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Riley County, KS

9 cities and towns and 6 ZIP codes in Riley County, Kansas.

Population

71,946

Land area

610sq mi

People per sq mi

118

ZIP codes

6

Cities and towns in Riley County

Riley County at a glance

  • Riley County is about 3.3 times as dense as Kansas as a whole.
  • By population, it ranks 7th among 105 counties in Kansas.
  • The median household income is $61,098, 18% below the Kansas median of $74,275.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $237,100 (9% above Kansas) and median rent is $1,046 a month.
  • Its largest cities are Manhattan (54,239), Fort Riley (8,606) and Ogden (1,696).

Local data for Riley County, KS

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Riley County, KS, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$61,098

Poverty rate

19.9%

Median home value

$237,100

Prices +2.0% in a year

Median rent

$1,046/mo

Homeownership

46.1%

Bachelor's or higher

48.9%

Median age

25.5

Average commute

16.3 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (19,151), Irish Americans (7,711), Mexican Americans (4,755).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans

Details

Unemployment rate

4.4%

Aug 2026, +0.6 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$53,972

30,406 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$55,837

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$529M

FY 2026, $7,355 per person

PPP loans

$27.47M

743 loans, 3,436 jobs reported

Campaign donations

$315K

Itemized, 2026 cycle

EconomyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Riley County, KS, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone64.5%
  • Carpooled8.8%
  • Public transit0.2%
  • Walked13.6%
  • Bicycle0.5%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
  • Worked from home11.2%

Average one-way commute: 16.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Riley County, KS, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: winter weather

Storm events since 1996

708

Most often hail

Flood insurance policies

314

1.5% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

90° / 16°F

33.8 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone29 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Riley County, KS, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

26.4%

U.S. 33.3% -6.9 pts

Diabetes

7.2%

U.S. 12.1% -4.9 pts

Smoking

11.8%

U.S. 12.8% -1.0 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

9.3%

U.S. 11.1% -1.8 pts

Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Riley County

Population shown

Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Riley County, KS?
Manhattan is the largest city or town in Riley County, with about 54,239 residents.
How many ZIP codes are in Riley County?
Riley County includes 6 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 66449, 66503, 66506, 66517, 66531.
What is the population of Riley County, KS?
About 71,946 people live in Riley County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What counties border Riley County?
Riley County borders Geary County, Pottawatomie County, Marshall County, Clay County, Wabaunsee County, Washington County.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023