Population 10,567 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Parsons
Household size in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.34 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Parsons 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. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.24, even as the national average fell.
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 Parsons
| Period | Parsons | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.4 | 37.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.4 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.4 | 38.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.2 | +1.4 | +2.3 |
Parsons skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 39.2 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other Kansas city with 5,000+ people is 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 Parsons
| Period | Parsons | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Parsons than nationally: 9.8%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Kansas. The single-parent share has fallen 4.4 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 Parsons
Renters in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.2% | 30.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.6% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.6% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.5 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Parsons rent their homes (28.6%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Nearly six in ten owners (57.6%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 6.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Parsons
| Period | Parsons | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.3% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.2% | 11.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.9% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Parsons: 16.9% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 5.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Parsons
| Period | Parsons | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1952 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Parsons is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1953, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center. Only two of the 71 Kansas cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
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 Parsons
| Period | Parsons | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $525 | $769 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $661 | $858 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $673 | $950 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $743 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$218 | +$390 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Parsons costs $743 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $218 a month from 2006–10, a 42% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 25.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the northwest.
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 Parsons
Bachelor's degrees in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 30.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.8% | 33.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +4.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Parsons: 22.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Parsons has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of Kansas cities.
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 Parsons
| Period | Parsons | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.9% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.3% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.1% | 90.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.5% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +2.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Parsons is close to the national rate: 89.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Kansas overall (91.7%). The share with a diploma has risen 3.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Parsons
| Period | Parsons | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 6.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 4.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 4.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Parsons has been strong: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 5.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Parsons 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parsons | 2.35 | 45.4 | 9.8% | 28.6% | 16.9% | 1953 | $743 | 22.6% | 89.5% | 2.5% |
| Winway | 2.47 | 44.2 | 19.2% | 25.7% | 7.3% | 1965 | $777 | 29.8% | 94.9% | 2.5% |
| Dennis | 2.85 | 33.1 | 11.4% | 10.4% | 8.3% | 1981 | $716 | 17.9% | 88.5% | 1.8% |
| South Mound | 2.45 | 47.5 | 2.2% | 4.2% | 10.7% | 1978 | $717 | 21.0% | 96.0% | 0.3% |
| Strauss | 2.32 | 45.6 | 15.7% | 27.5% | 6.5% | 1977 | $728 | 15.9% | 88.7% | 2.3% |
| Labette | 2.40 | 41.2 | 20.8% | 35.0% | 0.7% | 1983 | $729 | 15.2% | 89.0% | 0.0% |
| Montana | 2.40 | 41.2 | 20.8% | 35.0% | 0.7% | 1983 | $729 | 15.2% | 89.0% | 0.0% |
| Galesburg | 2.40 | 50.1 | 4.2% | 4.4% | 9.0% | 1981 | $721 | 21.4% | 92.6% | 0.4% |
| Mound Valley | 2.86 | 31.1 | 11.9% | 12.3% | 9.1% | 1978 | $727 | 17.0% | 88.9% | 1.8% |
| Sherman | 2.11 | 54.8 | 9.5% | 13.4% | 18.0% | 1958 | $858 | 16.2% | 82.9% | 6.7% |
| McCune | 2.26 | 48.9 | 10.4% | 15.0% | 14.3% | 1970 | $629 | 16.0% | 94.1% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Little Canada, MN · Keokuk, IA · Kodiak, AK · Le Mars, IA · Lecanto, FL · Lexington, NE · Lincolnshire, IL · Lindon, UT · Litchfield, NH · Kenton, OH
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 Parsons. 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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