Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US metro and micro areas.

Safety53#439/924
Economy45#510/925
Housing38#573/925
Health79#192/925
Healthcare79#198/923
Environment42#530/917
Education97#33/925
Infrastructure83#157/925
Community56#403/925
Leisure & amenities22#721/925

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Manhattan, KS metro area ranks highest and lowest among US metro and micro areas (score = percentile, 100 = best).

Strengths

Some college · high78.5%
98/100Kansas 70.3%United States 67.8%2019-2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
High school diploma or higher · high95.8%
97/100Kansas 91.9%United States 89.6%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B15003
Injury deaths · low61 /100k
96/100Kansas 88 /100kUnited States 87 /100k2019-2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Drug overdose deaths · low7.2 /100k
95/100Kansas 15.3 /100kUnited States 18.4 /100kMar 2025–Feb 2026Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties
Average commute time · low17.8 min
91/100Kansas 19.7 minUnited States 26.4 min2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B08013
Bachelor's degree or higher · high40.4%
90/100Kansas 35.6%United States 35.7%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B15003

Weaknesses

Voter turnout · low48.3%
5/100Kansas 62.9%United States 65.2%2024U.S. Election Assistance CommissionAggregated from counties
Job growth · low-2.2%
13/100Kansas 0.0%United States 0.1%2026 Q1U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsProvisional data
Distance to an airport · high99 mi
17/100Kansas 51 miUnited States 33 mi2025Federal Aviation Administration · Bureau of Transportation Statistics · U.S. Census BureauAggregated from counties
Public EV charging ports · low1.8 /10k
18/100Kansas 4.7 /10kUnited States 7.6 /10kOct 2026U.S. Department of EnergyAggregated from counties
Effective property tax rate · high1.28%
19/100Kansas 1.21%United States 0.94%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25090
Severe housing problems · high16.8%
19/100Kansas 12.3%United States 16.8%2017-2021University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

New homes permittedImproving
2.1 /1k (2021) → 3.8 /1k (Sep 2025–Aug 2026)
+81%5 yearsUS 5.2 /1k → 4.2 /1k
New business applicationsImproving
6.5 /1k (2020) → 10.1 /1k (2025)
+56%5 yearsUS 13.1 /1k → 16.6 /1k
Drug overdose deathsImproving
15.0 /100k (2021) → 7.2 /100k (Mar 2025–Feb 2026)
−52%5 yearsUS 30.8 /100k → 18.4 /100k
Drought exposureImproving
13% (2021) → 4% (Oct 2025–Sep 2026)
−8.8 pts5 yearsUS 40% → 43%
Property crime rateImproving
1,693 /100k (2020) → 1,085 /100k (2025)
−36%5 yearsUS 1,929 /100k → 1,535 /100k
Preventable hospital staysImproving
2,969 /100k (2019) → 1,916 /100k (2023)
−35%4 yearsUS 3,767 /100k → 2,769 /100k

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Manhattan, KS metro area improved on 13 of 31 measures with a comparison and declined on 1. 11 moved within the margin of error and 6 barely changed.

Earlier period
Latest period
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among metro and micro areas: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts. Periods differ by measure (most compare 2015-2019 with 2020-2024); each row names its own in its tooltip and in the table.

Improved13

Suicides−17%21.9 /100k → 18.2 /100k
New businesses+56%6.5 /1k → 10.1 /1k
Violent crime−25%412 /100k → 311 /100k
Gyms+11%0.6 /10k → 0.7 /10k
Firearm deaths−6.6%20.9 /100k → 19.5 /100k

