County · Kansas

Lyon County, Kansas

Lyon County, Kansas. Lyon County had 32,266 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.3% since 2020, slower than Kansas (+1.3%). It holds 20 places (9 cities, villages and boroughs and 11 towns and townships) and 12 census tracts. GEOID 20111.

Lyon County is one of the 2 counties of the Emporia, KS micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

32,266

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 32,179 · ACS 2020-2024: 32,186

Median household income

$59,912

±$4,163 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275

Median home value

$150,600

±$7,373 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200

Median gross rent

$817

±$34 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060

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

The 2020 Census counted 32,179 residents in Lyon County. The Census Bureau estimates 32,266 for July 1, 2025, up 0.3% since 2020, slower than Kansas (+1.3%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 32,186 over 847 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −85 (32,025)
2021→2022 −18 (32,007)
2022→2023 +198 (32,205)
2023→2024 +146 (32,351)
2024→2025 −85 (32,266)

Lyon County in Kansas. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Lyon County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	32,186	2,947,197	−1,065
Households	13,481±302	1,174,060	no clear change
Average household size	2.31±0.05	2.44	no clear change
Housing units	15,027±76	1,293,635	−307

Lyon County's population since 2000

From 35,935 in 2000 to 32,266 in 2025: down 10.2%. 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 35,935
2005 (estimate) 35,936
2010 Census 33,690
2015 (estimate) 33,142
2020 Census 32,179
2025 (estimate) 32,266

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 Lyon County?

Lyon County holds 20 places: 9 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 11 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Emporia with 24,137 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 Lyon County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Emporia	city	24,139	24,131±30	$52,704	$132,700	17.8%	100%
Americus Township	township	1,373	1,440±200	$85,556	$144,600	7.7%	100%
Center Township, Lyon County	township	1,094	1,115±241	$79,375	$185,600	2.5%	100%
Jackson Township, Lyon CountyGEOID 2011134825	township	993	836±236	$84,531	$145,000	1.1%	100%
Emporia Township	township	911	961±259	$93,984	$346,300	9.4%	100%
Fremont Township	township	800	885±256	$92,455	$259,200	0.7%	100%
Pike TownshipGEOID 2011155825	township	784	782±210	$90,500	$296,400	0.9%	100%
Americus	city	776	955±228	$73,542	$124,100	11.0%	100%
Elmendaro Township	township	741	727±136	$76,528	$108,300	13.1%	100%
Olpe	city	519	565±128	$89,479	$163,300	0.7%	100%
Reading Township	township	443	354±116	$97,083	$178,800	4.5%	100%
Agnes City Township	township	400	548±133	$57,159	$106,600	14.2%	100%
Hartford	city	355	428±98	$55,250	$69,500	21.1%	100%
Ivy TownshipGEOID 2011134700	township	270	267±109	$67,721	$92,100	1.1%	100%
Waterloo TownshipGEOID 2011175925	township	231	140±65	not published	$410,000	4.3%	100%
Neosho RapidsGEOID 2049875	city	229	276±145	$75,625	$79,200	0.7%	100%
ReadingGEOID 2058600	city	181	198±80	$68,125	$51,700	5.6%	100%
AllenGEOID 2001275	city	160	287±90	$59,016	$59,600	8.0%	100%
AdmireGEOID 2000325	city	130	144±85	$56,094	not published	2.1%	100%
BushongGEOID 2009675	city	27	46±42	not published	not published	15.2%	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 Lyon County?

The median resident of Lyon County is 33.1 years old; 22.2% are under 18 and 16.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 68.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 24.2%. 11.0% 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	Lyon County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	33.1±0.6	37.4	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.2%±0.1 pts	23.8%	–
65 years and over	16.1%±0.2 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	24.2%	13.6%	+3.0 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	68.3%±0.2 pts	72.7%	−2.8 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.4%±0.5 pts	5.2%	−0.8 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.9%±0.4 pts	2.9%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±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	3.9%±0.7 pts	4.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.2 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	11.0%±1.2 pts	7.4%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	16.7%±1.7 pts	12.1%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.0%±0.8 pts	6.8%	–
With a disability	13.6%±1.4 pts	13.5%	–
No health insurance coverage	11.5%±2.0 pts	8.8%	+2.8 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	89.4%±1.6 pts	92.0%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	26.3%±2.5 pts	35.6%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	10.9%±1.4 pts	13.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.7%±0.7 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 Lyon County earn?

