The Town Files

Riley County, Kansas

71,946 people. The median home is worth $237,100 (typical Kansas town: $128,200) and the median household earns $61,098.

Towns in Riley County

Towns in Riley County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Manhattan54,100$246,700$60,17225.7
Fort Riley9,230—$54,36223.1

People and housing

Riley CountyTypical Kansas town
Median home value$237,100$128,200
Median rent$1,046$815
Median household income$61,098$63,857
Median age25.538.5
Bachelor's degree or higher48.9%24.0%
Below the poverty line19.9%10.6%

Jobs and pay

30,349 jobs in 2024, average pay $52,341 a year.

Largest industries in Riley CountyHotels & restaurants3,673 jobs · $20,174Health care & social assistan…3,592 jobs · $47,349Retail3,446 jobs · $30,658Professional & technical serv…1,916 jobs · $72,748Construction1,796 jobs · $70,621Other services1,438 jobs · $58,796
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Riley County0%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023 2.6%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 708 storm events in Riley County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Riley County by type since 1996Hail259Heat12Drought11Tornado17Dense Fog9High Wind17Lightning21Heavy Snow18Flash Flood46Winter Storm38
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Riley County has been included in 18 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
September 1, 2026Severe StormDR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 17, 2022Severe StormDR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds
March 29, 2020BiologicalDR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3481: Covid-19
June 20, 2019Severe StormDR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides
May 28, 2019Severe StormEM-3412: Tornadoes And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).