City · Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, city, mostly in Jackson County (62.3% of its 2020 residents), with parts in Clay, Platte and Cass counties, Missouri. Kansas City had 521,220 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 508,090 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 510,612 (±174). GEOID 2938000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
521,220
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 508,090 · ACS 2020-2024: 510,612 ±174
Median household income
$69,166
±$1,445 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$242,900
±$3,332 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$1,238
±$15 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
Where is Kansas City and what county is it in?
Kansas City is a city mostly in Jackson County (62.3% of its 2020 residents), with parts in Clay, Platte and Cass counties, Missouri. It covers 314.5 square miles of land, 1,615 residents per square mile in 2020.
Kansas City is in the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 14 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 316,456 | 62.3% |
| Clay County | 138,178 | 27.2% |
| Platte County | 53,352 | 10.5% |
| Cass County | 104 | 0.0% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Kansas City, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 521,220 people lived in Kansas City on July 1, 2025, up 2.6% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020 Census counted 508,090 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 510,612 (±174).
| Measure | Kansas City | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 510,612 ±174 | 719,976 | +24,208 |
| Households | 221,979 ±1,933 | 306,798 | +18,623 |
| Average household size | 2.26 ±0.02 | 2.31 | −0.09 |
| Housing units | 245,346 ±1,477 | 336,288 | +12,809 |
Kansas City's population since 2000
From 441,545 in 2000 to 521,220 in 2025: up 18.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Kansas 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 Kansas City?
The median resident of Kansas City is 35.8 years old; 22.5% are under 18 and 14.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 54.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 25.2%. 8.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Kansas City | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 ±0.4 | 37.0 | +0.7 |
| Under 18 years | 22.5% ±0.4 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.3% ±0.3 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Male | 48.3% ±0.3 pts | 48.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.5% ±0.4 pts | 11.4% | +1.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 54.0% ±0.5 pts | 59.3% | −1.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 25.2% ±0.5 pts | 22.0% | −2.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.8% ±0.2 pts | 1.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7% ±0.4 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.6% ±0.4 pts | 6.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 13.1% ±0.6 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.7% ±0.3 pts | 6.3% | – |
| With a disability | 13.4% ±0.5 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.0% ±0.5 pts | 10.7% | −0.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.9% ±0.5 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 38.4% ±0.8 pts | 34.0% | +3.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.6% ±0.5 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.3% ±0.6 pts | 86.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.9% ±0.3 pts | 3.1% | – |
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 Kansas City earn?
Half of Kansas City's 221,979 households earn less than $69,166 a year (±$1,445), against $68,577 in Jackson County and $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 the median was $66,696 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $2,470 after inflation. 14.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Kansas City | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $69,166 ±$1,445 | $68,577 | +$2,470 |
| Mean household income | $94,006 ±$1,546 | $92,204 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,393 ±$718 | $39,559 | +$1,583 |
| People below the poverty line | 14.6% ±0.7 pts | 14.1% | −1.5 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.3% ±1.7 pts | 19.5% | −4.0 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.4% ±0.6 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.8% ±0.4 pts | 95.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.4% ±0.6 pts | 91.0% | – |
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 Kansas City?
Owners occupy 55.4% of Kansas City's occupied homes and renters 44.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $242,900 by its owner (±$3,332). The median renter pays $1,238 a month including utilities, and 39.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Kansas City | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $242,900 ±$3,332 | $230,500 | +$52,635 |
| Median gross rent | $1,238 ±$15 | $1,197 | +$80 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.9% ±1.6 pts | 41.1% | +2.7 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,709 ±$26 | $1,639 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 55.4% ±0.8 pts | 59.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 44.6% ±0.8 pts | 40.9% | – |
| Housing units | 245,346 ±1,477 | 336,288 | +12,809 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.7% ±0.6 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.5% ±0.6 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.7% ±0.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.5% ±0.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.8% ±0.5 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 21.3% ±0.5 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.0% ±0.5 pts | 8.1% | – |
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 Kansas City building?
Builders took permits for 1,869 new housing units in Kansas City in 2025 (516 in single-family houses), 3.6 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Missouri.
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 Kansas City work and get to work?
70.2% of Kansas City's workers drive alone and 17.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.
| Measure | Kansas City | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.7% ±0.6 pts | 66.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% ±0.4 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 70.2% ±0.9 pts | 72.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.4% ±0.5 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.8% ±0.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.6% ±0.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.0% ±0.6 pts | 15.8% | +12.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.7 min ±0.4 | 23.4 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 Kansas City?
163 census tracts lie mostly in Kansas City, and 22 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $13,849 (Tract 154.02) to $235,795 (Tract 85).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 213.13Clay County | 8,584 | $105,565 |
| Tract 213.07Clay County | 7,861 | $99,087 |
| Tract 213.12Clay County | 7,708 | $139,355 |
| Tract 213.14Clay County | 7,237 | $106,098 |
| Tract 212.12Clay County | 6,663 | $108,625 |
| Tract 209.01Clay County | 6,509 | $67,066 |
| Tract 302.01Platte County | 5,917 | $110,333 |
| Tract 303.08Platte County | 6,201 | $75,368 |
| Tract 213.03Clay County | 5,808 | $171,103 |
| Tract 172Jackson County | 5,621 | $64,471 |
| Tract 205Clay County | 6,431 | $55,533 |
| Tract 206.04Clay County | 5,498 | $62,241 |
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 Kansas City) · Census block assignment files
How does Kansas City compare with other places in Missouri?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Kansas City is the 37th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the most populous of 936 in Missouri.
Kansas City ranks 128th of 416 places in Missouri with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 1st | 936 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 152nd | 394 |
| Residents per square mile | 100th | 420 |
| Median household income | 128th | 416 |
| Per capita income | 74th | 420 |
| Median home value | 79th | 416 |
| Median gross rent | 54th | 398 |
| Poverty rate | 207th | 373 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 67th | 404 |
| Median age | 294th | 420 |
| Owner-occupied share | 338th | 418 |
| Work from home | 63rd | 270 |
| Travel time to work | 235th | 420 |
Kansas City's figures with every place in Missouri (CSV)
Every place in Missouri, sortable · Compare Kansas 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 Kansas City?
1 of the 57 figures for Kansas City on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is 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 Kansas 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 Kansas City.