United States › Kansas › Ness County COUNTY
Ness County Kansas · 2,617 residents (2025 est.) · 1,075 sq mi
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The short version
With 2,653 people, Ness County is a county in Kansas. At a median age of 45.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $89,700. 82% of homes are owner-occupied. There are 2 people per square mile. Median rent is $538 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% 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 from 3,454 in 2000
2,617 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 43.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 3K 3K 4K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Ness County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $68,616
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,340 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,787 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.429 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 28.2%
Public administration 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing 4.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.4%
Education & health services 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$89,700
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$538
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $340 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 76.0% in 2000
18.4% rent
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.11 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.5%(3,369)
Hispanic / Latino 1.5%(52)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 79.9%(2,121)
Hispanic / Latino 14.9%(395)
from 16 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data from 17.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 84.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 74.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 62.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 78.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 35.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 9.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 70.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 83.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 91.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 89.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 9.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 9.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 49.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 35.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 24.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 9.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 79.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 32.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 39.2%(49)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.6%(22)
Share of the 125 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Ness County Head to head
Compare Ness County to nearby counties NESS COUNTY VS
Hodgeman County
Income $59,955 −13%
Home value $101,600 +13%
Population 1,619 −38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NESS COUNTY VS
Lane County
Income $54,526 −21%
Home value $127,100 +42%
Population 1,508 −42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NESS COUNTY VS
Trego County
Income $81,528 +19%
Home value $120,900 +35%
Population 2,740 +5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NESS COUNTY VS
Rush County
Income $59,970 −13%
Home value $83,600 −7%
Population 2,845 +9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Ness County, Kansas? Ness County, Kansas has about 2,653 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Ness County, Kansas? The typical household in Ness County, Kansas earns about $68,616 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Ness County, Kansas expensive? In Ness County, Kansas, the median home is worth about $89,700, and the typical rent is about $538 a month.
How educated are people in Ness County, Kansas? About 25.0% of adults age 25 and over in Ness County, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Ness County, Kansas? About 11.2% of people in Ness County, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.
Has Ness County, Kansas grown since 1990? Yes, Ness County, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,380 residents, a change of about -34 percent over that period.
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