Census-designated place · Kansas
Fort Riley, Kansas
Fort Riley, census-designated place, mostly in Riley County (89.5% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Geary County, Kansas. Fort Riley had 8,606 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±566). GEOID 2023975.
Residents, 2020-2024
8,606
±566 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 9,230
Median household income
$54,362
±$10,542 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275
Median home value
not published
Kansas: $217,200
Median gross rent
$1,234
±$64 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060
Where is Fort Riley and what county is it in?
Fort Riley is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, mostly in Riley County (89.5% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Geary County, Kansas. It covers 6.4 square miles of land, 1,440 residents per square mile in 2020.
Fort Riley is in the Manhattan, KS metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Fort Riley lies mostly within Madison Township (Riley County) and reaches into Smoky Hill Township (Geary County), towns or townships with their own local government (2020 census blocks).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Riley County | 8,265 | 89.5% |
| Geary County | 965 | 10.5% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Fort Riley, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Fort Riley's population at 8,606 (±566). The 2020 Census counted 9,230 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Fort Riley is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Fort Riley | Riley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,606 ±566 | 71,946 | +2,238 |
| Households | 1,864 ±222 | 27,695 | +780 |
| Average household size | 2.74 ±0.30 | 2.22 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,938 ±220 | 30,755 | +768 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Fort Riley?
The median resident of Fort Riley is 23.1 years old. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 49.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 23.4%. 5.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Fort Riley | Riley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.1 ±0.6 | 25.5 | +1.1 |
| Under 18 years | 19.2% ±2.9 pts | 16.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Male | 65.5% ±3.7 pts | 53.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 23.4% ±4.9 pts | 10.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 49.9% ±5.5 pts | 73.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 19.5% ±4.8 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±2.3 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±1.6 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.5% ±2.1 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 11.0% ±3.9 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 14.4% ±8.0 pts | 7.7% | – |
| With a disability | 14.9% ±5.2 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.6% ±2.8 pts | 7.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 99.3% ±1.0 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.2% ±6.0 pts | 48.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 2.1% ±1.5 pts | 22.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 83.5% ±5.9 pts | 77.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 8.1% ±4.4 pts | 5.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Fort Riley earn?
Half of Fort Riley's 1,864 households earn less than $54,362 a year (±$10,542), against $61,098 in Riley County and $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 it was $47,056 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Fort Riley | Riley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,362 ±$10,542 | $61,098 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $59,920 ±$8,079 | $85,480 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,521 ±$1,736 | $36,484 | +$4,589 |
| People below the poverty line | 10.7% ±5.6 pts | 19.9% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 11.1% ±8.3 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.4% ±7.6 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 100.0% ±1.6 pts | 97.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.1% ±6.3 pts | 91.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Fort Riley?
The median renter pays $1,234 a month including utilities, and 35.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Fort Riley | Riley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,234 ±$64 | $1,046 | −$232 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.5% ±12.4 pts | 41.5% | no clear change |
| Owner-occupied homes | 1.8% ±2.0 pts | 46.1% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 98.2% ±2.0 pts | 53.9% | – |
| Housing units | 1,938 ±220 | 30,755 | +768 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±48.9 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.8% ±1.8 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 5.8% ±3.9 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 40.3% ±9.8 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.0% ±2.5 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 4.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Fort Riley work and get to work?
38.8% of Fort Riley's workers drive alone and 4.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 7.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 18.6%.
| Measure | Fort Riley | Riley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 88.3% ±3.4 pts | 71.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 18.6% ±7.8 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 38.8% ±6.1 pts | 64.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.1% ±2.2 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 52.3% ±6.5 pts | 13.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.4% ±2.5 pts | 11.2% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 7.6 min ±0.5 | 16.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Fort Riley?
1 census tract lies mostly in Fort Riley, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 10.02Riley County | 8,173 | $52,738 |
| Tract 6.02Geary County | 3,067 | $62,292 |
| Tract 6.01Geary County | 5,683 | $50,133 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Fort Riley) · Census block assignment files
How does Fort Riley compare with other places in Kansas?
Fort Riley ranks 311th of 374 places in Kansas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 53rd | 376 |
| Residents per square mile | 74th | 376 |
| Median household income | 311th | 374 |
| Per capita income | 327th | 375 |
| Median gross rent | 48th | 333 |
| Poverty rate | 125th | 266 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 318th | 374 |
| Median age | 373rd | 376 |
| Work from home | 216th | 233 |
| Travel time to work | 373rd | 375 |
Fort Riley's figures with every place in Kansas (CSV)
Every place in Kansas, sortable · Compare Fort Riley with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Fort Riley?
18 of the 55 figures for Fort Riley on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Fort Riley are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.