County · Kansas

Ford County, Kansas

Ford County, Kansas. Ford County had 33,993 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.9% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. It holds 21 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs, 14 towns and townships and 3 census-designated) and 9 census tracts. GEOID 20057.

Ford County is the county of the Dodge City, KS micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

33,993

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 34,287 · ACS 2020-2024: 34,074

Median household income

$70,781

±$6,473 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275

Median home value

$151,100

±$13,824 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200

Median gross rent

$1,010

±$63 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060

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

The 2020 Census counted 34,287 residents in Ford County. The Census Bureau estimates 33,993 for July 1, 2025, down 0.9% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 34,074 over 1,098 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −25 (34,188)
2021→2022 −295 (33,893)
2022→2023 +263 (34,156)
2023→2024 +131 (34,287)
2024→2025 −294 (33,993)

Ford County in Kansas. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Ford County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	34,074	2,947,197	−105
Households	11,796±245	1,174,060	+452
Average household size	2.83±0.06	2.44	−0.12
Housing units	12,743±29	1,293,635	+475

Ford County's population since 2000

From 32,458 in 2000 to 33,993 in 2025: up 4.7%. 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 32,458
2005 (estimate) 32,354
2010 Census 33,848
2015 (estimate) 34,617
2020 Census 34,287
2025 (estimate) 33,993

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 Ford County?

Ford County holds 21 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 14 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Dodge City with 27,653 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 Ford County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Dodge City	city	27,788	27,613±37	$68,721	$151,700	14.6%	100%
Spearville Township	township	1,163	1,324±265	$72,754	$206,000	8.5%	100%
Enterprise Township, Ford CountyGEOID 2005721450	township	998	1,314±485	$108,824	not published	29.1%	100%
Richland Township, Ford CountyGEOID 2005759300	township	893	414±177	$44,221	$310,000	0.0%	100%
Bucklin Township	township	821	845±189	$61,120	$88,200	5.5%	100%
Spearville	city	791	998±224	$72,969	$206,700	10.9%	100%
Bucklin	city	727	652±139	$60,208	$84,600	5.7%	100%
Dodge TownshipGEOID 2005718225	township	683	1,086±425	$134,065	$147,900	4.7%	100%
Wilroads GardensGEOID 2079625	CDP	639	955±471	not published	$93,400	36.8%	100%
Grandview TownshipGEOID 2005727350	township	569	269±94	$32,179	$218,500	3.2%	100%
Ford Township	township	329	335±116	$87,000	$152,800	5.4%	100%
Fairview Township, Ford CountyGEOID 2005722500	township	277	232±134	not published	$220,000	27.7%	100%
Royal TownshipGEOID 2005761575	township	228	262±101	$87,500	$345,000	8.8%	100%
FordGEOID 2023725	city	203	228±87	$68,750	$132,500	7.9%	100%
WrightGEOID 2080500	CDP	145	106±63	$31,058	$220,100	0.0%	100%
Wheatland Township, Ford CountyGEOID 2005777675	township	139	94±49	not published	$167,000	0.0%	100%
Concord Township, Ford CountyGEOID 2005715150	township	122	100±76	$134,519	$480,800	0.0%	100%
Bloom Township, Ford CountyGEOID 2005707375	township	110	48±29	$77,083	$134,400	0.0%	100%
Fort DodgeGEOID 2023890	CDP	97	93±41	$40,217	not published	0.0%	100%
Sodville TownshipGEOID 2005766150	township	89	39±29	$69,583	$170,800	23.1%	100%
Wilburn TownshipGEOID 2005779100	township	78	99±58	$78,750	$228,100	7.1%	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 Ford County?

The median resident of Ford County is 32.3 years old; 29.9% are under 18 and 11.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 59.1%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 35.4%. 25.1% 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	Ford County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	32.3±0.4	37.4	no clear change
Under 18 years	29.9%±0.1 pts	23.8%	–
65 years and over	11.9%±0.3 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	59.1%	13.6%	+4.0 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	35.4%±0.3 pts	72.7%	−4.3 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	2.4%±0.3 pts	5.2%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.9%±0.2 pts	2.9%	−0.5 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	1.8%±0.4 pts	4.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.3 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	25.1%±2.3 pts	7.4%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	47.8%±2.5 pts	12.1%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	3.9%±0.9 pts	6.8%	–
With a disability	11.7%±1.3 pts	13.5%	–
No health insurance coverage	15.9%±2.3 pts	8.8%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	76.5%±2.8 pts	92.0%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	20.7%±2.0 pts	35.6%	+3.0 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	7.1%±1.2 pts	13.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	3.0%±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 Ford County earn?

