Population 26,350 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Emporia
Household size in Emporia
| Period | Emporia | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.36 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.43 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Emporia are small: just 2.35 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Emporia
| Period | Emporia | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.3 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.4 | 37.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.6 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.5 | 38.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +1.4 | +2.3 |
Emporia is young: half of its residents are under 35.5, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 34.3, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Emporia
| Period | Emporia | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in ten households in Emporia (9.2%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 2.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Emporia
Renters in Emporia
| Period | Emporia | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.2% | 30.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.4% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.4% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 47.3% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Emporia than nationally: 47.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (43.7%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.1 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Emporia
| Period | Emporia | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.4% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 11.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.7% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Emporia is close to the national rate: 10.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.3 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Emporia
| Period | Emporia | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1962 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Emporia is a place of older homes: half were built before 1965, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1962 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Emporia
| Period | Emporia | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $623 | $769 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $624 | $858 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $711 | $950 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $945 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$321 | +$390 | +$606 |
The median renter in Emporia pays $945 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $321 a month from 2006–10, a 52% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.3% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Emporia
Bachelor's degrees in Emporia
| Period | Emporia | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.8% | 30.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.3% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.6% | 33.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.5% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +4.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Emporia: 25.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Emporia
| Period | Emporia | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.3% | 90.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.8% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +2.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in eight adults in Emporia never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only five of the 71 Kansas cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Emporia
| Period | Emporia | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 6.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 4.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 4.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.2 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Emporia has been low: just 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 71 Kansas cities with 5,000+ people, only four have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 7.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Emporia compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emporia | 2.35 | 35.5 | 9.2% | 47.3% | 10.7% | 1965 | $945 | 25.5% | 86.8% | 1.9% |
| Plymouth | 2.47 | 50.1 | 6.8% | 23.4% | 23.7% | 1975 | $856 | 39.0% | 94.0% | 0.9% |
| Americus | 3.02 | 38.3 | 9.2% | 18.5% | 7.2% | 1974 | $1,015 | 28.6% | 91.4% | 3.5% |
| Neosho Rapids | 2.77 | 52.9 | 5.1% | 9.0% | 4.0% | 1977 | $1,104 | 30.7% | 89.7% | 4.8% |
| Olpe | 2.69 | 36.8 | 7.7% | 14.9% | 17.7% | 1973 | $751 | 31.1% | 96.8% | 0.8% |
| Saffordville | 2.14 | 47.7 | 2.8% | 32.4% | 22.3% | 1962 | $621 | 27.3% | 91.7% | 0.5% |
| Reading | 2.48 | 50.7 | 4.6% | 11.9% | 3.8% | 1968 | $1,228 | 27.3% | 93.8% | 1.2% |
| Admire | 2.28 | 49.8 | 5.8% | 15.1% | 6.5% | 1970 | $839 | 22.8% | 93.4% | 0.3% |
| Hartford | 2.51 | 40.1 | 7.9% | 18.5% | 7.9% | 1974 | $788 | 21.7% | 95.1% | 1.9% |
| Dunlap | 2.16 | 47.9 | 9.9% | 12.9% | 19.2% | 1961 | $735 | 21.3% | 94.8% | 3.3% |
| Bushong | 2.41 | 45.9 | 7.4% | 17.6% | 9.3% | 1974 | $622 | 22.4% | 92.2% | 1.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Allison Park, PA · Alton, IL · Amelia, OH · Angleton, TX · Apollo Beach, FL · Argyle, TX · Ashland, CA · Ashtabula, OH · Atlantic Beach, FL · Austin, MN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Emporia. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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