Declined1

Overdose deaths+12%6.4 /100k → 7.2 /100k

All 31 measures

Change of every measure of Manhattan, KS metro area between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Arts, entertainment and recreation	3.3 /10k2020	3.5 /10k2025	+5.3%	Improved	41%
Average commute time	16.8 min2015-2019	17.8 min2020-2024	+1.0 min	Within the margin of error	31%
Bachelor's degree or higher	37.3%2015-2019	40.4%2020-2024	+3 points	Improved	55%
Broadband subscriptions	86.4%2015-2019	92.6%2020-2024	+6.2 points	Improved	17%
Child poverty rate	15.0%2015-2019	16.2%2020-2024	+1.1 points	Within the margin of error	14%
Distance to an airport	99 mi2020	99 mi2025	−0 mi	Little change	94%
Drug overdose deaths	6.4 /100k2020	7.2 /100kMar 2025–Feb 2026	+12%	Declined	21%
Effective property tax rate	1.39%2015-2019	1.29%2020-2024	−0.1 points	Within the margin of error	41%
Firearm deaths	20.9 /100k2020	19.5 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	−6.6%	Improved	60%
Grocery stores	1.2 /10k2020	1.2 /10k2025	+4.8%	Little change	67%
Gyms and fitness centers	0.6 /10k2020	0.7 /10k2025	+11%	Improved	60%
High school diploma or higher	94.9%2015-2019	95.8%2020-2024	+0.9 points	Within the margin of error	24%
Home price to income ratio	3.4×2015-2019	3.4×2020-2024	+0.0×	Within the margin of error	94%
Homicide rate	3.8 /100k2020	3.0 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	−20%	Improved	43%
Income adjusted for local prices	$49,0182019	$64,2012024	+31%	Improved	43%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.4382015-2019	0.4472020-2024	+0.009	Within the margin of error	30%
Median household income	$54,1412015-2019	$65,4692020-2024	+21%	Improved	18%
New business applications	6.5 /1k2020	10.1 /1k2025	+56%	Improved	65%
Pharmacies	1.3 /10k2020	1.3 /10k2025	+4.4%	Little change	83%
Poverty rate	17.1%2015-2019	16.5%2020-2024	−0.5 points	Within the margin of error	40%
Property crime rate	1,693 /100k2020	1,085 /100k2025	−36%	Improved	55%
Public libraries	0.7 /10k2019	0.7 /10k2024	−3.8%	Little change	30%
Public transit commuters	0.3%2015-2019	0.3%2020-2024	−0 points	Within the margin of error	79%
Rent as share of income	29.9%2015-2019	28.5%2020-2024	−1.4 points	Within the margin of error	81%
Rent-burdened households	49.6%2015-2019	46.7%2020-2024	−3 points	Within the margin of error	79%
Restaurants and bars	7.2 /10k2020	6.9 /10k2025	−4.5%	Little change	28%
Suicide rate	21.9 /100k2020	18.2 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	−17%	Improved	83%
Traffic deaths	9.9 /100k2015-2019	9.6 /100k2020-2024	−3.6%	Little change	69%
Unemployment rate	4.8%2020	3.7%2025	−1.1 points	Improved	6%
Uninsured residents (under 65)	6.6%2015-2019	7.4%2020-2024	+0.8 points	Within the margin of error	22%
Violent crime rate	412 /100k2020	311 /100k2025	−25%	Improved	65%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 708 metro and micro areas that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: Regional Economic Accounts; Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; Mapping Injury, Overdose, and Violence; American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates; Business Formation Statistics; Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Return A master files; Public Libraries Survey; Fatality Analysis Reporting System; Distance to airports and intercity rail. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 925 metro and micro areas that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Metro and micro areas like Manhattan, KS metro area five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Manhattan, KS metro area in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Manhattan, KS metro area itself moved +0.7 points in standing on average over the same 30 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

133,965 residents

Men
Women

80 and over
70–79
60–69

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

51,234 households (±686)

Manhattan, KS metro area
United States share

Under $25k17%8,913
$25k–50k21%10,554
$50k–75k19%9,541

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

51,234 households (±686)

Manhattan, KS metro area
United States share

Own52%26,637
Rent48%24,597

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Own (+3.8 points).

Table view

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

71,169 workers (±1,240)

Manhattan, KS metro area
United States share

Drive alone70%49,815
Carpool8.9%6,331
Public transit0.3%†193

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The 10 largest occupations in Manhattan, KS employ 12,210 people. 10 pay a median below the US median.

Above the US median
Below the US median

The largest occupations in Manhattan, KS by employment, with median annual pay and how it compares with the United States
Occupation	Jobs	Median pay	vs USCompared with the US	Concentration
Fast Food and Counter Workers2,190 jobs	2,190	$27,130US $31,200	−13%	1.65×
Cashiers1,620 jobs	1,620	$27,870US $32,880	−15%	1.52×
Retail Salespersons1,390 jobs	1,390	$29,540US $35,410	−17%	1.04×
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1,230 jobs	1,230	$40,460US $47,540	−15%	2.1×
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary1,100 jobs	1,100	$31,020US $36,780	−16%	2.24×
Stockers and Order Fillers1,020 jobs	1,020	$30,990US $37,330	−17%	1.05×
Waiters and Waitresses940 jobs	940	$33,140US $35,230	−6%	1.2×
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand930 jobs	930	$36,070US $40,240	−10%	0.91×
General and Operations Managers920 jobs	920	$84,990US $105,770	−20%	0.76×
Customer Service Representatives870 jobs	870	$38,620US $44,770	−14%	0.97×

Look up any occupation

Search more than 800 occupations and see what they pay in Manhattan, KS.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025-05 (all industries and ownerships) bls.gov/oes

Reference period: 2025-05. BLS publishes metro areas, states and the nation (not counties or cities), so a county or city page shows its metro area.
Pay is not adjusted for the cost of living, so a higher median does not mean more purchasing power.
BLS caps the highest wages it publishes: where a figure is shown as “or more”, the real value is at least that much.
Some occupations (teachers, performers) are published by the hour or school year and shown here as an annual figure.

