County · Kansas

Barber County, Kansas

Barber County, Kansas. Barber County had 4,083 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.6% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. It holds 24 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs, 16 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 20007.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

4,083

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,228 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,069 ±174

Median household income

$61,926

±$6,033 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275

Median home value

$97,000

±$17,578 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200

Median gross rent

$830

±$27 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060

How many people live in Barber County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 4,228 residents in Barber County. The Census Bureau estimates 4,083 for July 1, 2025, down 3.6% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 4,069 over 1,134 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −95 (4,109)
2021→2022 +16 (4,125)
2022→2023 −33 (4,092)
2023→2024 −7 (4,085)
2024→2025 −2 (4,083)

Barber County in Kansas. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Barber County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	4,069±174	2,947,197	−555
Households	1,828±127	1,174,060	no clear change
Average household size	2.20±0.12	2.44	no clear change
Housing units	2,480±82	1,293,635	−321

Barber County's population since 2000

From 5,307 in 2000 to 4,083 in 2025: down 23.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.

2000 Census 5,307
2005 (estimate) 4,984
2010 Census 4,861
2015 (estimate) 4,824
2020 Census 4,228
2025 (estimate) 4,083

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Barber County?

Barber County holds 24 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 16 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Medicine Lodge Township with 1,969 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Barber County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Medicine Lodge Township	township	2,052	2,011±227	$61,140	$126,200	5.4%	100%
Medicine Lodge	city	1,781	1,578±214	$59,392	$97,100	5.9%	100%
Kiowa Township	township	975	915±132	$57,292	$78,000	9.5%	100%
Kiowa	city	902	811±111	$50,833	$69,100	10.7%	100%
Sharon TownshipGEOID 2000764350	township	299	256±108	$84,338	$89,400	7.8%	100%
Elwood TownshipGEOID 2000720925	township	219	292±81	$50,982	$54,200	8.6%	100%
Hardtner	city	167	216±76	$50,179	$47,800	11.6%	100%
SharonGEOID 2064325	city	147	133±47	$68,750	$104,900	15.0%	100%
Valley Township, Barber CountyGEOID 2000772750	township	131	132±66	not published	not published	4.5%	100%
Elm Mills TownshipGEOID 2000720800	township	119	256±190	$68,333	$196,400	80.5%	100%
Hazelton TownshipGEOID 2000731175	township	105	115±44	$58,125	$60,000	18.9%	100%
HazeltonGEOID 2031150	city	82	103±42	$45,000	$52,500	21.3%	100%
Mingona TownshipGEOID 2000747050	township	72	11±14	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
IsabelGEOID 2034550	city	68	93±55	$62,132	not published	6.5%	100%
Lake City TownshipGEOID 2000737900	township	66	0±11	not published	not published	–	100%
Lake CityGEOID 2037875	CDP	47	0±11	not published	not published	–	100%
Sun City TownshipGEOID 2000769300	township	42	35±28	$56,250	not published	0.0%	100%
Sun CityGEOID 2069275	city	37	35±28	$56,250	not published	0.0%	100%
Moore TownshipGEOID 2000748075	township	35	28±18	not published	$98,300	0.0%	100%
Eagle Township, Barber CountyGEOID 2000719150	township	29	8±11	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Turkey Creek Township, Barber CountyGEOID 2000771675	township	21	0±11	not published	not published	–	100%
McAdoo TownshipGEOID 2000743550	township	16	5±8	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Deerhead TownshipGEOID 2000717300	township	11	0±11	not published	not published	–	100%
Aetna TownshipGEOID 2000700400	township	5	5±7	not published	not published	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Barber County?

The median resident of Barber County is 42.5 years old; 22.9% are under 18 and 23.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.3%.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Barber County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	42.5±2.4	37.4	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.9%±1.7 pts	23.8%	–
65 years and over	23.8%±1.8 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	6.3%±0.8 pts	13.6%	no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic	88.7%±1.1 pts	72.7%	no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	5.2%	–
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.7 pts	2.9%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	2.3%±0.9 pts	0.4%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.7 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.5%±1.0 pts	4.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	0.3%±0.2 pts	7.4%	–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	0.9%±0.8 pts	12.1%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.0%±1.8 pts	6.8%	–
With a disability	15.8%±2.6 pts	13.5%	–
No health insurance coverage	7.2%±2.0 pts	8.8%	−3.1 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	95.9%±1.8 pts	92.0%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	27.3%±3.9 pts	35.6%	+6.6 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.7%±1.6 pts	13.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.2%±1.5 pts	3.0%	–

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 Barber County earn?

Half of Barber County's 1,828 households earn less than $61,926 a year (±$6,033), against $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 it was $61,749 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Barber County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$61,926±$6,033	$74,275	no clear change
Mean household income	$85,733±$9,199	$100,417	–
Per capita income	$38,500±$3,631	$40,978	no clear change
People below the poverty line	11.8%±4.9 pts	11.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	20.1%±14.0 pts	13.1%	–
Households receiving SNAP	2.8%±1.7 pts	6.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	85.4%±3.8 pts	90.7%	–

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 Barber County?

Owners occupy 81.0% of Barber County's occupied homes and renters 19.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $97,000 by its owner (±$17,578). The median renter pays $830 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Barber County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$97,000±$17,578	$217,200	no clear change
Median gross rent	$830±$27	$1,060	+$137
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	9.5%±7.2 pts	34.5%	–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,379±$127	$1,689	–
Owner-occupied homes	81.0%±3.7 pts	67.2%	+9.2 pts
Housing units	2,480±82	1,293,635	−321
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.0%±1.9 pts	0.9%	–
Rental vacancy rate	14.3%±10.5 pts	6.2%	–
Single-family detached homes	88.6%±3.2 pts	71.8%	–
Mobile homes	6.3%±2.7 pts	4.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.3%±0.3 pts	1.4%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	29.5%±5.3 pts	15.4%	–

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 Barber County building?

Builders took permits for 0 new housing units across Barber County in 2025 (0 single-family), 0.0 per 1,000 residents.

2019 0 units
2020 0 units
2021 0 units
2022 0 units
2023 1 units
2024 0 units
2025 0 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Barber County get to work?

85.6% of Barber County's workers drive alone and 3.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.1 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Barber County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	69.4%±3.1 pts	66.1%	–
Unemployment rate	1.2%±1.0 pts	3.9%	–
Drove alone to work	85.6%±3.5 pts	75.4%	–
Carpooled	7.4%±2.6 pts	8.7%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±1.4 pts	0.4%	–
Walked	2.7%±1.7 pts	2.3%	–
Worked from home	3.4%±1.8 pts	11.8%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	15.1 min±1.6	19.7 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 are Barber County's census tracts?

Barber County is divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $56,336 (Tract 9682) to $71,618 (Tract 9681).

Census tracts of Barber County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 968120007968100	Medicine Lodge (25%)	2,724	2,551±228	$71,618	$105,400	$847	13.6%
Tract 968220007968200	Kiowa (29%)	1,504	1,518±183	$56,336	$87,900	$705	8.7%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Barber County compare with Kansas's other counties?

Barber County's rank among Kansas's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	71st of 105
Growth 2020-2025	79th of 105
Residents per square mile	83rd of 105
Median household income	67th of 105
Median home value	81st of 105
Median gross rent	35th of 104
Poverty rate	43rd of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	27th of 105
Median age	43rd of 105

Every county in Kansas

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Barber County 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' school search.