Half of Lyon County's 13,481 households earn less than $59,912 a year (±$4,163), against $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 it was $57,028 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lyon County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$59,912±$4,163	$74,275	no clear change
Mean household income	$72,670±$3,167	$100,417	–
Per capita income	$30,158±$1,212	$40,978	−$2,953
People below the poverty line	14.6%±2.0 pts	11.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	16.3%±5.0 pts	13.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	6.5%±1.4 pts	6.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	89.2%±2.2 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 Lyon County?

Owners occupy 57.9% of Lyon County's occupied homes and renters 42.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $150,600 by its owner (±$7,373). The median renter pays $817 a month including utilities, and 35.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lyon County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$150,600±$7,373	$217,200	+$19,162
Median gross rent	$817±$34	$1,060	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	35.0%±5.7 pts	34.5%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,345±$49	$1,689	–
Owner-occupied homes	57.9%±2.8 pts	67.2%	no clear change
Housing units	15,027±76	1,293,635	−307
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.7%±0.7 pts	0.9%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.1%±1.9 pts	6.2%	–
Single-family detached homes	60.5%±2.9 pts	71.8%	–
Mobile homes	9.3%±1.8 pts	4.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.5%±0.3 pts	1.4%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	28.4%±2.8 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 Lyon County building?

Builders took permits for 59 new housing units across Lyon County in 2025 (33 single-family), 1.8 per 1,000 residents.

2019 69 units
2020 40 units
2021 73 units
2022 35 units
2023 66 units
2024 38 units
2025 59 units

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

How do people in Lyon County get to work?

78.0% of Lyon County's workers drive alone and 6.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 14.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.0%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lyon County	Kansas	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	69.2%±1.9 pts	66.1%	–
Unemployment rate	2.0%±0.7 pts	3.9%	−3.4 pts
Drove alone to work	78.0%±2.4 pts	75.4%	–
Carpooled	10.5%±1.8 pts	8.7%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Walked	3.9%±1.0 pts	2.3%	–
Worked from home	6.4%±1.5 pts	11.8%	+2.9 pts
Mean travel time to work	14.8 min±0.8	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 Lyon County's census tracts?

Lyon County is divided into 12 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $37,349 (Tract 1.01) to $93,036 (Tract 7).

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

Tract 1.0120111000101	Emporia	3,429	3,442±423	$37,349	$98,900	$750	33.7%
Tract 1.0220111000102	Emporia	284	488±16	not published	not published	not published	–
Tract 1.0320111000103	Emporia (67%)	1,431	996±126	$76,181	$162,400	$707	9.2%
Tract 2.0120111000201	Emporia (94%)	3,530	3,680±442	$52,898	$169,700	$848	18.0%
Tract 2.0220111000202	Emporia (90%)	2,425	2,524±357	$73,333	$280,200	$1,049	10.5%
Tract 2.0320111000203	Emporia	934	907±174	$50,694	$162,100	$982	5.9%
Tract 320111000300	Emporia (83%)	4,982	4,725±506	$53,636	$101,000	$843	16.3%
Tract 420111000400	Emporia	2,888	3,075±348	$43,640	$157,500	$714	21.8%
Tract 520111000500	Emporia (93%)	4,299	4,272±431	$61,924	$73,200	$930	11.9%
Tract 620111000600	Admire (8%)	2,227	2,296±238	$76,641	$204,400	$796	4.8%
Tract 720111000700	Americus (18%)	2,341	2,385±225	$93,036	$229,200	$919	4.9%
Tract 820111000800	Hartford (7%)	3,409	3,396±249	$79,375	$189,400	$829	6.6%

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

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

Lyon County's rank among Kansas's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	18th of 105
Growth 2020-2025	19th of 105
Residents per square mile	17th of 105
Median household income	77th of 105
Median home value	36th of 105
Median gross rent	39th of 104
Poverty rate	21st of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	32nd of 105
Median age	98th 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 Lyon 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.