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

Manhattan, KS has 2,889 employer establishments, 217 for every 10,000 residents (0.87× the US rate of 248), with 39,062 paid employees at an average annual pay of $43,135. The Census Bureau also counts 8,165 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 2,889; 8,165 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 217; US 248
Paid employees: 39,062
Average annual pay: $43,135; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Manhattan, KS by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Ambulatory health care services	245	18.4	0.88×About typical	2,679	$53,570	322
Restaurants and other eating places	214	16.1	0.87×About typical	4,836	$17,334	35
Specialty trade contractors	185	13.9	0.90×About typical	1,457	$56,676	468
Lessors of real estate	181	13.6	1.10×About typical	867	$41,691	917
Religious organizations	100	7.5	1.35×More than typical	843	$20,835	—
Construction of buildings	97	7.3	0.96×About typical	593	$60,003	236
Offices of other health practitioners	97	7.3	1.20×About typical	529	$43,340	195
Limited-service restaurants	93	7	0.87×About typical	2,348	$16,262	14
Services to buildings and dwellings	85	6.4	0.95×About typical	551	$32,160	408
Real estate agents and brokers	79	5.9	1.22×About typical	129	$37,674	175
Full-service restaurants	78	5.9	0.76×Fewer than typical	1,945	$19,188	12
Automotive repair and maintenance	73	5.5	1.09×About typical	327	$39,162	125

Rank places for an industry

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 133,251 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
A metro area's figures are the exact sums of its counties.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contract spending

In FY2026, federal agencies obligated $199.5M on contracts performed in Manhattan, KS metro area: $1,466 per resident (US $1,994).

Obligations: $199.5M; −25% vs FY2025
Per resident: $1,466; US $1,994
Sole-source: 29%; US 30%
Single offer: 3.5%; US 8.8%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Agricultural Research Service$89.4M45%
Department of the Army$59.9M30%
Defense Logistics Agency$24.3M12%
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management$9.1M4.5%
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service$6.3M3.2%
Office of the Chief Financial Officer$2.5M1.2%
Defense Health Agency$2.2M1.1%
Department of the Navy$1.4M0.7%

Top recipients

MERRICK & COMPANY$33.8M17%
FORT RILEY UTILITY SERVICES INC$14.5M7.3%
MILL CREEK FIRELAKE JV LLC$14.4M7.2%
FACILITY SERVICES MANAGEMENT, INC.$13.5M6.7%
SKOOKUM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS$11.4M5.7%

Spending by fiscal year

147.2MFY2017
109.7MFY2018
245.9MFY2019
234.7MFY2020
282.7MFY2021
215.7MFY2022
218.1MFY2023
278M

Top industries (NAICS)

Architectural, engineering, and related services · 5413$45.5M23%
Nonresidential building construction · 2362$24M12%
Building equipment contractors · 2382$19.4M9.7%
Facilities support services · 5612$17.8M8.9%
Water, sewage and other systems · 2213$14.5M7.3%
Technical and trade schools · 6115

Largest awards

THIS CONTRACT IS AWARDED FOR THE OWNERSHIP, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITY SYSTEMS AT FORT RILEY, KANSAS.$155.5M
FORT RILEY UTILITY SERVICES INC· Geary County, KS· Facilities & utilities· Sep 29, 2017 – May 28, 2026· SP060017C8328
FORT RILEY LOGISTICS READINESS CENTER - LOGISTICS SUPPORT SERVICES$112.6M
MARTON TECHNOLOGIES INC· Geary County, KS· Professional services· Oct 5, 2016 – May 8, 2026· 0001
THIS CONTRACT IS AWARDED FOR THE OWNERSHIP, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AT FORT RILEY, KANSAS.$101.8M
CITY LIGHT & POWER FTR, LLC· Geary County, KS· Facilities & utilities· Sep 29, 2017 – May 28, 2026· SP060017C8327

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 3, 2026, loaded Oct 3, 2026.

Federal grants & assistance

Grants, loans (counted at their subsidy cost), direct payments and insurance, by fiscal year of the action (USAspending.gov, FABS). Reported apart from contracts and never added to them.

In FY2026, federal agencies obligated $869.4M in grants, loans, direct payments and insurance for Manhattan, KS metro area: $6,387 per resident (US $12,955).

