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Plains, KS
City in Meade County, Kansas.
Population
1,171
Land area
1sq mi
People per sq mi
1,172
ZIP codes
0
Plains and its ZIP codes
Plains at a glance
- Plains is about 33 times as dense as Kansas as a whole.
- The median household income is $71,136, 4% below the Kansas median of $74,275.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $151,400 (30% below Kansas) and median rent is $778 a month.
Local data for Plains, KS
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Plains, KS, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$71,136
Poverty rate
18.5%
Median home value
$151,400
Median rent
$778/mo
Homeownership
72.7%
Bachelor's or higher
21.1%
Median age
26.6
Average commute
15.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (511), German Americans (220), Irish Americans (71).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Meade County. PPP loans are for Plains.
Unemployment rate
3.7%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$54,190
1,624 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$77,805
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$42.7M
FY 2026, $10,520 per person
How people get to work
Plains, KS, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.7%
- Carpooled16.0%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home4.3%
Average one-way commute: 15.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Plains, KS, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
729
Countywide, mostly hail
July high / Jan low
94° / 19°F
23.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Plains, KS, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.6%
U.S. 33.3% +4.3 pts
Diabetes
11.5%
U.S. 12.1% -0.6 pts
Smoking
15.1%
U.S. 12.8% +2.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
17.0%
U.S. 11.1% +5.9 pts
Cities near Plains
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| KismetCity | 7.5 mi | 0.2 |
| MeadeCity | 14 mi | 1.5 |
| CopelandCity | 19 mi | 0.2 |
| SubletteCity | 21 mi | 1.1 |
| FowlerCity | 23 mi | 0.5 |
| MontezumaCity | 24 mi | 1 |
| LiberalCity | 24 mi | 12 |
| Forgan, OKTown | 25 mi | 0.4 |
| SatantaCity | 25 mi | 0.6 |
| Little Ponderosa, OKCensus-designated place | 26 mi | 0.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Plains, KS in?
- Plains is in Meade County, Kansas.
- What is the population of Plains, KS?
- About 1,171 people live in Plains, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Plains?
- Nearby places include Kismet (7.5 mi), Meade (14 mi), Copeland (19 mi), Sublette (21 mi), Fowler (23 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023