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WichitaDemographics & People

397,945 people call Wichita home, in 158,589 households. Population grew 0.4% from 396,488 (2022) to 397,945 (2024). Median age 35.7 years. (1.5y younger than Kansas). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 60% White (non-Hispanic) and 19% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.51). 60% of households are family-led. County is gaining 856 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 34% adult obesity, 17% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population grew 0.4% from 396,488 (2022) to 397,945 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~399,418 (extrapolated at 0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 401,399.

Census data vintage2024
County Population523,824 people
Annual growth rate · Population change37.0%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)396,488
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)397,945
Annual growth rate · Population growingYes
Annual growth rate · Trend categorystable
Population397,945 people (vs Kansas 58,384) population: 5 observations from 2026-04-23 to 2026-04-29
Population Estimate401,399

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year · U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year DP05 · U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage Population Estimates · Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 35.7y is 3.2 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age35.7 years (vs Kansas 36.5y)
Age Summary · Children Pct24.1%
Age Summary · Characterfamily-oriented
Age Summary · Total Pop397,945
Age Summary · Under 1895,808
Age Summary · 18 To 3498,859
Age Summary · 35 To 64140,667
Age Summary · 65 Plus62,611
Median age35.7 years (vs Kansas 36.5y)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Race, Ethnicity & Diversity

Of 397,945 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.51 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.

Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)50.7%
Diversity Index · Diversity labelmoderately diverse
Diversity Index · Groups counted4
Diversity Index · Largest group share66.9%
Asian population4.9% (vs Kansas 3.0%)
Black population9.3% (vs Kansas 4.9%)
Hispanic or Latino population19.0% (vs Kansas 12.6%)
White (non-Hispanic) population59.5% (vs Kansas 73.5%)

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year DP05 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Ancestry

Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.

Top (8)

(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
Hispanic Total
(unnamed)
Puerto Rican
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
Black
(unnamed)
Asian
(unnamed)
American

Sources: Census ACS 2022 B04006+B03001+B02001

Households & Family Composition

158,589 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 60% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 94,450 families, 28% are married couples with children.

Family households94,740 households (vs Kansas 15,816)
Households that are families59.7% (vs Kansas 60.5%)
Total households158,589 households (vs Kansas 24,776) total_households: 4 observations from 2026-04-23 to 2026-04-29

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 15.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 856 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Migration · People moving in (annual)473,375
Migration · People moving out (annual)472,519
Migration · Net migration (in − out)856
Migration · Population growingYes

Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Other

County Cdc Birth Rate · Fips20173
County Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips20
County Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips173
County Cdc Birth Rate · CountySedgwick
County Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate24.6 per 1,000
County Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci23.30
County Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci25.90
County Cdc Mortality · Fips20173
County Cdc Mortality · CountySedgwick County
County Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralMedium metro
County Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 202322,384

Sources: CDC NCHS Vital Statistics · CDC WONDER