CensusEasy
MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS

Liberal Micro

Liberal, KS · 1 counties · 21,964 residents · 639.653 sq mi
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The short version

Liberal has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,395. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $111,200. At a median age of 30.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 30.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
21,964
−2%since 2000
from 22,510 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
34 / sq mi
−2%since 2000
from 35 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
30.8
+6%since 2000
from 29.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
18K20K21K22K24K1990201020202024Liberal
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,395
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,752 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,434
+42%since 2000
from $15,059 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
27.0%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
14.0%
−2.9 ptssince 2000
from 16.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade24.3%
US avg: 10%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing11%
US avg: 1.7%
Information9.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Construction7%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Manufacturing4%
US avg: 0.5%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$111,200
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $63,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$769
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $467 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
62.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 64.1% in 2000
37.4% rent
Afford Score
2.3
+31%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic27%(5,928)
Black2.8%(611)
Hispanic / Latino65.6%(14,406)
Asian2.4%(517)
Other2%(438)
Diversity Score61.5%(13,516)
Segregation Score31.1%(6,836)
Diversity Score
62
−12%since 2000
from 70 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
31
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
69.9%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 63.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
3.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.3 min
+33%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
71.5%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 77.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
−5.7 ptssince 2011
from 9.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
69.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2011
from 70.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
22.2%
−31.9 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Female
47.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Foreign born
29.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 28.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
16.1%
−59.6 ptssince 2013
from 75.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+25%
Home value$208,400+87%
Population21,414+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LIBERAL VS
Othello
Income$66,136+34%
Home value$273,300+146%
Population21,488+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LIBERAL VS
Dumas
Income$61,762+25%
Home value$152,600+37%
Population21,891+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LIBERAL VS
Brookings
Income$62,244+26%
Home value$381,300+243%
Population22,621+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Liberal, KS?

Liberal, KS has about 21,964 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Liberal, KS?

The typical household in Liberal, KS earns about $49,395 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 $111,200, and the typical rent is about $769 a month.

How educated are people in Liberal, KS?

About 11.2% 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 14.0% 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 3,221 residents, a change of about 17 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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