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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2010 ACS

Liberal Micro

Liberal, KS · 1 counties · 22,952 residents · 639.653 sq mi
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The short version

Liberal has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $41,373. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $82,100. At a median age of 28.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 28.9
US median: 37.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
22,952
+2%since 2000
from 22,510 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
36 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 35 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
28.9
Unchangedsince 2000
from 29.0 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
18K20K21K22K24K1990201020202024Liberal
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,373
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,752 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,083
+20%since 2000
from $15,059 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
19.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
16.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 16.9% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.412
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade19.2%
US avg: 10.9%
Information15%
US avg: 11.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing12.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing6.5%
US avg: 0.5%
Construction6.3%
US avg: 1.4%
Wholesale trade5.6%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.7%
US avg: 7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 4.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.3%
US avg: 2.4%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 3.1%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$82,100
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $63,100 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$623
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $467 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
38.7%
−25.4 ptssince 2000
from 64.1% in 2000
35.6% rent
Vacancy rate
7.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
20.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.4%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 36.3% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.0
+16%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Liberal on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic49.4%(11,126)
Black3.6%(806)
Hispanic / Latino42.1%(9,486)
Asian2.8%(638)
Other0%
Diversity Score69.8%(15,712)
2010
White, non-Hispanic36%(8,261)
Black3%(687)
Hispanic / Latino56.6%(12,990)
Asian2.6%(594)
Other1.5%(356)
Diversity Score68.2%(15,659)
Diversity Score
68
−2%since 2000
from 70 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
67.6%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 63.7% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.1 min
+22%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
79.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 77.6% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
12.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
3.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
4.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
11.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
19.9%
−34.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Female
49.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Foreign born
30.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 28.5% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
7.0%
−44.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
In this metro

Principal cities

LiberalCENTRAL19,010
What's inside

1 component county

Seward CountyCENTRAL21,073
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Liberal

Jamestown
Pop 21,414
Othello
Pop 21,488
Dumas
Pop 21,891
Brookings
Pop 22,621
Places similar to Liberal
Head to head

Compare Liberal side by side

LIBERAL VS
Jamestown
Income$61,856+50%
Home value$208,400+154%
Population21,414+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LIBERAL VS
Othello
Income$66,136+60%
Home value$273,300+233%
Population21,488+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LIBERAL VS
Dumas
Income$61,762+49%
Home value$152,600+86%
Population21,891+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LIBERAL VS
Brookings
Income$62,244+50%
Home value$381,300+364%
Population22,621+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Liberal, KS?

Liberal, KS has about 22,952 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Liberal, KS?

The typical household in Liberal, KS earns about $41,373 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Liberal, KS expensive?

In Liberal, KS, the median home is worth about $82,100, and the typical rent is about $623 a month.

How educated are people in Liberal, KS?

About 13.5% of adults age 25 and over in Liberal, KS hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Liberal, KS?

About 16.7% of people in Liberal, KS live below the federal poverty line.

Has Liberal, KS grown since 1990?

Yes, Liberal, KS has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,209 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.

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

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