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Oberlin, KS
City in Decatur County, Kansas.
Population
1,734
Land area
1.9sq mi
People per sq mi
908
ZIP codes
0
Oberlin and its ZIP codes
Oberlin at a glance
- Oberlin is about 25 times as dense as Kansas as a whole.
- It is the 135th most populous of 721 cities and towns in Kansas.
- Households here earn a median of $52,284 a year, 30% less than the Kansas figure of $74,275.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $88,700 (59% below Kansas) and median rent is $593 a month.
Local data for Oberlin, KS
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Oberlin, KS, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$52,284
Poverty rate
11.5%
Median home value
$88,700
Median rent
$593/mo
Homeownership
76.9%
Bachelor's or higher
32.2%
Median age
52.5
Average commute
12.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (634), Swedish Americans (136), Irish Americans (119).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Decatur County. PPP loans are for Oberlin.
Unemployment rate
3.8%
Aug 2026, -0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$40,229
843 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$66,503
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$27.8M
FY 2026, $10,062 per person
How people get to work
Oberlin, KS, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone71.4%
- Carpooled2.8%
- Public transit5.9%
- Walked0.8%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home19.1%
Average one-way commute: 12.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Oberlin, KS, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
706
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
1
0.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
91° / 16°F
21.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Oberlin, KS, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.5%
U.S. 33.3% +3.2 pts
Diabetes
13.0%
U.S. 12.1% +0.9 pts
Smoking
14.1%
U.S. 12.8% +1.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.7%
U.S. 11.1% -3.4 pts
Cities near Oberlin
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| HerndonCity | 15 mi | 0.3 |
| DresdenCity | 15 mi | 0.9 |
| JenningsCity | 16 mi | 0.3 |
| Danbury, NEVillage | 16 mi | 0.3 |
| NorcaturCity | 18 mi | 1 |
| SeldenCity | 19 mi | 0.3 |
| ClaytonCity | 20 mi | 0.4 |
| Lebanon, NEVillage | 21 mi | 0.2 |
| LudellCensus-designated place | 23 mi | 0.4 |
| RexfordCity | 27 mi | 0.3 |
| McCook, NECity | 27 mi | 5.5 |
| AtwoodCity | 27 mi | 1.1 |
| Indianola, NECity | 29 mi | 1.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Oberlin, KS in?
- Oberlin is in Decatur County, Kansas.
- What is the population of Oberlin, KS?
- About 1,734 people live in Oberlin, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Oberlin?
- Nearby places include Herndon (15 mi), Dresden (15 mi), Jennings (16 mi), Danbury, NE (16 mi), Norcatur (18 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023