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COUNTY

Ness County

Kansas · 2,617 residents (2025 est.) · 1,074.739 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#76Lowest unemploymentof 3,1440.8%
The short version

Ness County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,616. Population has fallen 23% since 2000, a loss of 801 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $89,700. With a median age of 45.1, 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 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

Total population
2,653
−23%since 2000
from 3,454 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2 / sq mi
−10%since 2009
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
45.1
+3%since 2000
from 43.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,617 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K3K4K4K1990201020202024Ness County
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.2%(84)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.4%(116)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.8%(154)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.4%(222)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 249%(238)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.3%(301)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 447.8%(208)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.2%(245)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.9%(421)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.5%(358)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.5%(200)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4%(106)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,616
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,340 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$45,085
+153%since 2000
from $17,787 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.9%
+25.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.2%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.465
+8%since 2010
from 0.429 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing28.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction20.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing7.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Information5.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade5.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing4.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade4%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$89,700
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$538
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $340 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
81.6%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 76.0% in 2000
18.4% rent
Vacancy rate
19.4%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
13.1%
−13.7 ptssince 2009
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.3
+14%since 2009
from 1.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
51
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ness County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.5%(3,369)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(52)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.9%(2,121)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino14.9%(395)
Asian0.2%(5)
Other5%(132)
Diversity Score
42
+160%since 2009
from 16 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican14.3%(379)
Salvadoran0.3%(7)
Spaniard0.1%(3)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(3)
Filipino0.1%(2)
Ancestry
German41.9%(1,111)
English10.1%(268)
Irish9.3%(248)
American3.5%(94)
Scottish2%(52)
Russian1.1%(30)
French1%(27)
Swedish0.9%(24)
Italian0.7%(18)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(14)
Czech0.5%(13)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.5%(13)
Arab0.4%(11)
Polish0.4%(11)
Swiss0.3%(8)
Lebanese0.2%(6)
Welsh0.2%(6)
Danish0.2%(4)
Finnish0.2%(4)
Austrian0.1%(3)
British0.1%(3)
Norwegian0.1%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.0%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 17.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.4%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 84.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.6 min
+13%since 2000
from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 74.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 2.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2011
from 62.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.6%
−27.0 ptssince 2009
from 64.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
49.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
8.8%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−42.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2012
from 14.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.0%
−82.1 ptssince 2013
from 90.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.0%
+18.7 ptssince 2017
from 70.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
85.8%
−3.6 ptssince 2016
from 89.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
12.1%
+2.6 ptssince 2016
from 9.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.4%(275)
Married66.4%(782)
Widowed2%(24)
Divorced8.2%(96)
Women 15+
Never married24.2%(271)
Married57.9%(650)
Widowed8.6%(97)
Divorced9.3%(104)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Ness County to nearby counties

NESS COUNTY VS
Hodgeman County
Income$59,955−13%
Home value$101,600+13%
Population1,619−38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NESS COUNTY VS
Lane County
Income$54,526−21%
Home value$127,100+42%
Population1,508−42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NESS COUNTY VS
Trego County
Income$81,528+19%
Home value$120,900+35%
Population2,740+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NESS COUNTY VS
Rush County
Income$59,970−13%
Home value$83,600−7%
Population2,845+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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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9563
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 67560ZIP 67516ZIP 67572ZIP 67584ZIP 67521ZIP 67515ZIP 67518
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →