City profile · Kansas · Census ACS 2023

Smith Center, KS

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

1,585
Residents
$53,963
Median income
$84,600
Median home
$877
Median rent (state)

Smith Center - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Smith Center lands in the 26th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

26th
percentile, household income
5th
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: Smith Center, KS

Kansas's Smith Center is a small town, with 1,585 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Smith Center households earn a median of $53,963 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.5%. Smith Center's housing stock carries a median value of $84,600, and the median resident age is 46.8 years. 21.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 57.8% 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).

Living costs in Kansas run below the national norm: the state registers 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. 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 21.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

1,585 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kansas

Median Household Income

$53,963 /yr

Poverty 6.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kansas average

How does Smith Center compare to other US cities?

Here's how Smith Center stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 26% higher than other cities
Home value 5% 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 Smith Center'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.

26thIncome percentile

26th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Smith Center's home value compares nationally

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

$84,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 95% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Smith Center $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 - Smith Center, KS Smith Center, KS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Smith Center, 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 Smith Center, KS median $53,963/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%
Smith Center, 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 Smith Center, KS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.8%

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

Population
1,585
Median Income
$53,963
Median Home Value
$84,600
Median Age
46.8
Poverty Rate
6.5%
Labor force participation
57.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.8%

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 →
1,565 residents1,570 residents1,575 residents1,580 residents1,585 residents1,590 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,574 residents 1,575 residents ▲ +0.1%
Smith Center'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 0
2020 0
2021 1
2022 2
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.0%
Carpool
11.8%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
6.2%
Work from Home
3.1%
Other
1.6%

Based on 753 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 Smith Center 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
21.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kansas

Conway Springs
1,597 people
Colwich
1,616 people
Silver Lake
1,549 people
Ogden
1,628 people
Hill City
1,536 people
Douglass
1,523 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Smith Center's 1,585 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Greenock, PA
1,585 people
Elkhart, TX
1,585 people
Homer, MI
1,584 people
Shaw, MS
1,586 people
Helena West Side, MT
1,584 people
Elephant Butte, NM
1,586 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Smith Center's $53,963 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Kings Beach, CA
$53,964 median income
Plattsburgh, NY
$53,962 median income
Greenfield, MA
$53,961 median income
Hopedale, IL
$53,958 median income
Radom, IL
$53,958 median income
Hermansville, MI
$53,958 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Smith Center, 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 Smith Center, KS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.0% White 93.4% Black or African American 0.6% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.8% Two or more races 2.9% 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 Smith Center 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
Smith Center (this city) 1,585 $53,963
Conway Springs 1,597 $70,469
Colwich 1,616 $88,468
Silver Lake 1,549 $56,857
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KS NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Smith Center, KS?

What is the population of Smith Center, KS? +

The population of Smith Center, KS stands at 1,585 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Smith Center, KS? +

The median household income in Smith Center is $53,963 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Smith Center? +

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

A typical home in Smith Center is worth $84,600, 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 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.