Poverty and living standards in Kansas, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 10.9% of people in Kansas lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 313,926 people; 23rd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Kansas gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Kansas was 11.3% (319,931 people), so the rate is down 0.4 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in Kansas?
12.8% of children under 18 in Kansas were in poverty in 2024, about 87,209 children; 20th lowest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 14.6% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Kansas?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Kansas was 0.4557 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); joint 14th least unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Kansas are cost-burdened?
43.4% of renting households in Kansas spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 20.4% spent half or more; the 30% share is 7th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Kansas get food stamps?
5.9% of households in Kansas (71,066) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 51% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 74% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Kansas?
An average of 187,181 people in Kansas received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 0.1% on fiscal 2024 (187,042), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in Kansas?
SNAP benefits paid in Kansas totaled $400.11 million in fiscal 2025, an average of $178.13 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 14th smallest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Kansas?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 2,658 people experiencing homelessness in Kansas, down 4.8% on 2024 (2,793) and up 11.6% on 2019 (2,381); 13th smallest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in Kansas sleep outside?
Of those counted in Kansas in January 2025, 1,830 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 828 (31.2%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 23rd highest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in Kansas?
The January 2025 count in Kansas included 584 people in families with children, 356 children under 18, 516 chronically homeless individuals and 183 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Kansas are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 10.6% of households in Kansas were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC and not statistically different from the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in Kansas getting worse?
3.9% of households in Kansas had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 11.3% in 2018-20 and 15.2% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is -0.7 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Kansas compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Kansas ranks 29 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Pennsylvania | 11.6% |
| 27 | Illinois | 11.5% |
| 28 | Iowa | 11.2% |
| 29 | Kansas | 10.9% |
| 30 | North Dakota | 10.8% |
| 31 | Nebraska | 10.6% |
| 32 | Maine | 10.6% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Kansas ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Oregon | 13.0% |
| 30 | Connecticut | 13.0% |
| 31 | Alaska | 12.9% |
| 32 | Kansas | 12.8% |
| 33 | Maine | 12.3% |
| 34 | Wisconsin | 12.2% |
| 35 | South Dakota | 11.9% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Kansas ranks 38 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Maine | 0.4566 |
| 36 | Maryland | 0.4559 |
| 37 | Oregon | 0.4557 |
| 38 | Kansas | 0.4557 |
| 39 | Vermont | 0.4551 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 0.4542 |
| 41 | Indiana | 0.4523 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Kansas ranks 45 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Missouri | 45.2% |
| 43 | Kentucky | 45.2% |
| 44 | Wisconsin | 44.9% |
| 45 | Kansas | 43.4% |
| 46 | Iowa | 43.2% |
| 47 | Wyoming | 42.9% |
| 48 | Montana | 42.7% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Kansas ranks 49 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | South Dakota | 7.1% |
| 46 | Montana | 7.0% |
| 47 | New Hampshire | 6.5% |
| 48 | North Dakota | 6.4% |
| 49 | Kansas | 5.9% |
| 50 | Wyoming | 5.6% |
| 51 | Utah | 4.6% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Kansas ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Maine | 10.9% |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | 10.8% |
| 32 | Wisconsin | 10.7% |
| 33 | Kansas | 10.6% |
| 34 | Montana | 10.6% |
| 35 | Maryland | 10.4% |
| 36 | Connecticut | 10.4% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Kansas ranks 39 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Iowa | 2,816 |
| 37 | Arkansas | 2,720 |
| 38 | Idaho | 2,697 |
| 39 | Kansas | 2,658 |
| 40 | Nebraska | 2,656 |
| 41 | Alaska | 2,655 |
| 42 | Maine | 2,413 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Kansas ranks 22 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Kentucky | 34.5% |
| 20 | South Carolina | 32.4% |
| 21 | Missouri | 31.5% |
| 22 | Kansas | 31.2% |
| 23 | Montana | 31.2% |
| 24 | North Carolina | 30.9% |
| 25 | Colorado | 30.4% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Kansas ranks 36 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | West Virginia | 272,843 |
| 34 | Iowa | 264,523 |
| 35 | Arkansas | 240,378 |
| 36 | Kansas | 187,181 |
| 37 | Utah | 176,220 |
| 38 | Maine | 166,321 |
| 39 | Hawaii | 161,312 |
More on Kansas: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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