City · Kansas
Junction City, Kansas
Junction City, city, in Geary County, Kansas. Junction City had 22,583 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 22,932 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 22,331 (±27). GEOID 2035750.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
22,583
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 22,932 · ACS 2020-2024: 22,331 ±27
Median household income
$61,181
±$7,323 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275
Median home value
$171,500
±$13,307 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200
Median gross rent
$1,024
±$51 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060
Where is Junction City and what county is it in?
Junction City is a city in Geary County, Kansas. It covers 11.5 square miles of land, 1,986 residents per square mile in 2020.
Junction City is in the Manhattan, KS metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Junction City, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 22,583 people lived in Junction City on July 1, 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. The 2020 Census counted 22,932 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 22,331 (±27).
| Measure | Junction City | Geary County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 22,331 ±27 | 35,815 | −773 |
| Households | 9,526 ±332 | 14,158 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.32 ±0.08 | 2.46 | −0.18 |
| Housing units | 10,846 ±306 | 15,939 | no clear change |
Junction City's population since 2000
From 18,886 in 2000 to 22,583 in 2025: up 19.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Junction City as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Junction City?
The median resident of Junction City is 28.8 years old; 29.5% are under 18 and 9.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 53.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 17.2%. 8.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Junction City | Geary County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.8 ±0.8 | 27.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 29.5% ±1.2 pts | 31.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 9.7% ±0.7 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Male | 51.8% ±1.3 pts | 52.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 17.2% ±1.8 pts | 16.9% | +2.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 53.2% ±2.5 pts | 54.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 15.9% ±2.3 pts | 14.4% | −4.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±0.5 pts | 2.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 10.2% ±2.3 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.2% ±1.8 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.3% ±2.1 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 20.5% ±2.3 pts | 20.5% | – |
| With a disability | 18.0% ±2.3 pts | 15.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.3% ±1.8 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.5% ±2.0 pts | 93.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.6% ±3.0 pts | 26.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.9% ±1.7 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 75.6% ±2.9 pts | 71.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 8.6% ±2.2 pts | 12.7% | – |
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 Junction City earn?
Half of Junction City's 9,526 households earn less than $61,181 a year (±$7,323), against $59,317 in Geary County and $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 it was $66,374 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Junction City | Geary County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,181 ±$7,323 | $59,317 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $71,923 ±$4,471 | $70,877 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,389 ±$1,860 | $28,780 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 17.5% ±2.8 pts | 18.0% | +5.3 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 24.6% ±4.8 pts | 24.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.1% ±2.6 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.8% ±1.2 pts | 97.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.4% ±2.0 pts | 94.1% | – |
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 Junction City?
Owners occupy 50.4% of Junction City's occupied homes and renters 49.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $171,500 by its owner (±$13,307). The median renter pays $1,024 a month including utilities, and 32.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Junction City | Geary County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $171,500 ±$13,307 | $172,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,024 ±$51 | $1,104 | −$145 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.0% ±6.3 pts | 31.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,656 ±$106 | $1,664 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 50.4% ±4.0 pts | 43.5% | +8.3 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 49.6% ±4.0 pts | 56.5% | – |
| Housing units | 10,846 ±306 | 15,939 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 5.9% ±3.9 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.4% ±3.4 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 57.8% ±3.5 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.3% ±1.0 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 12.7% ±2.6 pts | 18.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.5% ±2.8 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.7% ±2.1 pts | 6.2% | – |
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 many new homes is Junction City building?
Builders took permits for 78 new housing units in Junction City in 2025 (40 in single-family houses), 3.5 per 1,000 residents against 3.5 across Kansas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Junction City work and get to work?
79.6% of Junction City's workers drive alone and 5.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.2%.
| Measure | Junction City | Geary County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.9% ±2.4 pts | 71.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2% ±2.1 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 79.6% ±3.7 pts | 76.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.1% ±2.5 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.1% ±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 1.8% ±0.8 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.9% ±2.4 pts | 5.9% | +4.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.0 min ±1.5 | 17.5 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 Junction City?
7 census tracts lie mostly in Junction City, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $51,418 (Tract 1) to $86,346 (Tract 8.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3Geary County | 4,316 | $57,010 |
| Tract 4.01Geary County | 3,750 | $58,833 |
| Tract 8.01Geary County | 2,615 | $86,346 |
| Tract 5Geary County | 2,482 | $59,282 |
| Tract 2Geary County | 2,498 | $57,965 |
| Tract 1Geary County | 2,498 | $51,418 |
| Tract 4.02Geary County | 1,981 | $83,750 |
| Tract 8.02Geary County | 4,109 | $86,522 |
| Tract 7Geary County | 2,816 | $43,419 |
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 Junction City) · Census block assignment files
How does Junction City compare with other places in Kansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Junction City is the 1,751st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 20th-most populous of 625 in Kansas.
Junction City ranks 260th of 374 places in Kansas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 20th | 625 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 245th | 373 |
| Residents per square mile | 28th | 376 |
| Median household income | 260th | 374 |
| Per capita income | 298th | 375 |
| Median home value | 173rd | 370 |
| Median gross rent | 101st | 333 |
| Poverty rate | 33rd | 266 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 211th | 374 |
| Median age | 357th | 376 |
| Owner-occupied share | 365th | 374 |
| Work from home | 180th | 233 |
| Travel time to work | 229th | 375 |
Junction City's figures with every place in Kansas (CSV)
Every place in Kansas, sortable · Compare Junction City 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 Junction City?
6 of the 57 figures for Junction City 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 Junction City 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' public schools in Junction City.