Population 9,856 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Paola: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Paola
Household size in Paola
| Period | Paola | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.54 | 2.57 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.60 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.59 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.55 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.02 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Paola is a place of small households, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.54 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Paola
| Period | Paola | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.2 | 37.5 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 37.9 | 37.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.6 | 38.8 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.3 | 39.2 | 38.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +1.7 | +1.4 | +2.3 |
Paola skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.2, in line with the national trend. Only three of the 71 Kansas cities with 5,000+ people are older.
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 Paola
| Period | Paola | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 11.7% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 11.9% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 11.2% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 10.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.6% of households in Paola, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 4.3 points since 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 Paola
Renters in Paola
| Period | Paola | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.1% | 31.2% | 30.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.2% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.3% | 34.9% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.5% | 34.2% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +3.0 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Paola rent their homes (25.5%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 42.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 2.3 points since 2006–10, 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 Paola
| Period | Paola | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 10.0% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 9.7% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 9.0% | 11.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 7.5% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Paola than nationally: 5.6%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.1 points, mirroring the country.
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 Paola
| Period | Paola | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1976 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1977 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1977 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1980 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Paola run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1972 against 1980. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
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 Paola
| Period | Paola | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $821 | $897 | $769 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $850 | $980 | $858 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $773 | $1,095 | $950 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,204 | $1,395 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$383 | +$498 | +$390 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Paola costs $1,204 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $383 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Paola
Bachelor's degrees in Paola
| Period | Paola | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.2% | 33.5% | 30.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.0% | 34.1% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.3% | 37.1% | 33.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.0% | 39.7% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Paola than nationally: 30.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the west.
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 Paola
| Period | Paola | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.9% | 90.5% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.3% | 90.9% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.8% | 91.8% | 90.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.8% | 92.9% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | +2.4 pts | +2.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Paola is a bit above the national rate: 90.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Still, the rate is lower than in the Kansas City area as a whole (92.9%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has fallen 2.1 points, even as the national rate rose.
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 Paola
| Period | Paola | Kansas City area | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 7.6% | 6.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.0% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −2.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.8%, unemployment in Paola is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the wider Kansas City area (4.0%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
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).
Paola 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paola | 2.40 | 44.3 | 7.6% | 25.5% | 5.6% | 1972 | $1,204 | 30.0% | 90.8% | 4.8% |
| Somerset | 2.31 | 50.5 | 6.8% | 7.5% | 4.0% | 1976 | $1,062 | 36.0% | 94.7% | 6.1% |
| Hillsdale | 2.55 | 49.2 | 7.4% | 9.4% | 3.5% | 1987 | $1,944 | 35.4% | 95.8% | 4.5% |
| Wagstaff | 2.49 | 48.6 | 25.2% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 1991 | $1,085 | 49.5% | 98.1% | 0.2% |
| Osawatomie | 2.67 | 38.9 | 24.3% | 20.3% | 8.7% | 1966 | $964 | 16.5% | 95.5% | 3.0% |
| Stanton | 2.82 | 39.0 | 8.3% | 12.9% | 6.9% | 1988 | $1,309 | 24.2% | 98.2% | 1.6% |
| Louisburg | 2.40 | 44.3 | 5.5% | 24.3% | 6.9% | 1993 | $1,168 | 37.2% | 96.5% | 4.8% |
| Spring Hill | 2.86 | 38.3 | 10.2% | 19.4% | 4.5% | 2002 | $1,204 | 45.5% | 97.8% | 3.2% |
| Fontana | 2.58 | 47.3 | 2.9% | 10.6% | 10.9% | 1980 | $976 | 21.6% | 84.9% | 3.8% |
| Wea | 2.58 | 48.9 | 3.6% | 8.8% | 4.2% | 1991 | $1,263 | 43.6% | 98.8% | 1.4% |
| Ocheltree | 2.63 | 43.6 | 10.2% | 4.9% | 6.8% | 2011 | $1,264 | 54.7% | 98.6% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Ruckersville, VA · La Feria, TX · Lackland AFB, TX · Lacombe, LA · Lafayette Hill, PA · Rainbow City, AL · Red Bank, SC · Rising Sun, MD · River Grove, IL · Rossmoor, CA
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 Paola. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.