Barton County, Kansas

County in KS, US

By Neilsberg Research

Last updated May 1, 2026

Key Indicators

A quick look at key numbers

Population

25,097

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates

Median Age

38.8

years ∙ half population younger than 38.8, half older

Diversity Index

34.9%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Nativity

foreign-born population

95%Native

5% Foreign-born

Geographic Context

Location, size, and surroundings

About

Barton County is a county in Kansas, United States.

Location

County in KS, US

Co-ordinates

DEC38.481239° N, 98.767837° W

DMS38° 28′ 52.46″ N, 98° 46′ 04.21″ W

Population Density & area

28.03/sq mi (10.82/km²)

Total Area

900.7 sq mi (2,332.6 km²)

Land Area

895.3 sq mi (2,318.7 km²) · 99.4%

Water Area

5.4 sq mi (13.9 km²) · 0.6%

Demographics & Living

Who lives here, how households are formed, and community composition

Population Composition

Key characteristics of the population

Sex Distribution

49.2% male

Male 49.2%

Female 50.8%

males per 100 females

Barton County 96.9

Kansas 100.7

United States 98

Nativity

foreign-born population

95%Native

5% Foreign-born

% Foreign-born

Barton County 5%

Kansas 7.4%

United States 14.1%

Age Distribution

How the population is spread across age groups

Median Age

38.8

years ∙ half population younger than 38.8, half older

Barton County

38.8

Kansas

37.4

United States

38.9

Dependency ratio

81.3

dependents per 100 working-age adults

Barton County 81.3

Kansas 68.7

United States 64.4

AGE DISTRIBUTION

Distribution of age group

Median age

	Barton County	Kansas	United States
Age Group
Children (Under 18)	24.1%	23.8%	22%
Working age (18-64)	55.1%	59.2%	60.8%
Senior (65+)	20.8%	17%	17.2%
Dependency ratio
Total dependency ratio	81.3	68.7	64.4
Child dependency ratio	43.7	40.1	36.1
Old-age dependency ratio	37.6	28.6	28.3

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Racial and ethnic makeup and how it compares

Race & Ethnicity

White

78.9%

Black

0.6%

Asian

0.2%

Hispanic

16.7%

Other

3.6%

Note: White, Black, and Asian refer to individuals belonging to a single race and not of Hispanic origin. Hispanics may be of any race.

Diversity Index

34.9%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Barton County 34.9%

Kansas 44.7%

United States 61.4%

Note: The Diversity Index (DI), based on the Blau Index, measures the probability that two randomly selected individuals differ in race and ethnicity. Values range from 0 (no diversity) to 1 (high diversity) and are shown as percentages.

RACIAL & ETHNIC COMPOSITION

Race & Ethnicity

Percentage of Barton County population

	Barton County	Kansas	United States
Hispanic or Latino	16.7%	13.6%	19.3%
Mexican	15.8%	10.4%	11.3%
Puerto Rican	0.1%	0.6%	1.8%
Cuban	0%	0.2%	0.8%
Other Hispanic / Latino	0.8%	2.3%	5.5%
Not Hispanic or Latino	83.3%	86.4%	80.7%
One race	80.1%	81.6%	76.4%
White	78.9%	72.7%	57.4%
Black or African American	0.6%	5.2%	11.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native	0.2%	0.4%	0.5%
Asian	0.2%	2.9%	5.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	0%	0.1%	0.2%
Some Other Race	0.2%	0.4%	0.6%
Two or more races (Multiracial)	3.2%	4.8%	4.3%

Household & Families Composition

Household size, type, and family structure

Household structure

63.9% family

Family 63.9%

Non family 36.1%

% family households

Barton County 63.9%

Kansas 63.4%

United States 64.2%

Average household size

2.37

persons per household

Barton County

2.37

Kansas

2.44

United States

2.53

Household & Family COMPOSITION

Households

Percentage of Barton County population

	Barton County	Kansas	United States
Total households	10,380	1,174,060	129,227,496
Average houshold size	2.37	2.44	2.53
Family households	6,631	744,502	82,990,528
Average family size	2.95	3.05	3.14
Married couple family	5,091	576,382	60,637,388
Other families	1,540	168,120	22,353,140
Male householder	451	52,856	6,572,819
Female householder	1,089	115,264	15,780,321
Non-family households	3,749	429,558	46,236,968
One-person households	3,220	352,785	37,140,836
Male householder	1,463	167,881	16,871,444
Senior (65+) living alone	473	49,284	5,225,110
Female householder	1,757	184,904	20,269,392
Senior (65+) living alone	1,094	95,985	10,089,070
Other living arrangements	529	76,773	9,096,132

Housing Profile

Housing stock, ownership, rentals, and cost burdens

Total housing units

12,383

housing units

Barton County 12,383

Kansas 1,293,635

United States 143,775,355

Occupancy status

83.8% occupied

Occupied 83.8%

Vacant 16.2%

vacancy rate

Barton County 16.2%

Kansas 9.2%

United States 10.1%

Housing Characteristics

How the housing supply is structured and used

Types of Housing unit

78.9%

Single family houses

78.9%

Apartments in multi-unit structures

12.1%

Mobile homes

8.9%

Boat, RV, van, etc

Median Year Built

1959

Half of houses were built before 1959, and half after.

Historic ∙ 1939 or earlier

21.4%

Postwar & mid-century ∙ 1940 - 1969

37.5%

Late 20th century ∙ 1970 - 1999

31.4%

Modern ∙ 2000 or later

9.7%

Note: Median year built reflects occupied units only; distribution includes all units.

Housing Characteristics

Units, rooms & bedrooms

Physical characteristics of housing units

	Barton County	Kansas	United States
Rooms per unit
Median rooms	5.9	6	5.5
1–3 rooms	7%	11.9%	15.1%
4–6 rooms	54.8%	46.3%	51.6%
7+ rooms	38.2%	41.7%	33.4%
Bedrooms
No bedroom / studio	0.8%	2.5%	2.9%
1 bedroom	8.2%	9.4%	10.9%
2 bedrooms	32.5%	24.9%	25%
3 bedrooms	38%	35.7%	38.7%
4+ bedrooms	20.4%	27.5%	22.4%
At a glance
Median year built	1959	1977	1981
Total housing units	12,383	1,293,635	143,775,355

Occupancy Profile

Who is inside and how they use it

Homeownership

65.2% owners

Renter-occupied 34.8%

Owner-occupied 65.2%

homeownership rate

Barton County 65.2%

Kansas 67.2%

United States 65.2%

Average household size

2.46

Owner-occupied

2.21

Renter-occupied

owner-occupied average size

Barton County 2.46

Kansas 2.59

United States 2.64

Housing Characteristics

Occupied unit characteristics

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Barton County	Kansas	United States
Total occupied units	10,380	1,174,060	129,227,496
Year moved in
2020 or later	24.8%	26.8%	24.8%
2010 to 2019	35.9%	38.4%	39.6%
2000 to 2009	16.4%	16.3%	16.4%
1999 or earlier	22.9%	18.6%	19.1%
Occupants per room
1.00 or fewer	98.9%	97.9%	96.6%
1.01 to 1.50	0.8%	1.4%	2.2%
1.51 or more	0.2%	0.7%	1.2%
Vehicles availability
No vehicles	4.5%	5.1%	8.4%
1 vehicle	33.9%	30%	33.1%
2 vehicles	35.9%	38.2%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	25.7%	26.7%	21.9%
House heating fuel used
Gas	79.2%	70.9%	51.4%
Electricity	18.8%	26.9%	41.3%
Solar	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Fuel oil, kerosene etc	0.3%	0.2%	3.9%
All other fuels	1.4%	1.7%	2%
No fuel used	0.4%	0.3%	1.2%
Selected characteristics
Lacking complete plumbing	0.6%	0.4%	0.4%
Lacking complete kitchen	1.4%	0.9%	0.8%
No telephone service available	1.1%	0.8%	0.9%

Housing Value

What owner-occupied units are worth

Median home value

$126,400

owner-occupied units

Median value(USD)

Barton County

$126,400

Kansas

$217,200

United States

$332,700

Housing Cost Burden

21.4%

of homeowners with a mortgage are cost-burdened

% Cost-Burdened Households

Owners with a mortgage

21.4%

Owners without a mortgage

11.4%

Renters

37.8%

Note: Households spending 30% or more of their income on housing costs are considered cost-burdened.

Financial characteristics

Property value and housing costs

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Barton County	Kansas	United States
Property value
Median Value	$126,400	$217,200	$332,700
Under $100,000	39.4%	20.9%	11.4%
$100,000 - $200,000	32.5%	24.9%	15.8%
$200,000 - $300,000	17.8%	21%	17.8%
$300,000 - $500,000	7.6%	22.4%	26.9%
$500,000 - $1,000,000	2.6%	9.3%	20.9%
$1,000,000 and more	0.1%	1.5%	7.1%
Owner-occupied households
With a mortgage	43.7%	57.4%	60.6%
Without a mortgage	56.3%	42.6%	39.4%
Median monthly owner costs
With a mortgage	$1,284	$1,689	$1,963
Without a mortgage	$553	$641	$638
Gross rent
Median rent	$761	$1,060	$1,413

Education Profile

How educated is the community and how education pays off

Adults with a college degree

21.7%

of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

Barton County 21.7%

Kansas 35.6%

United States 35.7%

Adults without a high school diploma

9.5%

of adults (25+) without a high school diploma

Barton County 9.5%

Kansas 8.1%

United States 10.4%

School Enrollment

Who is enrolled in school and at what level

School enrollment

5,798

population (age 3+) enrolled in school

Nursery / Preschool

7.6%

K–12

73.3%

College / Undergraduate

17.2%

Graduate / Professional

1.9%

College-going rate (18-24 yr olds)

27.6%

of 18-24-year-olds in college or graduate school

Barton County

27.6%

Kansas

39.9%

United States

40.9%

Enrollment & school type

Enrollment levels, college-going rate, and public vs private school split

Population 3+ currently enrolled in a school

	Barton County	Kansas	United States
Total enrolled (age 3+)	5,798	753,280	80,089,790
Nursery / preschool	7.6%	6%	5.7%
K–12	73.3%	68.1%	67.6%
Kindergarten	6.2%	4.8%	5%
Elementary: Grades 1–4	26.3%	20.1%	19.8%
Elementary: Grades 5–8	20.6%	21.7%	21%
High School: Grades 9–12	20.2%	21.6%	21.7%
College or graduate school	19.1%	25.8%	26.7%
College, undergraduate	17.2%	20.1%	21%
Graduate, professional school	1.9%	5.7%	5.8%
College-going rate · 18-24 yr olds	27.6%	39.9%	40.9%
School type
Public school	90.2%	85.2%	82%
Private school	9.8%	14.8%	18%

Education Attainment by Level & Gender

What is the highest level of education completed among adults

Education attainment

17,024

population 25 years and over

Total adults (25+)

Less than 9th grade

9th-12th, no diploma

6.5%

HS graduate

28.1%

Some college no degree

28%

Associates degree

12.7%

Bachelors degree

15.6%

Graduate or professional degree

6.1%

Attainment by gender

Male vs Female

Adults (25+) · Share within each education level

% male · % female

Less than 9th grade

45.3% · 54.7%

9th-12th, no diploma

49.5% · 50.5%

HS graduate

50% · 50%

Some college no degree

50.1% · 49.9%

Associates degree

41.6% · 58.4%

Bachelors degree

54.1% · 45.9%

Graduate or professional degree

45% · 55%

Educational Attainment Overview

Distribution and key education attainment rates for adults (25+)

Highest credential completed · adults 25+

	Barton County	Kansas	United States
Population (25+)	17,024	1,946,678	230,807,303
Less than 9th grade	3%	3.5%	4.7%
9th–12th, no diploma	6.5%	4.6%	5.7%
High school diploma or GED	28.1%	25.4%	26%
Some college, no degree	28%	21.8%	19.1%
Associate's degree	12.7%	9.1%	8.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher	21.7%	35.6%	35.7%
Bachelor's degree	15.6%	22.2%	21.6%
Graduate or professional	6.1%	13.4%	14.1%
High School or higher	90.5%	92%	89.6%

Earnings by education level

percentage as applicable

Median Earnings

$43,538

Median earnings for adults 25+, by level

Less than HS graduate

$36,838

HS graduate

$34,407

Some college or associates

$40,851

Bachelors degree

$52,118

Graduate or professional degree

$76,159

Poverty Rate

4.8%

for ages 25+, with bachelors degree or higher

Less than HS graduate

24.5%

HS graduate

14.1%

Some college or associates

8.8%

Bachelors degree or higher

4.8%

Outcomes by Education Level

Earnings and poverty rates across education levels (25+)

Adults 25+

	Barton County	Kansas	United States
Median earnings
Population 25+, with earnings	$43,538	$50,504	$52,696
Less than high school graduate	$36,838	$35,231	$32,485
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	$34,407	$39,282	$40,153
Some college or associate's degree	$40,851	$45,261	$47,260
Bachelor's degree	$52,118	$63,396	$70,044
Graduate or professional degree	$76,159	$75,635	$90,720
Poverty rates
Less than high school graduate	24.5%	22.7%	24.2%
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	14.1%	12.9%	14.4%
Some college or associate's degree	8.8%	8.5%	9.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher	4.8%	3.8%	4.5%

Insights for Barton County, by topic

Income By year By race By age By gender

Population By year By race By age By gender

About Neilsberg Research

Neilsberg Research team are data scientists with expertise in processing, analysis and visualization of big data helping small businesses make right decisions.

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