Manhattan, Kansas Population 2023

54,646

Manhattan is a city located in Riley County Kansas. It is also the county seat of Riley County. With a 2023 population of 54,646, it is the 9th largest city in Kansas and the 802nd largest city in the United States.Manhattan is currently growing at a rate of 0.33% annually and its population has increased by 1.01% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 54,100 in 2020. Spanning over 20 miles, Manhattan has a population density of 2,753 people per square mile.

The average household income in Manhattan is $68,872 with a poverty rate of 27.42%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Manhattan is 24.6 years, 24.2 years for males, and 25.2 years for females.

While the name may remind you of the borough in New York City, the Manhattan that we examine here is a city located in the state of Kansas. It is located in Riley County, with part of the city located in Pottawatomie. It is the county seat of Riley County. This city is most known for having a college-town vibe, as it is the location of Kansas State University.

It is also known by its nickname “The Little Apple” to New York City’s “Big Apple.” According to recent estimates, the population of Manhattan is {pop}.

The largest employer in Manhattan is Kansas State University. The school district, Fort Riley, and the Kansas Department of Agriculture are also significant employers in the area.

Manhattan Population Growth

Manhattan has seen consistent growth every decade since the census of 1870. The population surpassed 10,000 residents in 1930 and had more than doubled just 30 years later. At the time of the 2010 census, the population had grown to over 50,000. Since the 2010 census, current estimates show that the population has already increased by over 5%, indicating that this city will continue on its upward growth trend well into the future.

Native tribes originally inhabited what is now Manhattan. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Kansa people were the primary inhabitants. The tribe gave up their rights to the land with the signing of a treaty in 1846. Just a few years later, the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed US citizens to settle the territory. George Park founded a settlement that year, naming it Polistra. A nearby area was also established and was named Canton.

In 1855, New England Free-Staters came into the area. The sites of Canton and Polistra were chosen for settlement. The same year, it was decided that the town settlements would be joined and named Boston. Dozens of settlers continued to come into the area. A steamer came ashore carrying 75 immigrants. They were stranded and decided to settle in the area but only if the name was changed, which it was. The city was incorporated just two years later.

Because Manhattan was Free-State, it was subject to violence. However, it was protected under neighboring Fort Riley, so it was spared much of the violence and destruction faced by other cities during the Bleeding Kansas period. Because of this, the area developed quite quickly. It was in the late 1850s when the city was selected as the county seat, and the same year, a college was established.

The population continued to grow as Fifty-Niners came to the area following the discovery of gold. The city flourished by selling supplies to miners. Later that year, the first newspaper was established. The population was continuing to grow, especially with the arrival of the Kansas Pacific Railroad.

The city of Manhattan has continued to expand, and its population has grown every decade. Today, the city has been named as one of the best places to retire and one of the best small communities for business and career. Public entities are the hub of the economy, and the city is home to many historic buildings and homes, Kansas State University, and cultural hotspots.

Manhattan Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Manhattan was:

  • White: 81.49%
  • Asian: 5.9%
  • Black or African American: 5.62%
  • Two or more races: 5.35%
  • Other race: 1.12%
  • Native American: 0.32%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.2%
The current population of Manhattan, Kansas is 54,646 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 54,100.

Manhattan, Kansas Population 2023

Population by Race

White

Asian

Black or African American

Two or more races

Other race

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Manhattan Population by Race

Manhattan Population Pyramid 2023

Manhattan Median Age

24.6

Total

24.2

Male

25.2

Female

Manhattan Adults

There are 46,541 adults, (4,870 of whom are seniors) in Manhattan.

Manhattan Age Dependency

32.1

Age Dependency Ratio

11.7

Old Age Dependency Ratio

20.4

Child Dependency Ratio

Manhattan Sex Ratio

Female26,90748.88%
Male28,13851.12%

Manhattan Population by Age

Manhattan Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

2.89

Average Family Size

2.36

Average Household Size

39.7%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Manhattan Households and Families

Male

Female

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Manhattan Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Manhattan Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 81.94%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 51.08%.

Manhattan Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

$39,100

Average Earnings

$41,012

Average Male

$37,197

Average Female

Manhattan Earnings by Educational Attainment

Manhattan Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Manhattan Language

89.48% of Manhattan residents speak only English, while 10.52% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 5.02% of the population.

Manhattan Language

Manhattan Poverty by Race

rate

27.42%

Overall Poverty Rate

25.91%

Male Poverty Rate

28.03%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Manhattan

The race most likely to be in poverty in Manhattan is Multiple, with 49.89% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Manhattan is Other, with 24.27% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 7.11%. Among those working part-time, it was 50.8%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 31.71%.

Manhattan Poverty

Manhattan Poverty Rate by Education

Manhattan Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Manhattan Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Manhattan Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

31.4%

Overall Marriage Rate

29.8%

Male Marriage Rate

33.1%

Female Marriage Rate

Manhattan Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Manhattan Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.

Manhattan Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Manhattan Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

3,411

Number of Veterans

2,904

Male Veterans

507

Female Veterans

Manhattan Veterans by War

Manhattan Veterans by Age

count

Manhattan Veterans by Race

Manhattan Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

12.32%

Veteran Poverty Rate

25.97%

Veteran Disability Rate

Manhattan Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

69.4%

Labor Force Participation

64.2%

Employment Rate

4.4%

Unemployment Rate

Manhattan Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Manhattan Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Manhattan Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

52.71%

Born in Manhattan

93.72%

Native Born

8.02%

Foreign Born

5.99%

Non Citizen

2.03%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

93.72% of Manhattan residents were born in the United States, with 52.71% having been born in Kansas. 5.99% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Manhattan Place of Birth

Note: data after 2020 is projected based on recent growth

Manhattan Population by Year