 36,291 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
31 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 32 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
39.0
+5%since 2000
from 37.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
34K35K35K36K37K1990201020202024Cowley County
202434K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,786
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,406 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,743
+53%since 2000
from $17,509 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.3%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade20.2%
US avg: 10%
Information9.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction3.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$88,600
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$670
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $417 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
66.3%
−4.5 ptssince 2000
from 70.8% in 2000
33.7% rent
Afford Score
1.7
+9%since 2000
from 1.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cowley County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.4%(32,091)
Black2.7%(971)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(1,304)
Asian1.5%(550)
Other0%
Diversity Score19.1%(6,934)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic75.9%(26,227)
Black2.5%(865)
Hispanic / Latino11.5%(3,971)
Asian1.4%(499)
Other5.6%(1,928)
Diversity Score46.1%(15,912)
Segregation Score22.9%(7,903)
Diversity Score
46
+141%since 2000
from 19 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
23
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.7%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 18.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.2%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 85.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.7%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.0 min
+32%since 2000
from 15.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 80.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 7.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
59.1%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 61.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
32.6%
−25.8 ptssince 2009
from 58.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
49.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
3.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.4%
−77.7 ptssince 2013
from 87.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Cowley County

Delta County
Pop 32,178
Franklin County
Pop 36,916
Hot Spring County
Pop 33,451
Fulton County
Pop 32,901
Places similar to Cowley County
Head to head

Compare Cowley County to nearby counties

COWLEY COUNTY VS
Chautauqua County
Income$56,438+11%
Home value$65,500−26%
Population3,321−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COWLEY COUNTY VS
Kay County
Income$58,423+15%
Home value$124,700+41%
Population43,490+26%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COWLEY COUNTY VS
Elk County
Income$64,609+27%
Home value$68,500−23%
Population2,458−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COWLEY COUNTY VS
Sumner County
Income$63,951+26%
Home value$135,100+52%
Population22,312−35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cowley County, Kansas?

Cowley County, Kansas has about 34,549 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Cowley County, Kansas earns about $50,786 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cowley County, Kansas expensive?

In Cowley County, Kansas, the median home is worth about $88,600, and the typical rent is about $670 a month.

How educated are people in Cowley County, Kansas?

About 22.7% of adults age 25 and over in Cowley County, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cowley County, Kansas?

About 13.8% of people in Cowley County, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cowley County, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Cowley County, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,366 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

11 census tracts
Census Tract 4935Census Tract 4938Census Tract 4936Census Tract 4937Census Tract 4932Census Tract 4939Census Tract 4933Census Tract 4931Census Tract 4940Census Tract 4934Census Tract 4941
9 ZIP codes
ZIP 67005ZIP 67156ZIP 67146ZIP 67019ZIP 67038ZIP 67008ZIP 67131ZIP 67023ZIP 67102
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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