Assistance · FY2026: $869.4M; +1.8% vs FY2025
Per resident: $6,387; US $12,955
Loan face value: $101.7M; lent or guaranteed
To individuals: 2.1%; counted, never named

Top programs

96.002 · Social Security Retirement Insurance$345.9M40%
64.109 · Veterans Compensation for Service-Connected Disability$215M25%
96.001 · Social Security Disability Insurance$39M4.5%
96.004 · Social Security Survivors Insurance$28.8M3.3%
84.063 · Federal Pell Grant Program$23.3M2.7%
20.278 · National Highway Freight Program (NHFP)$20.1M2.3%
84.041 · Impact Aid$17.3M2.0%
64.028 · Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance$17.2M2.0%

Top recipients (organizations)

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY$70.8M8.1%
MANHATTAN, KS
KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION$32.9M3.8%
TOPEKA, KS
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY$24.2M2.8%
MANHATTAN, KS
GEARY COUNTY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT #475$17M2.0%
JUNCTION CITY, KS
CITY OF MANHATTAN$15.6M

Organizations only: awards to individuals and county aggregate records count in the totals but are never listed. Grants to state governments recorded at the agency's own address are counted statewide, not in the capital's county.

Top agencies

Social Security Administration$424.9M49%
Under Secretary for Benefits/Veterans Benefits Administration$246.1M28%
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Education$49.2M5.7%
Federal Highway Administration$33.1M3.8%
Department of Transportation
Farm Service Agency$17.9M2.1%

Assistance by fiscal year

790.8MFY2021
698.1MFY2022
745.9MFY2023
837.3MFY2024
853.8MFY2025
869.4MFY2026

County aggregates

78%

Share of obligations reported only as county totals of many small awards (for example Social Security or Medicare payments), with no recipient named.

Source: Federal financial assistance transactions (Financial Assistance Broker Submission) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 3, 2026, loaded Oct 3, 2026 · FY2021–FY2026.

Counties in Manhattan, KS

Whole counties, as the U.S. Office of Management and Budget delineates the area. Federal spending below is the exact sum of these counties.

Principal cities

The cities the area is named for.

ManhattanPrincipal city54,239

Largest cities and towns

By population, for places with most of their residents in the area.

Other metro and micro areas in Kansas

Areas based in Kansas, best score first.

Neighboring metro and micro areas

Places that share a border, best score first.

Topeka, KS61

Similar metro and micro areas

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

Mapping Injury, Overdose, and ViolenceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2026-10-01
PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Daily county PM2.5 and ozone (EPA downscaler model)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · release 2022
Care Compare: Hospital General Information and Timely and Effective CareCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services · release 2026-07-22
Distance to airports and intercity railFederal Aviation Administration · Bureau of Transportation Statistics · U.S. Census Bureau · release 2025+amtrak-2026-04-23
Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Return A master filesFederal Bureau of Investigation · release 2025
Public Libraries SurveyInstitute of Museum and Library Services · release FY2024
U.S. Drought Monitor county statisticsNational Drought Mitigation Center (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), USDA and NOAA · release 2026-09-29
Fatality Analysis Reporting SystemNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration · release 2024
nClimGrid-Daily county averagesNOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · release 2025
Regional Economic AccountsU.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · release 2024
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2026 Q1
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Building Permits SurveyU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-08
Business Formation StatisticsU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-10-01
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Alternative Fuels Data Center station locatorU.S. Department of Energy · release 2026-10
Election Administration and Voting SurveyU.S. Election Assistance Commission · release 2024
Air Quality Index Annual Summary by CountyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency · release 2025
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement
Zillow Home Value Index, Observed Rent Index and affordabilityZillow Research · release 2026-08

JSON · /api/v1/places/M31740

Scores by category

Strengths · Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Trends

What changed in five years

Improved13

Declined1

Metro and micro areas like Manhattan, KS metro area five years ago that improved

Who lives here

Age and sex

Income

Household income

Homes

Owners and renters

Getting to work

How people get to work

Jobs and pay

Look up any occupation

Local businesses

Federal contract spending

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

Top industries (NAICS)

Largest awards

Federal grants & assistance

Top programs

Top recipients (organizations)

Top agencies

Assistance by fiscal year

County aggregates

Counties in Manhattan, KS

Principal cities

Largest cities and towns

Other metro and micro areas in Kansas

Neighboring metro and micro areas

Similar metro and micro areas

Data and sources

Improved13

Declined1

Age and sex

Household income

Owners and renters

How people get to work

Race and Hispanic origin

Education

Rent paid

Home values

Age of homes

Size of homes

Time to get to work

Look up any occupation

Top programs

Top recipients (organizations)

Top agencies

Assistance by fiscal year

County aggregates

By type

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

Top industries (NAICS)

Largest awards

What was bought