County · Kansas
Thomas County, Kansas
Thomas County, Kansas. Thomas County had 7,725 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.5% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. It holds 20 places (6 cities, villages and boroughs, 13 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 20193.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,725
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,930 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,885
Median household income
$71,325
±$9,792 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275
Median home value
$172,700
±$16,455 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200
Median gross rent
$752
±$90 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060
How many people live in Thomas County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 7,930 residents in Thomas County. The Census Bureau estimates 7,725 for July 1, 2025, down 2.5% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 7,885 over 1,075 square miles of land.
| Measure | Thomas County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,885 | 2,947,197 | +75 |
| Households | 3,139±161 | 1,174,060 | −236 |
| Average household size | 2.38±0.12 | 2.44 | +0.18 |
| Housing units | 3,575±33 | 1,293,635 | no clear change |
Thomas County's population since 2000
From 8,180 in 2000 to 7,725 in 2025: down 5.6%. 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 Thomas County?
Thomas County holds 20 places: 6 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 13 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Colby with 5,489 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Colby | 5,570 | $63,494 |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan TownshipGEOID 2019348200 | 618 | $110,483 |
| West Hale Township | 361 | $65,000 |
| Brewster | 291 | $63,816 |
| Smith TownshipGEOID 2019365900 | 238 | $85,288 |
| South Randall TownshipGEOID 2019366875 | 224 | $111,250 |
| RexfordGEOID 2059125 | 197 | $85,769 |
| Summers TownshipGEOID 2019368975 | 160 | not published |
| Lacey TownshipGEOID 2019337425 | 138 | $148,333 |
| Rovohl TownshipGEOID 2019361525 | 129 | $111,576 |
| Barrett TownshipGEOID 2019304325 | 109 | $80,938 |
| East Hale TownshipGEOID 2019319475 | 105 | $56,522 |
| GemGEOID 2026050 | 98 | not published |
| Kingery TownshipGEOID 2019336925 | 98 | $130,625 |
| Menlo TownshipGEOID 2019345775 | 82 | $80,781 |
| LevantGEOID 2039700 | 68 | $55,652 |
| North Randall TownshipGEOID 2019351300 | 50 | not published |
| Oakley | 2,046 | $77,065 |
| Wendell TownshipGEOID 2019376650 | 48 | $250,000 or more |
| MenloGEOID 2045750 | 33 | not published |
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 Thomas County?
The median resident of Thomas County is 35.3 years old; 24.6% are under 18 and 18.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.4%. 4.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Thomas County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3±2.1 | 37.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.6%±1.4 pts | 23.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.6%±0.7 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.4% | 13.6% | +1.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.6%±1.4 pts | 72.7% | −3.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 2.9% | – |
| 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%±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.2%±1.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.1%±1.5 pts | 7.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.6%±2.0 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.8%±1.3 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 12.9%±2.4 pts | 13.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.4%±3.0 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.3%±1.9 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 34.6%±5.8 pts | 35.6% | +12.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.7%±3.3 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.6%±1.3 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 Thomas County earn?
Half of Thomas County's 3,139 households earn less than $71,325 a year (±$9,792), against $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 it was $73,994 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Thomas County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,325±$9,792 | $74,275 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $93,106±$10,901 | $100,417 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,446±$4,575 | $40,978 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.5%±2.9 pts | 11.3% | −5.5 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.3%±5.6 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.8%±2.2 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.3%±4.2 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 Thomas County?
Owners occupy 75.2% of Thomas County's occupied homes and renters 24.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $172,700 by its owner (±$16,455). The median renter pays $752 a month including utilities, and 42.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Thomas County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $172,700±$16,455 | $217,200 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $752±$90 | $1,060 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.0%±14.2 pts | 34.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,274±$115 | $1,689 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.2%±4.2 pts | 67.2% | +7.6 pts |
| Housing units | 3,575±33 | 1,293,635 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 15.1%±13.9 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.8%±4.6 pts | 71.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.3%±3.3 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 18.2%±4.2 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 Thomas County building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units across Thomas County in 2025 (1 single-family), 0.1 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 Thomas County get to work?
82.4% of Thomas County's workers drive alone and 9.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 11.7 minutes.
| Measure | Thomas County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.4%±3.7 pts | 66.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.6%±0.6 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 82.4%±3.9 pts | 75.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.4%±1.7 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 2.9%±1.6 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.6%±3.1 pts | 11.8% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 11.7 min±1.5 | 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 Thomas County's census tracts?
Thomas County is divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $68,303 (Tract 9531) to $83,529 (Tract 9534).
| Tract 953120193953100 | 5,671±303 | $68,303 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 953420193953400 | 2,214±303 | $83,529 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Thomas County compare with Kansas's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 48th of 105 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 68th of 105 |
| Residents per square mile | 59th of 105 |
| Median household income | 27th of 105 |
| Median home value | 23rd of 105 |
| Median gross rent | 62nd of 104 |
| Poverty rate | 93rd of 102 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7th of 105 |
| Median age | 93rd 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 Thomas 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.