City profile · Kansas · Census ACS 2023

Seneca, KS

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

2,139
Residents
$70,221
Median income
$217,000
Median home
$877
Median rent (state)

Seneca - the verdict

Seneca ranks in the 50th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

50th
percentile, household income
48th
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: Seneca, KS

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,139 residents in Seneca, a small town within Kansas. The typical household in Seneca brings in $70,221 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.3%. Typical homes in Seneca are valued around $217,000, and the median resident age is 42.9 years. 24.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 10 residential building permits were authorized in Seneca (Construction Slowdown), down 50% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $877 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $217 across Kansas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 17.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

2,139 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kansas

Median Household Income

$70,221 /yr

Poverty 5.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kansas average

How does Seneca compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 50% higher than other cities
Home value 48% 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

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 Seneca'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.

50thIncome percentile

50th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Seneca's home value compares nationally

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

$217,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 52% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Seneca $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 - Seneca, KS Seneca, KS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Seneca, 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 Seneca, KS median $70,221/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%
Seneca, 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 Seneca, KS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.1%

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

Population
2,139
Median Income
$70,221
Median Home Value
$217,000
Median Age
42.9
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Labor force participation
63.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.5%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,120 residents2,125 residents2,130 residents2,135 residents2,140 residents2,145 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,129 residents 2,139 residents ▲ +0.5%
Seneca's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 20
2020 3
2021 13
2022 10
2023 8
2024 10

Permit volume decreased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.0%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
0.9%
Walk
4.0%
Work from Home
2.4%

Based on 1,022 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 Seneca 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
17.4 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kansas

Ellis
2,145 people
Phillipsburg
2,132 people
North Newton
2,150 people
Cherryvale
2,125 people
Ellinwood
2,117 people
Fredonia
2,113 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Seneca's 2,139 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lordsburg, NM
2,139 people
San Augustine, TX
2,139 people
La Fermina comunidad, PR
2,139 people
Calwa, CA
2,140 people
Bohners Lake, WI
2,138 people
Smackover, AR
2,137 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Seneca's $70,221 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Carencro, LA
$70,217 median income
Hunter, NY
$70,227 median income
Cut and Shoot, TX
$70,227 median income
Mooresville, IN
$70,228 median income
Eagle Lake, FL
$70,208 median income
Winsted, MN
$70,208 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Seneca, 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 Seneca, KS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.5% White 97.7% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 1.1% 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 Seneca 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
Seneca (this city) 2,139 $70,221
Ellis 2,145 $70,274
Phillipsburg 2,132 $58,125
North Newton 2,150 $86,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KS NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Seneca, KS?

What is the population of Seneca, KS? +

The population of Seneca, KS stands at 2,139 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Seneca households earn a median of $70,221 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Seneca? +

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

The median home value in Seneca is $217,000, 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.