City profile · Kansas · Census ACS 2023

Plains, KS

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

1,308
Residents
$75,500
Median income
$127,700
Median home
$877
Median rent (state)

Plains - the verdict

Nationally, Plains sits in the 57th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

57th
percentile, household income
20th
percentile, home value
2nd
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Plains, KS

1,308 people live in Plains, Kansas - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Plains households earn a median of $75,500 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 15.8%. Typical homes in Plains are valued around $127,700, and the median resident age is 26.8 years. Educational attainment runs 20.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 68.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Kansas run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Kansas scores 90.1 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $877 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Kansas run around $217, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 15.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

1,308 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kansas

Median Household Income

$75,500 /yr

Poverty 15.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kansas average

How does Plains compare to other US cities?

Plains measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 57% higher than other cities
Home value 20% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Plains against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kansas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kansas-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Plains near the bottom of Kansas's cities

Among the 552 Kansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Plains ranks #264 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Plains only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#103 of 527
80th percentile in Kansas
Median Gross Rent
#264 of 552
0th percentile in Kansas
Median Home Value
#161 of 527
69th percentile in Kansas
Poverty Rate
#81 of 552
85th percentile in Kansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#278 of 552
49th percentile in Kansas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kansas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

57thIncome percentile

57th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Plains's home value compares nationally

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

$127,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% 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. Plains $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 - Plains, KS Plains, KS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Plains, 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 Plains, KS median $75,500/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%
Plains, 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 Plains, KS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.2%

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

Population
1,308
Median Income
$75,500
Median Home Value
$127,700
Median Age
26.8
Poverty Rate
15.8%
Labor force participation
68.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.2%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
980 residents1,000 residents1,020 residents1,040 residents1,060 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,038 residents 991 residents ▼ -4.5%
Plains's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 1
2022 1
2023 0
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.9%
Carpool
11.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.0%

Based on 596 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 Plains 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
15.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kansas

Buhler
1,311 people
Valley Falls
1,305 people
Erie
1,318 people
Kinsley
1,342 people
Meade
1,274 people
St. Francis
1,268 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Plains's 1,308 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kibler, AR
1,308 people
Brookdale, CA
1,308 people
Lakes West, CT
1,308 people
Purdy, MO
1,308 people
Mountainair, NM
1,308 people
Elbridge, NY
1,308 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Plains's $75,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Acacia Villas, FL
$75,500 median income
Malad City, ID
$75,500 median income
Plainfield, IA
$75,500 median income
Gordon, OH
$75,500 median income
Mead, OK
$75,500 median income
Nederland, TX
$75,502 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Plains, 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 Plains, KS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 57.1% 23.5% 15.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 48.7% White 57.1% Black or African American 3.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 23.5% Two or more races 15.8% 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 Plains 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
Plains (this city) 1,308 $75,500
Buhler 1,311 $65,833
Valley Falls 1,305 $43,333
Erie 1,318 $39,688
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KS NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Plains, KS?

What is the population of Plains, KS? +

Plains, KS has a population of 1,308 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Plains is $75,500 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Plains? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Plains; 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.

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

Plains's median home value sits at $127,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

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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.