County · Kansas

Cowley County, Kansas

Cowley County, Kansas. Cowley County had 34,382 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.5% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. It holds 37 places (9 cities, villages and boroughs, 25 towns and townships and 3 census-designated) and 11 census tracts. GEOID 20035.

Cowley County is the county of the Arkansas City-Winfield, KS micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

34,382

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 34,549 · ACS 2020-2024: 34,411

Median household income

$57,878

±$3,114 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275

Median home value

$120,900

±$7,871 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200

Median gross rent

$809

±$47 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060

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

The 2020 Census counted 34,549 residents in Cowley County. The Census Bureau estimates 34,382 for July 1, 2025, down 0.5% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 34,411 over 1,126 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +95 (34,623)
2021→2022 −176 (34,447)
2022→2023 −243 (34,204)
2023→2024 +47 (34,251)
2024→2025 +131 (34,382)

Cowley County in Kansas. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Cowley County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	34,411	2,947,197	−940
Households	13,387±380	1,174,060	no clear change
Average household size	2.40±0.07	2.44	no clear change
Housing units	15,682±42	1,293,635	−486

Cowley County's population since 2000

From 36,291 in 2000 to 34,382 in 2025: down 5.3%. 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 36,291
2005 (estimate) 35,928
2010 Census 36,311
2015 (estimate) 35,774
2020 Census 34,549
2025 (estimate) 34,382

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 Cowley County?

Cowley County holds 37 places: 9 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 25 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Arkansas City with 11,800 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 Cowley County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Arkansas City	city	11,974	11,884±25	$49,629	$86,800	17.2%	100%
Winfield	city	11,777	11,711±45	$56,656	$132,700	15.4%	100%
Creswell Township	township	1,888	1,640±337	$85,000	$178,500	17.2%	100%
Bolton Township	township	1,434	1,207±299	$56,654	$78,300	1.2%	100%
Ninnescah Township, Cowley County	township	915	964±213	$69,625	$122,100	12.6%	100%
Pleasant Valley Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003556500	township	813	978±272	not published	$228,200	1.8%	100%
Maple Township	township	761	1,037±275	$91,000	$216,100	2.9%	100%
Silver Creek Township	township	689	755±127	$62,500	$71,700	9.4%	100%
Udall	city	661	807±207	$70,667	$96,100	12.9%	100%
Walnut Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003574925	township	590	826±326	$93,750	$204,900	3.6%	100%
Burden	city	512	554±104	$55,833	$58,600	12.9%	100%
Vernon TownshipGEOID 2003573575	township	431	324±130	$52,386	$189,400	21.6%	100%
Parkerfield	city	406	527±119	$125,938	$221,400	1.1%	100%
Dexter Township	township	374	646±309	$53,125	$87,500	3.0%	100%
Silverdale TownshipGEOID 2003565575	township	329	322±143	not published	$222,700	44.4%	100%
Salem Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003562625	township	307	297±149	$66,346	not published	27.3%	100%
Tisdale TownshipGEOID 2003570725	township	298	239±114	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Fairview Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003522475	township	281	39±22	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Omnia Township	township	274	255±79	$61,750	$82,700	12.1%	100%
Rock Creek Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003560525	township	266	234±99	$61,688	$175,000	13.2%	100%
DexterGEOID 2017925	city	224	540±310	$52,357	$81,800	2.8%	100%
Beaver Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003505025	township	212	205±108	not published	$193,800	0.0%	100%
Liberty Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003539950	township	174	49±31	not published	$170,300	0.0%	100%
Richland Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003559275	township	169	243±127	$59,375	$181,300	4.1%	100%
Atlanta	city	168	169±49	$59,792	$72,800	15.5%	100%
Sheridan Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003564650	township	161	149±62	$81,705	$161,600	0.0%	100%
Windsor TownshipGEOID 2003579875	township	154	90±29	$103,125	$55,000	0.0%	100%
RockGEOID 2060400	CDP	94	90±76	$62,000	not published	0.0%	100%
CambridgeGEOID 2010125	city	92	69±25	$103,125	$47,500	0.0%	100%
Harvey Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003530525	township	83	34±18	not published	$333,300	0.0%	100%
Spring Creek Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003567400	township	76	51±41	$66,563	not published	9.8%	100%
Grant Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003527550	township	75	52±27	$90,893	$153,100	0.0%	100%
SilverdaleGEOID 2065550	CDP	61	116±95	$31,188	$186,900	82.8%	100%
New SalemGEOID 2050425	CDP	58	12±17	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Otter TownshipGEOID 2003553625	township	24	136±105	not published	not published	100.0%	100%
Cedar Township, Cowley CountyGEOID 2003511250	township	20	44±32	$102,813	$87,500	0.0%	100%
Geuda SpringsGEOID 2026200	city	158	223±110	$51,528	$86,300	3.6%	9%

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 Cowley County?

