City profile · Kansas · Census ACS 2023

Atchison, KS

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Atchison - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

10,795
Residents
$54,695
Median income
$130,200
Median home
$877
Median rent (state)

Atchison - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Atchison lands in the 27th percentile for household income and the 46th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

27th
percentile, household income
21st
percentile, home value
2nd
percentile, median rent
46th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Atchison, KS

Kansas's Atchison is a small town, with 10,795 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $54,695 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.2%. Home values in Atchison run a median of $130,200, and the median resident age is 29.9 years. About 28.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 58.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 22 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 450% from five years earlier. Atchison reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1480.6 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Atchison's yearly average temperature at 54.2°F with 36.4 inches of precipitation per year and 17.0 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Kansas run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Kansas at 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $877 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $217 across Kansas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 17.2 minutes, with 72.9% driving alone and 7.7% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 16.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

10,795 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kansas

Median Household Income

$54,695 /yr

Poverty 10.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kansas average

How does Atchison compare to other US cities?

Where Atchison sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 21% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% pricier than other cities
Safety 46% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Kansas and the picture shifts: Atchison ranks #54 of 109 Kansas cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Atchison's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Kansas, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

27thIncome percentile
46thSafety percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income · 46th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Atchison's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Atchison's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 54 Avg. percentile National median
Atchison's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Atchison's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$130,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 79% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Atchison $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Atchison, KS Atchison, KS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Atchison, KS-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Atchison, KS median $54,695/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Atchison, KS's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Atchison, KS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
10,795
Median Income
$54,695
Median Home Value
$130,200
Median Age
29.9
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Labor force participation
58.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1480.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
150.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1329.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
54.2°F
Annual Precipitation
36.4"
Annual Snowfall
17.0"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
10,700 residents10,750 residents10,800 residents10,850 residents10,900 residents 202020212022202320242025 10,869 residents 10,789 residents ▼ -0.7%
Atchison's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
22
housing units authorized
Single-Family
20
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 4
2021 4
2022 13
2023 10
2024 22

Permit volume increased 450% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.2 minutes
Drive Alone
72.9%
Carpool
8.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
8.4%
Work from Home
7.7%
Other
2.4%

Based on 4,778 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kansas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$217
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kansas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kansas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Atchison sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$877/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
16.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kansas

Merriam
11,036 people
Haysville
11,117 people
Lansing
11,229 people
Mission
9,928 people
Winfield
11,731 people
Arkansas City
11,909 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Atchison's 10,795 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pleasant Hill, IA
10,796 people
Bithlo, FL
10,790 people
West Vero Corridor, FL
10,802 people
Riverton, WY
10,803 people
Myers Corner, NY
10,786 people
Shiloh, OH
10,785 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Atchison's $54,695 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

New Chicago, IN
$54,700 median income
Ohio, IL
$54,688 median income
Milan, IN
$54,688 median income
Marble, MN
$54,688 median income
Antwerp, OH
$54,688 median income
Ethan, SD
$54,688 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Atchison, KS Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Atchison, KS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.6% 6.3% 7.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.0% White 83.6% Black or African American 6.3% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 7.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Atchison compares to nearby Kansas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Atchison (this city) 10,795 $54,695
Merriam 11,036 $71,665
Haysville 11,117 $69,057
Lansing 11,229 $100,871
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KS FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Atchison, KS?

What is the population of Atchison, KS? +

Atchison, KS counts 10,795 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Atchison, KS? +

In Atchison, the typical household earns $54,695 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Atchison? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Atchison; the closest available measure is the Kansas state average, a cost of living index of 90.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kansas vary by metro area.

Is Atchison, KS safe? +

Atchison has a total crime rate of 1480.6 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Atchison, KS? +

The median home value in Atchison is $130,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Atchison? +

Climate normals put Atchison's yearly average temperature at 54.2°F, 36.4 inches of precipitation, and 17.0 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.