Manhattan
RANK #285 / 996 NAT · #5 / 10 KS · POP 72,105
1YR FORECAST: +3.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
Riley County, Kansas, is defined by the presence of Kansas State University and Fort Riley, a major U.S. Army post, both located in its largest city and county seat, Manhattan. Manhattan, often called "The Little Apple," blends small-town character with the activity of a college town. The county is situated in the Flint Hills, a region known for its tallgrass prairie ecosystem, offering outdoor recreation opportunities at places like Tuttle Creek State Park and the Konza Prairie. Commuting within the county is generally short, with an average travel time of 16.3 minutes.
Life in Riley County offers a mix of community and access to amenities, with public schools in the county receiving high ratings. The presence of Kansas State University significantly shapes the local economy, contributing over $1.3 billion in economic impact to the Manhattan region (which includes Geary, Pottawatomie, and Riley counties) and supporting thousands of jobs. This influence extends to various sectors, including education, research, and local businesses. While the county benefits from these large institutions, there is also a focus on diversifying the economy and addressing challenges such as the need for affordable housing.
Above national median (4.7x)
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.6x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Fort Riley Solar Project (Phases 1-3)
Corvias, Onyx Renewables (Sunstone Energy Development)
|
$50M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 71/100, Riley County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $56,327 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in KS.
Riley County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $231,000 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,016/month on average.
Riley County is losing population (-0.7% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (+0.5% employment change). Home values are +4.7% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
In significant numbers — 6.32% of Riley County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.