The median resident of Cowley County is 39.2 years old; 23.6% are under 18 and 18.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 12.2%. 4.6% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Cowley County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	39.2±0.7	37.4	no clear change
Under 18 years	23.6%	23.8%	–
65 years and over	18.9%±0.4 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	12.2%	13.6%	+1.3 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	76.9%±0.5 pts	72.7%	−2.7 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	2.4%±0.5 pts	5.2%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.5%±0.4 pts	2.9%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	1.2%±0.4 pts	0.4%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.4 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	5.3%±1.0 pts	4.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	4.6%±0.8 pts	7.4%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	6.2%±0.9 pts	12.1%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.0%±0.9 pts	6.8%	–
With a disability	18.8%±1.4 pts	13.5%	–
No health insurance coverage	8.1%±1.2 pts	8.8%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	90.6%±1.4 pts	92.0%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	24.5%±1.7 pts	35.6%	+2.7 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	8.4%±1.1 pts	13.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.8%±1.0 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 Cowley County earn?

Half of Cowley County's 13,387 households earn less than $57,878 a year (±$3,114), against $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 it was $61,660 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.3% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cowley County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$57,878±$3,114	$74,275	no clear change
Mean household income	$81,245±$9,517	$100,417	–
Per capita income	$32,882±$3,741	$40,978	no clear change
People below the poverty line	14.3%±2.1 pts	11.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	18.3%±4.3 pts	13.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	11.6%±1.7 pts	6.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	84.3%±2.3 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 Cowley County?

Owners occupy 68.1% of Cowley County's occupied homes and renters 31.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $120,900 by its owner (±$7,871). The median renter pays $809 a month including utilities, and 40.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cowley County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$120,900±$7,871	$217,200	+$11,368
Median gross rent	$809±$47	$1,060	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	40.4%±6.9 pts	34.5%	+10.9 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,295±$54	$1,689	–
Owner-occupied homes	68.1%±2.9 pts	67.2%	no clear change
Housing units	15,682±42	1,293,635	−486
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.4%±0.6 pts	0.9%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.7%±2.7 pts	6.2%	–
Single-family detached homes	74.8%±2.6 pts	71.8%	–
Mobile homes	8.2%±1.4 pts	4.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±0.5 pts	1.4%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	27.6%±2.6 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 Cowley County building?

Builders took permits for 35 new housing units across Cowley County in 2025 (33 single-family), 1.0 per 1,000 residents.

2019 88 units
2020 43 units
2021 67 units
2022 120 units
2023 77 units
2024 41 units
2025 35 units

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

How do people in Cowley County get to work?

77.7% of Cowley County's workers drive alone and 4.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.9%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cowley County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	57.8%±1.5 pts	66.1%	–
Unemployment rate	3.9%±1.1 pts	3.9%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	77.7%±2.7 pts	75.4%	–
Carpooled	14.0%±2.1 pts	8.7%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Walked	1.3%±0.5 pts	2.3%	–
Worked from home	4.9%±1.1 pts	11.8%	+2.6 pts
Mean travel time to work	21.1 min±1.5	19.7 min	+2.0 min

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 Cowley County's census tracts?

Cowley County is divided into 11 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $35,250 (Tract 4940) to $82,350 (Tract 4933).

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

Tract 493120035493100	Atlanta (6%)	2,535	2,616±304	$55,139	$121,700	$602	14.0%
Tract 493220035493200	Udall (7%)	2,921	3,331±374	$80,081	$161,200	$869	9.1%
Tract 493320035493300	Winfield (10%)	2,710	2,740±320	$82,350	$211,900	$892	4.2%
Tract 493420035493400	Winfield (83%)	2,419	2,189±288	$58,175	$197,900	$729	15.0%
Tract 493520035493500	Winfield (89%)	5,017	4,745±407	$55,114	$99,100	$894	16.0%
Tract 493620035493600	Winfield (99%)	4,094	4,196±431	$51,638	$122,800	$739	16.8%
Tract 493720035493700	Arkansas City (90%)	3,450	3,415±332	$40,466	$104,400	$644	12.9%
Tract 493820035493800	Arkansas City (88%)	4,454	4,545±493	$59,231	$87,200	$812	17.6%
Tract 493920035493900	Arkansas City (16%)	3,216	2,986±354	$77,736	$172,100	$1,069	9.2%
Tract 494020035494000	Arkansas City (97%)	2,277	2,277±290	$35,250	$60,600	$880	33.3%
Tract 494120035494100	Arkansas City (89%)	1,456	1,371±232	$59,432	$54,400	$800	11.7%

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

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

Cowley County's rank among Kansas's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	15th of 105
Growth 2020-2025	33rd of 105
Residents per square mile	26th of 105
Median household income	86th of 105
Median home value	54th of 105
Median gross rent	42nd of 104
Poverty rate	22nd of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	50th of 105
Median age	71st 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 Cowley 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.