Riley County, KS Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Riley County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 72,047 | 2,919,756 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 115.8 | 35.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.64% | 0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 25.4 | 38.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 27,120 | 1,159,797 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Riley County grew by 2.9% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 71,703 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Riley County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Riley County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,413 | $72,682 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.49% | 4.34% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Riley County is about 18% lower than in Kansas.
Housing
| Metric | Riley County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $160,251 | $104,507 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,064 | $1,029 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 44.8% | 66.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Riley County is about 12.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,064 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Riley County spend about 25 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 103 hours, about 4.3 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Riley County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 12.3 | 17.3 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 24.6 | 34.6 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 103 | 144 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,181 | $4,466 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 10.7% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,308 | 4,500 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 804 | 662 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Kansas:
Greeley County (7.1 min), Cheyenne County (7.2 min), Graham County (7.4 min).
Slowest:
Miami County (30.5 min), Jefferson County (28.2 min), Osage County (28.0 min).
The average commute time in Riley County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 17 minutes in Kansas.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Riley County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Riley County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.0% | 31.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.25 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Kansas:
Johnson County (0.4), Douglas County (0.4), Riley County (0.3).
Lowest:
Seward County (0.2), Grant County (0.2), Kearny County (0.2).
Health
Riley County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Riley County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.9 | 78.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 11.0% | 15.3% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.1% | 18.7% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Kansas:
Johnson County (0.8), Riley County (0.8), Douglas County (0.8).
Lowest:
Wyandotte County (0.8), Woodson County (0.8), Chautauqua County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Riley County, Kansas.
What is the population of Riley County, Kansas?
The population of Riley County, Kansas is 72,047, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Riley County, Kansas?
The population density of Riley County, Kansas is 115.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Riley County, Kansas?
The median household income in Riley County, Kansas is $59,413, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Riley County, Kansas?
The median home price in Riley County, Kansas is $160,251, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Riley County, Kansas?
The unemployment rate in Riley County, Kansas is 4.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.