City profile · Kansas · Census ACS 2023

Prairie, KS

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

22,937
Residents
$107,664
Median income
$402,600
Median home
$1,358
Median rent (state)

Prairie - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Prairie lands in the 82nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

82nd
percentile, household income
78th
percentile, home value
51st
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: Prairie, KS

22,937 people live in Prairie, Kansas - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Prairie brings in $107,664 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.3%. Prairie's housing stock carries a median value of $402,600, and the median resident age is 40.8 years. Educational attainment runs 73.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 67.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 56 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 18% 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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,358 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Kansas's average monthly utility costs around $217 (state average). Workers in Prairie report an average commute of 15.8 minutes, with 73.3% driving alone and 22.6% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 89.4 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

22,937 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kansas

Median Household Income

$107,664 /yr

Poverty 2.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kansas average

How does Prairie compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 82% higher than other cities
Home value 78% pricier than other cities
Median rent 51% 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

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 Prairie'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.

82ndIncome percentile

82nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Prairie's home value compares nationally

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

$402,600 22nd percentile more affordable than 22% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Prairie $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 - Prairie, KS Prairie, KS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Prairie, 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 Prairie, KS median $107,664/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%
Prairie, 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 Prairie, KS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 73.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.1%

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

Population
22,937
Median Income
$107,664
Median Home Value
$402,600
Median Age
40.8
Poverty Rate
2.3%
Labor force participation
67.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
73.4%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
22,800 residents22,850 residents22,900 residents22,950 residents23,000 residents23,050 residents 202020212022202320242025 22,962 residents 23,008 residents ▲ +0.2%
Prairie's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
56
housing units authorized
Single-Family
56
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 68
2020 71
2021 82
2022 79
2023 50
2024 56

Permit volume decreased 18% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
15.8 minutes
Drive Alone
73.3%
Carpool
2.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
22.6%
Other
0.8%

Based on 12,012 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 Prairie sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,358/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
89.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kansas

Junction City
22,431 people
Gardner
24,020 people
Emporia
24,098 people
Hays
21,078 people
Pittsburg
20,606 people
Derby
25,801 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Prairie's 22,937 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hopewell, VA
22,944 people
Keene, NH
22,923 people
Radcliff, KY
22,967 people
West Springfield, VA
22,905 people
New Brighton, MN
22,900 people
Stoneham, MA
22,986 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Prairie's $107,664 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Olympia Fields, IL
$107,656 median income
Avery Creek, NC
$107,684 median income
Copperopolis, CA
$107,643 median income
Renningers, PA
$107,632 median income
El Moro, CO
$107,625 median income
Tower City, ND
$107,708 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Prairie, 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 Prairie, KS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.0% White 91.0% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 1.7% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 5.9% 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 Prairie 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
Prairie (this city) 22,937 $107,664
Junction City 22,431 $60,317
Gardner 24,020 $92,579
Emporia 24,098 $52,787
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KS Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Prairie, KS?

What is the population of Prairie, KS? +

The population of Prairie, KS stands at 22,937 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Prairie, the typical household earns $107,664 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Prairie? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Prairie; 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 Prairie, KS? +

The median home value in Prairie is $402,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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