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COUNTY

Harper County

Kansas · 5,370 residents (2025 est.) · 801.274 sq mi
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The short version

Harper County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,488. Population has fallen 17% since 2000, a loss of 1,136 residents. 23% 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 $83,800. Households here earn about 28% less than the Kansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% 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
5,400
−17%since 2000
from 6,536 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
7 / sq mi
−7%since 2009
from 7 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.6
−5%since 2000
from 42.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,370 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K6K6K7K7K1990201020202024Harper County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56%(325)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(324)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148%(433)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.3%(447)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.6%(248)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.9%(533)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.6%(628)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.7%(577)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.2%(714)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.6%(683)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.3%(339)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.8%(149)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,488
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,776 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,878
+83%since 2000
from $16,368 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.0%
+13.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.3%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.451
+3%since 2010
from 0.437 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing13.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Information12.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Construction11.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services5.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Manufacturing2.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$83,800
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$690
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $356 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 74.3% in 2000
24.9% rent
Vacancy rate
27.0%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.3%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.9%
+10.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
−2%since 2009
from 1.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
29
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Harper County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(6,322)
Black0.2%(15)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(70)
Asian0.1%(9)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.1%(4,647)
Black0.8%(45)
Hispanic / Latino8.1%(436)
Asian0.3%(15)
Other4.8%(257)
Diversity Score
31
+156%since 2009
from 12 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
7
−53%since 2020
from 15 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.7%(309)
Guatemalan1.5%(81)
Spaniard0.7%(36)
Cuban0%(2)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(10)
Thai0.1%(4)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German24.2%(1,309)
English11.5%(619)
Irish9.9%(534)
American9.8%(529)
French2.6%(139)
Scottish2.1%(114)
Czech1.6%(86)
Scotch-Irish1.6%(84)
Italian1%(56)
Dutch1%(53)
Swiss1%(53)
Norwegian0.9%(48)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.9%(47)
Welsh0.9%(47)
Russian0.7%(37)
Danish0.3%(17)
British0.1%(8)
Polish0.1%(8)
Romanian0.1%(7)
Austrian0.1%(6)
Canadian0.1%(6)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.8%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 14.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.8%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 83.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.3 min
−6%since 2000
from 17.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.2%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 81.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 4.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.4%
−7.6 ptssince 2011
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.4%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.0%
−22.3 ptssince 2009
from 59.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.4%
+5.1 ptssince 2012
from 14.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.5%
−77.1 ptssince 2013
from 85.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.8%
+12.8 ptssince 2017
from 70.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.4%
+3.1 ptssince 2016
from 94.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2016
from 5.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.4%(651)
Married47.2%(1,010)
Widowed6%(129)
Divorced16.3%(348)
Women 15+
Never married22%(480)
Married48.6%(1,060)
Widowed10.7%(233)
Divorced18.7%(407)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Harper County to nearby counties

HARPER COUNTY VS
Kingman County
Income$59,842+12%
Home value$111,100+33%
Population7,029+31%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARPER COUNTY VS
Grant County
Income$60,758+14%
Home value$105,700+26%
Population4,067−24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARPER COUNTY VS
Sumner County
Income$63,951+20%
Home value$135,100+61%
Population22,312+315%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARPER COUNTY VS
Barber County
Income$61,926+16%
Home value$97,000+16%
Population4,083−24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Harper County, Kansas?

Harper County, Kansas has about 5,400 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Harper County, Kansas earns about $53,488 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Harper County, Kansas expensive?

In Harper County, Kansas, the median home is worth about $83,800, and the typical rent is about $690 a month.

How educated are people in Harper County, Kansas?

About 22.8% of adults age 25 and over in Harper County, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Harper County, Kansas?

About 17.3% of people in Harper County, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Harper County, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Harper County, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,724 residents, a change of about -24 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9618Census Tract 9616Census Tract 9617
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 67003ZIP 67058ZIP 67009ZIP 67036ZIP 67018ZIP 67049ZIP 67150
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →