Fastest-growing counties in Kansas
Why do people move from one county or region to another? The usual suspects are jobs, family, significant others, and overall cost of living, but there are other elements at play. For those with children, moving within close proximity of a highly rated school district is a key contributing factor. For younger adults just starting out, living someplace with a vibrant social scene might be a top priority. And for those whose careers have wound down after a lifetime of work, finding retirement-friendly communities is the goal—communities deemed to be safe, offer accessibility to medical resources and leisure activities in equal measure, and be affordable for those on a limited income.
This is, of course, by no means an exhaustive list. People's reasons for choosing to live where they do are as diverse as people themselves.
As far as why certain counties across the U.S. have experienced growth, relocation is not the sole, or even primary, reason why. While more than 1,800 counties saw population gains in 2021, approximately 73% of all U.S. counties saw what the U.S. Census Bureau characterizes as a natural decrease. This was a significant jump from 2020, when 55.5% of countries experienced such a decrease. According to the Bureau, natural decrease is the simple result of "when there are more deaths than births in a population over a given time period." In 2021, the conflation of fewer births with an aging population that was also absorbing a higher-than-usual mortality rate due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to this "increased decrease."
Nonetheless, as stated 1,800 counties nationwide have grown larger over the last year, and a sizable percentage of them are in Kansas. Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in Kansas using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020, based on the U.S. Decennial Census.
#50. Jackson County
--- #1,819 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.7%
--- #30 among counties in Kansas, #1,790 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 13,232
--- #35 largest county in Kansas, #2,201 largest county nationwide
#49. Clark County
--- #1,809 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -10.1%
--- #93 among counties in Kansas, #2,873 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,991
--- #100 largest county in Kansas, #3,041 largest county nationwide
#48. Chase County
--- #1,801 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -7.8%
--- #79 among counties in Kansas, #2,701 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,572
--- #91 largest county in Kansas, #2,988 largest county nationwide
#47. Norton County
--- #1,792 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.7%
--- #42 among counties in Kansas, #2,118 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,459
--- #64 largest county in Kansas, #2,780 largest county nationwide
#46. Comanche County
--- #1,781 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -10.7%
--- #97 among counties in Kansas, #2,908 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,689
--- #102 largest county in Kansas, #3,068 largest county nationwide
#45. Decatur County
--- #1,769 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.7%
--- #73 among counties in Kansas, #2,569 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,764
--- #85 largest county in Kansas, #2,977 largest county nationwide
#44. Woodson County
--- #1,765 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.9%
--- #63 among counties in Kansas, #2,450 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,115
--- #79 largest county in Kansas, #2,951 largest county nationwide
#43. Hodgeman County
--- #1,760 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -10.1%
--- #92 among counties in Kansas, #2,868 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,723
--- #101 largest county in Kansas, #3,065 largest county nationwide
#42. Trego County
--- #1,760 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.4%
--- #69 among counties in Kansas, #2,532 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,808
--- #84 largest county in Kansas, #2,974 largest county nationwide
#41. Graham County
--- #1,743 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -7.0%
--- #76 among counties in Kansas, #2,618 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,415
--- #97 largest county in Kansas, #3,005 largest county nationwide
#40. Lane County
--- #1,736 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -10.1%
--- #90 among counties in Kansas, #2,866 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,574
--- #103 largest county in Kansas, #3,073 largest county nationwide
#39. Wabaunsee County
--- #1,736 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.5%
--- #34 among counties in Kansas, #1,922 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,877
--- #53 largest county in Kansas, #2,668 largest county nationwide
#38. Hamilton County
--- #1,731 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.4%
--- #68 among counties in Kansas, #2,527 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,518
--- #93 largest county in Kansas, #2,994 largest county nationwide
#37. Crawford County
--- #1,721 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.4%
--- #26 among counties in Kansas, #1,559 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 38,972
--- #11 largest county in Kansas, #1,202 largest county nationwide
#36. Stanton County
--- #1,700 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.8%
--- #74 among counties in Kansas, #2,583 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,084
--- #99 largest county in Kansas, #3,033 largest county nationwide
#35. Jewell County
--- #1,691 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.7%
--- #52 among counties in Kansas, #2,279 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,932
--- #82 largest county in Kansas, #2,963 largest county nationwide
#34. Edwards County
--- #1,670 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.3%
--- #48 among counties in Kansas, #2,207 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,907
--- #83 largest county in Kansas, #2,964 largest county nationwide
#33. Ellsworth County
--- #1,654 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.9%
--- #31 among counties in Kansas, #1,815 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,376
--- #55 largest county in Kansas, #2,707 largest county nationwide
#32. Cheyenne County
--- #1,640 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.0%
--- #45 among counties in Kansas, #2,170 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,616
--- #90 largest county in Kansas, #2,985 largest county nationwide
#31. Sheridan County
--- #1,639 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.3%
--- #47 among counties in Kansas, #2,204 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,447
--- #96 largest county in Kansas, #3,004 largest county nationwide
#30. Kiowa County
--- #1,624 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.6%
--- #39 among counties in Kansas, #2,104 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,460
--- #95 largest county in Kansas, #3,002 largest county nationwide
#29. Sherman County
--- #1,605 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.4%
--- #29 among counties in Kansas, #1,725 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,927
--- #58 largest county in Kansas, #2,739 largest county nationwide
#28. Wichita County
--- #1,602 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.7%
--- #40 among counties in Kansas, #2,108 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,152
--- #98 largest county in Kansas, #3,030 largest county nationwide
#27. Marshall County
--- #1,594 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.8%
--- #28 among counties in Kansas, #1,613 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,038
--- #39 largest county in Kansas, #2,404 largest county nationwide
#26. Linn County
--- #1,580 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.7%
--- #27 among counties in Kansas, #1,590 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,591
--- #40 largest county in Kansas, #2,445 largest county nationwide
#25. Franklin County
--- #1,487 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.0%
--- #25 among counties in Kansas, #1,488 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,996
--- #22 largest county in Kansas, #1,558 largest county nationwide
#24. Kearny County
--- #1,482 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.2%
--- #24 among counties in Kansas, #1,464 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,983
--- #74 largest county in Kansas, #2,890 largest county nationwide
#23. Logan County
--- #1,482 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.2%
--- #23 among counties in Kansas, #1,456 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,762
--- #86 largest county in Kansas, #2,978 largest county nationwide
#22. Gove County
--- #1,461 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.9%
--- #20 among counties in Kansas, #1,357 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,718
--- #87 largest county in Kansas, #2,981 largest county nationwide
#21. Wallace County
--- #1,456 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.8%
--- #14 among counties in Kansas, #1,214 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,512
--- #104 largest county in Kansas, #3,076 largest county nationwide
#20. Thomas County
--- #1,453 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.4%
--- #22 among counties in Kansas, #1,431 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,930
--- #48 largest county in Kansas, #2,582 largest county nationwide
#19. Greeley County
--- #1,446 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.0%
--- #12 among counties in Kansas, #1,058 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,284
--- #105 largest county in Kansas, #3,092 largest county nationwide
#18. Rawlins County
--- #1,439 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.7%
--- #16 among counties in Kansas, #1,235 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,561
--- #92 largest county in Kansas, #2,989 largest county nationwide
#17. Nemaha County
--- #1,399 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.9%
--- #19 among counties in Kansas, #1,343 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,273
--- #38 largest county in Kansas, #2,393 largest county nationwide
#16. Scott County
--- #1,316 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.4%
--- #9 among counties in Kansas, #889 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,151
--- #67 largest county in Kansas, #2,814 largest county nationwide
#15. Ford County
--- #1,182 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.3%
--- #17 among counties in Kansas, #1,286 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 34,287
--- #15 largest county in Kansas, #1,320 largest county nationwide
#14. Ellis County
--- #1,153 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.7%
--- #15 among counties in Kansas, #1,230 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 28,934
--- #21 largest county in Kansas, #1,457 largest county nationwide
#13. Riley County
--- #1,047 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.2%
--- #18 among counties in Kansas, #1,311 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 71,959
--- #7 largest county in Kansas, #761 largest county nationwide
#12. Shawnee County
--- #1,006 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.5%
--- #21 among counties in Kansas, #1,403 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 178,909
--- #3 largest county in Kansas, #375 largest county nationwide
#11. McPherson County
--- #989 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.6%
--- #11 among counties in Kansas, #976 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 30,223
--- #20 largest county in Kansas, #1,426 largest county nationwide
#10. Miami County
--- #926 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.3%
--- #10 among counties in Kansas, #896 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 34,191
--- #16 largest county in Kansas, #1,322 largest county nationwide
#9. Butler County
--- #903 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.3%
--- #13 among counties in Kansas, #1,141 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 67,380
--- #8 largest county in Kansas, #794 largest county nationwide
#8. Finney County
--- #868 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.6%
--- #8 among counties in Kansas, #863 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 38,470
--- #12 largest county in Kansas, #1,212 largest county nationwide
#7. Geary County
--- #769 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +6.9%
--- #6 among counties in Kansas, #639 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 36,739
--- #13 largest county in Kansas, #1,262 largest county nationwide
#6. Pottawatomie County
--- #646 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +17.3%
--- #1 among counties in Kansas, #159 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,348
--- #24 largest county in Kansas, #1,586 largest county nationwide
#5. Leavenworth County
--- #546 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.4%
--- #4 among counties in Kansas, #603 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 81,881
--- #6 largest county in Kansas, #700 largest county nationwide
#4. Douglas County
--- #485 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.2%
--- #5 among counties in Kansas, #619 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 118,785
--- #5 largest county in Kansas, #529 largest county nationwide
#3. Wyandotte County
--- #395 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.5%
--- #3 among counties in Kansas, #601 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 169,245
--- #4 largest county in Kansas, #392 largest county nationwide
#2. Sedgwick County
--- #245 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.1%
--- #7 among counties in Kansas, #809 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 523,824
--- #2 largest county in Kansas, #137 largest county nationwide
#1. Johnson County
--- #94 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +12.1%
--- #2 among counties in Kansas, #322 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 609,863
--- #1 largest county in Kansas, #111 largest county nationwide