Half of Ford County's 11,796 households earn less than $70,781 a year (±$6,473), against $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 it was $63,640 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Ford County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$70,781±$6,473	$74,275	no clear change
Mean household income	$87,372±$3,964	$100,417	–
Per capita income	$29,834±$1,176	$40,978	no clear change
People below the poverty line	14.0%±2.3 pts	11.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	17.5%±4.4 pts	13.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	7.4%±2.0 pts	6.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	87.0%±2.9 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 Ford County?

Owners occupy 62.5% of Ford County's occupied homes and renters 37.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $151,100 by its owner (±$13,824). The median renter pays $1,010 a month including utilities, and 22.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Ford County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$151,100±$13,824	$217,200	no clear change
Median gross rent	$1,010±$63	$1,060	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	22.5%±5.8 pts	34.5%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,395±$104	$1,689	–
Owner-occupied homes	62.5%±3.0 pts	67.2%	no clear change
Housing units	12,743±29	1,293,635	+475
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.6%±0.7 pts	0.9%	–
Rental vacancy rate	8.9%±3.6 pts	6.2%	–
Single-family detached homes	69.1%±3.1 pts	71.8%	–
Mobile homes	10.5%±1.9 pts	4.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.8%±0.6 pts	1.4%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	18.0%±2.9 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 Ford County building?

Builders took permits for 64 new housing units across Ford County in 2025 (62 single-family), 1.9 per 1,000 residents.

2019 66 units
2020 87 units
2021 84 units
2022 97 units
2023 153 units
2024 131 units
2025 64 units

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

How do people in Ford County get to work?

80.1% of Ford County's workers drive alone and 2.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 12.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Ford County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	70.7%±2.1 pts	66.1%	–
Unemployment rate	5.1%±1.4 pts	3.9%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	80.1%±3.8 pts	75.4%	–
Carpooled	13.8%±3.0 pts	8.7%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.2 pts	0.4%	–
Walked	1.7%±1.0 pts	2.3%	–
Worked from home	2.9%±1.1 pts	11.8%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	12.7 min±0.7	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 Ford County's census tracts?

Ford County is divided into 9 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $44,344 (Tract 9621.01) to $94,010 (Tract 9618.02).

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

Tract 961620057961600	Spearville (14%)	1,973	1,920±330	$68,750	$214,700	$725	8.2%
Tract 961720057961700	Bucklin (16%)	1,872	1,864±302	$62,377	$162,500	$718	6.3%
Tract 9618.0120057961801	Dodge City	4,478	4,423±614	$72,351	$180,600	$1,184	3.7%
Tract 9618.0220057961802	Dodge City (59%)	4,806	4,644±538	$94,010	$214,000	$1,064	15.0%
Tract 9619.0120057961901	Dodge City (98%)	4,529	4,047±621	$80,833	$109,700	$1,163	13.5%
Tract 9619.0220057961902	Dodge City (87%)	3,877	3,292±406	$77,067	$174,800	$1,643	20.2%
Tract 962020057962000	Dodge City (80%)	4,938	5,432±801	$65,446	$145,400	$1,068	7.5%
Tract 9621.0120057962101	Dodge City (98%)	4,564	4,078±561	$44,344	$79,600	$924	30.8%
Tract 9621.0220057962102	Dodge City (55%)	3,250	4,374±610	$75,665	$36,700	$842	18.3%

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

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

Ford County's rank among Kansas's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	16th of 105
Growth 2020-2025	41st of 105
Residents per square mile	25th of 105
Median household income	28th of 105
Median home value	35th of 105
Median gross rent	11th of 104
Poverty rate	25th of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	82nd of 105
Median age	99th 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 Ford 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.