Great Bend is home to 25,097 people. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $126,400. The average commute runs 15 minutes. There are 28 people per square mile. Median rent is $761 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $58,851, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Great Bend
What changed most since 1990
Population29,382 → 25,097(−15%)US over the same years: +35%
Homes owned by their occupants72.3% → 65.2%(−7.1 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree13.6% → 21.7%(+8.1 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Among the 17 metro and micro areas based in Kansas
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)13.8%(206)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)21%(315)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era41.5%(622)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War12.3%(184)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.1%(2)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 1,498 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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Great Bend, decade by decade
Great Bend population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
29,382
$56,238
$90,723
13.6%
11.3
2000
28,205
$58,614
$98,187
16.6%
25.2
2010
27,674
$62,956
$102,139
20.5%
35.7
2020
25,493
$59,224
$117,689
21.3%
45.3
2024
25,097
$58,851
$126,400
21.7%
43.5
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
