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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Emporia Micro

Emporia, KS · 2 counties · 34,838 residents (2025 est.) · 1,620.531 sq mi
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#16Lowest unemploymentof 9251.9%#23Shortest commutesof 92515.3
The short version

Emporia has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,659. Population has declined 11% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $147,585. At a median age of 34.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% 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
34,747
−11%since 2000
from 38,965 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
21 / sq mi
−11%since 2000
from 24 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.0
+8%since 2000
from 31.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:34,838 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
34K36K37K38K39K1990201020202024Emporia
202435K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,659
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,806 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,706
+94%since 2000
from $15,856 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.3%
+20.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 14.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.413
−3%since 2010
from 0.424 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade22.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction2.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$147,585
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,110 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$818
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $414 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
59.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2000
from 62.0% in 2000
41.0% rent
Vacancy rate
10.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.9%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.8%
−12.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+23%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
44
RELATED:See current rent listings in Emporia on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic78.8%(30,696)
Black2.1%(813)
Hispanic / Latino15.6%(6,063)
Asian1.9%(721)
Other0%
Diversity Score41.4%(16,149)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic69.6%(24,183)
Black1.4%(479)
Hispanic / Latino23%(7,996)
Asian1.8%(611)
Other4.3%(1,478)
Diversity Score57.5%(19,995)
Segregation Score39.3%(13,647)
Diversity Score
58
+39%since 2000
from 41 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
39
−9%since 2020
from 43 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.6%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 22.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.6%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.3 min
+24%since 2000
from 12.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.9%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 7.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 68.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.1%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.1%
−25.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
50.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
10.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−43.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2012
from 12.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.2%
−71.9 ptssince 2013
from 83.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.9%
+12.1 ptssince 2017
from 76.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
84.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 83.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
14.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 14.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

EmporiaCENTRAL24,137
What's inside

2 component counties

Lyon CountyCENTRAL32,266Chase County2,572
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Emporia

Arkansas City
Pop 34,382
Bay City
Pop 36,463
Canton
Pop 32,901
Dyersburg
Pop 36,320
Places similar to Emporia
Head to head

Compare Emporia side by side

EMPORIA VS
Arkansas City
Income$57,878−3%
Home value$120,900−18%
Population34,382−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMPORIA VS
Bay City
Income$58,628−2%
Home value$172,900+17%
Population36,463+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMPORIA VS
Canton
Income$60,599+2%
Home value$107,200−27%
Population32,901−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMPORIA VS
Dyersburg
Income$58,154−3%
Home value$166,400+13%
Population36,320+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Emporia, KS?

Emporia, KS has about 34,747 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Emporia, KS?

The typical household in Emporia, KS earns about $59,659 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Emporia, KS expensive?

In Emporia, KS, the median home is worth about $147,585, and the typical rent is about $818 a month.

How educated are people in Emporia, KS?

About 26.6% of adults age 25 and over in Emporia, KS hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Emporia, KS?

About 14.2% of people in Emporia, KS live below the federal poverty line.

Has Emporia, KS grown since 1990?

Yes, Emporia, KS has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,006 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →