Jefferson County, Kansas Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 30th-largest in Kansas

The population of Jefferson County, Kansas is 18,391 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 30th-largest county in Kansas. The median household income is $77,393, the median home value is $200,800, and the median age is 43.8.

The population of Jefferson County has declined 4.1% since 2010 (19,120 → 18,332), a -0.30% annualized rate.

Jefferson County within Kansas · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

18,391

Population

-0.30%

Annual growth

People / sq mi

$77,393

Median Income

$200,800

Median Home Value

Jefferson County covers 533 sq mi of land at 34.5 people per square mile.

About Jefferson County, KS

Jefferson County is a county in Kansas with a population of 18,391. It ranks #30 among counties in Kansas by population. The median age is 43.8, older than the national median. The population is 50.5% male and 49.5% female.

The median household income in Jefferson County is $77,393, near the US median of $74,580. 4.0% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $200,800, with monthly rent averaging $844. The homeownership rate of 85.0% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Jefferson County reflects 24.6% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 9.5% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 28.9 minutes each way.

Jefferson County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Jefferson County had a population of 19,120 in 2010 and 18,332 in 2024, a -4.1% growth over 14 years. The peak was 19,165 in 2019. Average annual growth rate: -0.29%.

18,332

Population (2024)

19,120

Population (2010)

19,165

Peak (2019)

-0.29%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	19,120	-	-	estimate
2011	18,941	-179	-0.94%	estimate
2012	18,858	-83	-0.44%	estimate
2013	18,767	-91	-0.48%	estimate
2014	18,798	+31	+0.17%	estimate
2015	18,789	-9	-0.05%	estimate
2016	18,838	+49	+0.26%	estimate
2017	18,935	+97	+0.51%	estimate
2018	18,901	-34	-0.18%	estimate
2019	19,165	+264	+1.40%	estimate
2020	18,325	-840	-4.38%	estimate
2021	18,435	+110	+0.60%	estimate
2022	18,344	-91	-0.49%	estimate
2023	18,307	-37	-0.20%	estimate
2024	18,332	+25	+0.14%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	93.2%
Black or African American	0.7%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.3%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

43.8

Median Age

49.5%

Female

50.5%

Male

19.3%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.0%

5–9

5.9%

10–14

6.7%

15–19

6.5%

20–24

4.7%

25–34

11.0%

35–44

11.9%

45–54

12.3%

55–59

9.0%

60–64

7.5%

65–74

11.7%

75–84

5.4%

85+

2.2%

Children (under 15): 17.6% · Seniors (65+): 19.3%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$77,393+$4,754 vs state
Mean household income	$95,339
Per-capita income	$39,516
Poverty rate	4.0%-3.7% vs state
Unemployment rate	1.5%
Employment-to-population	62.7%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

24.1%

Construction

13.3%

Manufacturing

9.5%

Public administration

8.5%

Finance & real estate

6.7%

Retail trade

6.6%

Information

6.3%

Arts, entertainment & food

5.8%

The largest employment sector in Jefferson County is professional & business services, accounting for 24.1% of workers.

How residents commute

0.0%

Drive alone

1.6%

Carpool

77.8%

Public transit

9.5%

Work from home

28.9 min

Avg commute

Housing

$200,800$-2,600 vs state

Median home value

$844

Median rent

85.0%

Homeownership rate

8,004

Total housing units

92.3%

Occupied

7.7%

Vacant

15.0%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

95.2%

With health insurance

94.1%

With broadband internet

20.4%

Foreign-born

8.1%

Veterans (18+)

13.6%

With a disability

98.6%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

95.2%

High School+

24.6%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in Kansas

Wichita (396,488)Overland Park (197,199)Kansas City (154,776)Olathe (143,720)Topeka (126,103)Lawrence (95,459)Shawnee (68,175)Lenexa (57,986)Manhattan (53,951)Salina (46,432)All Kansas cities →

Other counties in Kansas

Johnson County (614,764)Sedgwick County (524,810)Shawnee County (178,315)Wyandotte County (167,277)Douglas County (119,547)Leavenworth County (82,493)Riley County (71,710)Butler County (67,916)Reno County (61,693)Saline County (53,801)All Kansas counties →

Part of Kansas

Kansas demographic profile All Kansas data →

Metro areas in Kansas

Kansas City (2,202,006)Wichita (648,935)Topeka (232,724)Joplin (202,258)Manhattan (133,413)St. Joseph (120,609)Lawrence (119,547)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Jefferson County, Kansas has a population of 18,391 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 30th-largest county in Kansas. Population density is 35 people per square mile.

The population of Jefferson County has declined 4.1% since 2010 (19,120 → 18,332), a -0.30% annualized rate.

The median household income in Jefferson County, Kansas is $77,393, with mean (average) household income of $95,339 and per-capita income of $39,516. 4.0% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Jefferson County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (93.2%), Hispanic or Latino (2.3%), Black or African American (0.7%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Jefferson County, Kansas is 43.8 years. Residents are 49.5% female and 50.5% male.

The median home value in Jefferson County is $200,800 and median monthly rent is $844. 85.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 8,004 total housing units, 7.7% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Jefferson County, Kansas is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 24.1% of workers. The unemployment rate is 1.5%.

Wichita is among the largest cities associated with Jefferson County, Kansas, with a population of 396,488.