County · Kansas
Osage County, Kansas
Osage County, Kansas. Osage County had 15,693 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.5% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. It holds 26 places (9 cities, villages and boroughs, 16 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 5 census tracts. GEOID 20139.
Osage County is one of the 5 counties of the Topeka, KS metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
15,693
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 15,766 · ACS 2020-2024: 15,744
Median household income
$74,467
±$3,932 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275
Median home value
$156,800
±$8,090 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200
Median gross rent
$785
±$22 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060
How many people live in Osage County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 15,766 residents in Osage County. The Census Bureau estimates 15,693 for July 1, 2025, down 0.5% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 15,744 over 706 square miles of land.
| Measure | Osage County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 15,744 | 2,947,197 | −137 |
| Households | 6,432±153 | 1,174,060 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.42±0.06 | 2.44 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,337±39 | 1,293,635 | −258 |
Osage County's population since 2000
From 16,712 in 2000 to 15,693 in 2025: down 6.1%. 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.
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 Osage County?
Osage County holds 26 places: 9 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 16 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Osage City with 2,784 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Osage City | 2,861 | $71,191 |
|---|---|---|
| Ridgeway Township | 2,376 | $80,547 |
| Elk Township, Osage County | 1,843 | $76,845 |
| Burlingame Township | 1,704 | $63,681 |
| Valley Brook Township | 1,492 | $76,678 |
| Carbondale | 1,352 | $75,750 |
| Junction Township | 1,207 | $76,635 |
| Scranton Township | 1,133 | $57,047 |
| Lyndon | 1,037 | $67,227 |
| Overbrook | 1,005 | $68,958 |
| Burlingame | 971 | $60,202 |
| Melvern Township | 729 | $57,202 |
| Scranton | 653 | $56,793 |
| Fairfax TownshipGEOID 2013922150 | 610 | $79,844 |
| VassarGEOID 2073450 | 584 | $68,036 |
| Agency TownshipGEOID 2013900450 | 425 | $58,833 |
| Melvern | 356 | $55,893 |
| Quenemo | 288 | $50,833 |
| Grant Township, Osage CountyGEOID 2013927850 | 286 | $98,393 |
| Superior Township, Osage CountyGEOID 2013969500 | 245 | $54,891 |
| Olivet TownshipGEOID 2013952725 | 241 | $118,056 |
| Dragoon TownshipGEOID 2013918575 | 199 | $72,083 |
| Barclay TownshipGEOID 2013904175 | 148 | $111,500 |
| Lincoln Township, Osage CountyGEOID 2013940925 | 145 | $99,219 |
| Arvonia TownshipGEOID 2013902550 | 122 | $102,250 |
| OlivetGEOID 2052700 | 73 | $93,594 |
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 Osage County?
The median resident of Osage County is 42.9 years old; 23.0% are under 18 and 20.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.5%. 0.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Osage County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9±0.6 | 37.4 | −0.9 |
| Under 18 years | 23.0%±0.1 pts | 23.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.9%±0.2 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.4% | 13.6% | +0.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.1%±0.4 pts | 72.7% | −1.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 2.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.5%±0.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.9%±0.3 pts | 7.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.1%±0.8 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.3%±1.0 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 15.9%±1.6 pts | 13.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.1%±1.8 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.7%±1.2 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.6%±2.1 pts | 35.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.8%±1.2 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4%±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 Osage County earn?
Half of Osage County's 6,432 households earn less than $74,467 a year (±$3,932), against $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 the median was $66,568 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $7,899 after inflation. 9.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Osage County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $74,467±$3,932 | $74,275 | +$7,899 |
| Mean household income | $85,289±$3,455 | $100,417 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,313±$1,339 | $40,978 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.7%±1.6 pts | 11.3% | −4.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.1%±4.0 pts | 13.1% | −7.3 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.2%±1.5 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.9%±2.4 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 Osage County?
Owners occupy 82.4% of Osage County's occupied homes and renters 17.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $156,800 by its owner (±$8,090). The median renter pays $785 a month including utilities, and 34.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Osage County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $156,800±$8,090 | $217,200 | +$14,409 |
| Median gross rent | $785±$22 | $1,060 | −$96 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.2%±9.1 pts | 34.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,404±$83 | $1,689 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.4%±2.6 pts | 67.2% | +7.7 pts |
| Housing units | 7,337±39 | 1,293,635 | −258 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8%±1.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.7%±2.5 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 84.3%±2.0 pts | 71.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 8.5%±1.8 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4%±0.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 26.9%±2.5 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 Osage County building?
Builders took permits for 50 new housing units across Osage County in 2025 (50 single-family), 3.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Osage County get to work?
77.4% of Osage County's workers drive alone and 8.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 1.9%.
| Measure | Osage County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.1%±1.8 pts | 66.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.9%±0.7 pts | 3.9% | −3.1 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 77.4%±2.8 pts | 75.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.8%±2.7 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.7%±0.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.6%±1.6 pts | 11.8% | +3.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.5 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 Osage County's census tracts?
Osage County is divided into 5 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $61,688 (Tract 102) to $86,422 (Tract 103).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Osage County compare with Kansas's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 32nd of 105 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 34th of 105 |
| Residents per square mile | 33rd of 105 |
| Median household income | 19th of 105 |
| Median home value | 32nd of 105 |
| Median gross rent | 52nd of 104 |
| Poverty rate | 66th of 102 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 75th of 105 |
| Median age | 38th of 105 |
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 Osage 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.