Wichita, KS Local Data & Statistics

State: KS

Total population: 397,945 Household income: $64,620 Rent: $975

Overview

Total population

397,945

Rent

$975

Year built

1974

Household income

$64,620

Per capita income

$36,960

Poverty rate

15.9%

Unemployment rate

3.8%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

41.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Kansas

Total population

397,945

Adults over 25

262,444

Total households

158,589

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$64,620

Per capita income

$36,960

Poverty rate

15.9%

Unemployment rate

3.8%

Rent over 30% of income

41.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$975

Year built

1974

Households that rent

41.1%

Households that own

58.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.7

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

64.1%

Black

9.5%

Asian

Two or more races

14.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

19%

Not Hispanic or Latino

81%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

92.3%

Commute time to work

18 mins

Work from home

7.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

32.6%

High school graduate or GED

25.9%

Some college or associate degree

10.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

31.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Wichita, KS with: Kansas United States

Wichita, KS

Total population397,945

Rent$975

Year built1974

Household income$64,620

Per capita income$36,960

Poverty rate15.9%

Unemployment rate3.8%

Kansas State

Total population2,947,197

Rent$1,060

Year built1976

Household income$74,275

Per capita income$40,978

Poverty rate11.3%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityWichita, KS	StateKansas	CountryUnited States
Total population	397,945	2,947,197	334,922,499
Rent	$975	$1,060	$1,413
Year built	1974	1976	1980
Household income	$64,620	$74,275	$80,734
Per capita income	$36,960	$40,978	$44,673
Poverty rate	15.9%	11.3%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.8%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Wichita, KS, Kansas and United States →

Summary for Wichita, KS

Wichita is located in Kansas.

Rent & Income

In Wichita, the typical monthly rent is $975 and the typical household income is $64,620. Rent here is lower than in both Kansas and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 15.9%, which is higher than in both Kansas and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 41.1% of households. About 41.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 31.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.8%, which is higher than Kansas and similar to the national rate.

Wichita, KS — Rent vs Household Income

Wichita, KS — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Wichita, KS compares in Kansas (9 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$975	1 / 9	from lower rent	$975 – $1,515
Household income	$64,620	6 / 9	from higher income	$56,956 – $114,009
Poverty rate	15.9%	6 / 9	from lower poverty	5.3% – 23.3%
Unemployment rate	3.8%	8 / 9	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 4%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Kansas with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

💰 Rent in Wichita, KS (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $975 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Wichita, KS

Annual Household Income: $64,620

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Wichita, KS

Estimated Rate: 15.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Wichita, KS

In Wichita, KS, households that rent: 65,216 (41.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	65,216	41.1%
Owner-Occupied	93,373	58.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Wichita, KS

In Wichita, KS, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 27,217 (41.7%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	27,217	41.7%
Other renter households	37,999	58.3%
Total renter households	65,216	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Wichita, KS

Less than High School: 85,687 people (32.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 68,081 people (25.9%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 27,076 people (10.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 81,600 people (31.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 262,444

📊 Unemployment Rate in Wichita, KS

Estimated Rate: 3.8%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Arlington, TX394,769 Tampa, FL393,389 Aurora, CO390,201 Bakersfield, CA408,366 Tulsa, OK412,322 New Orleans, LA376,035 Minneapolis, MN426,845 Cleveland, OH367,523 Oakland, CA438,072 Miami, FL446,663

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.