Ellis County, Kansas: commercial real estate data.
Ellis County, Kansas had an estimated 29,007 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 28,935, across 900 square miles. County output reached $2.05 bn in 2024, 1,110 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 110 7(a) approvals worth $37.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Ellis County
How many people live in Ellis County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202428,920
- Households12,251
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$63,084
- Median age33.2
- Median gross rent$943 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$216,300
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher38.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree14.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over17,374
- Population under 185,820
- Share under 1820.1 percent
- Population 65 and over4,616
- Share 65 and over16.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6418,484
- Civilian labor force17,006
- Unemployment rate3.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over73.6 percent
- Rank by population among Kansas counties21st of 105
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1507th of 3,222
Ellis County is the 21st largest of 105 Kansas counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 20.1 percent against 16.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Ellis County
Is Ellis County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202429,007
- Census 2020 base population28,935
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.25 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202487
- Births, 2024287
- Deaths, 2024228
- Natural change, 202459
- Net domestic migration, 2024-104
- Net international migration, 2024132
- Total net migration, 202428
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-347
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1735th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.25 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Ellis County
Where are people moving to Ellis County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving691
- People arriving, from those returns1,093
- Tax returns filed by households leaving812
- Net household movement-121
- Adjusted gross income arriving$31.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-5.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$46,098
- Average income of a leaving household$45,627
- Largest single originRooks County (28 households)
- Largest single destinationRussell County (58 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooks County | 28 | 56 | $1.6 m |
| Russell County | 26 | 54 | $1.4 m |
| Sedgwick County | 26 | 46 | $904,000 |
| Johnson County | 24 | 35 | $1.3 m |
| Barton County | 22 | 38 | $694,000 |
| Rush County | 22 | 37 | $683,000 |
| Thomas County | 22 | 32 | $1.3 m |
Households arriving report $471 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Rooks County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Ellis County
What is the Ellis County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.05 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.13 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-3.7 percent
- GDP change over five years25.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Kansas areas BEA publishes17th of 105
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1255th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$70,879
Output grew -3.7 percent in the latest year and 25.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Ellis County
Employment by industry in Ellis County
- Covered employment, annual average15,487
- Establishments reporting1,120
- Average annual pay$47,061
- Average weekly wage$905
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,230
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$51,381
- Retail trade, employment2,139
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,623
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,621
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,954
- Manufacturing, employment837
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$56,355
- Construction, employment616
- Wholesale trade, employment516
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 3,230 | 115 | $51,381 |
| Retail trade | 2,139 | 166 | $33,623 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,621 | 83 | $18,954 |
| Manufacturing | 837 | 26 | $56,355 |
| Construction | 616 | 92 | $57,832 |
| Wholesale trade | 516 | 61 | $63,810 |
| Other services, except public administration | 453 | 72 | $38,609 |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 449 | 80 | $65,767 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,230 jobs, 20.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Ellis County
How many businesses are in Ellis County?
- Establishments, all industries1,110
- Employment at those establishments12,808
- Annual payroll$588.9 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents38.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ellis County
Building permits in Ellis County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202436
- Declared construction value permitted$11.2 m
- Single family units authorized30
- Multifamily units authorized6
- Multifamily share of units16.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$309,925
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.9
Single-family homes are 83.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Ellis County
SBA loans in Ellis County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded110
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$37.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$338,604
- Median 7(a) approval$102,850
- 10th percentile approval$24,800
- 90th percentile approval$955,000
- Largest single approval$2,900,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,101
- Jobs per approval10.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals51
- Median 7(a) term72 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer20.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms22
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter82
- Franchise loans7
- Franchise share of approvals6.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countSupport Activities for Oil and Gas Operations (16)
- Most active lenderBank of Hays (83)
- 504 approvals recorded18
- 504 gross approval dollars$7.6 m
- Average 504 approval$423,944
- Median 504 approval$287,500
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval5.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.1
- Most active CDCFrontier Financial Partners, Inc. (11)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$44.9 m
The average approval of $338,604 sits well above the median of $102,850, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 20.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ellis County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Ellis County
Do SBA loans in Ellis County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded50
- Paid in full50
- Charged off0
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans0.0 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure50
- Status: Paid in full50
- Status: Cancelled10
Of the 50 loans that have reached a final outcome, 0.0 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ellis County
SBA lending by place in Ellis County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Hays, approvals102
- Ellis, approvals7
- Victoria, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Hays | 102 | $31,831,300 |
| Ellis | 7 | $5,400,100 |
| Victoria | 1 | $15,000 |
Hays accounts for 102 approvals against 7 in Ellis. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ellis County
How large is Ellis County?
- Land area900 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Kansas counties23rd of 105
- Width, east to west30.2 mi
- Height, north to south30.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land32
- Establishments per square mile1.23
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ellis County
Flood risk in Ellis County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Ellis County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 200094
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Ellis County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Ellis County (community 200094), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Ellis County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Ellis County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Ellis County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202428,920
- Households12,251
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$63,084
- Median age33.2
Common questions
Ellis County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Ellis County, Kansas?
The Census Bureau estimates 29,007 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 28,920, in 12,251 households, ranking 21st of 105 Kansas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Ellis County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.25 percent since the 2020 census base of 28,935, to 29,007 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 287 births against 228 deaths, with net migration of 28. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Ellis County?
$63,084. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $216,300, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $943 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Ellis County?
1,110 establishments, employing 12,808 people with an annual payroll of $588.9 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Ellis County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,230 jobs, 20.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 15,487 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,061, or $905 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Ellis County?
110 7(a) approvals totaling $37.2 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $102,850, plus 18 504 approvals worth $7.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Ellis County get paid back?
Of the 50 loans that have reached a final outcome, 50 were paid in full and 0 charged off, a charge-off rate of 0.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Ellis County?
36 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $11.2 m. Multifamily was 16.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Ellis County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Ellis County come from?
The largest single origin is Rooks County, with 28 households. Arriving households report an average income of $46,098 against $45,627 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Ellis County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Ellis County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Ellis County
Cities and places in Ellis.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Ellis County. All 6 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hays | city | 21,143 | 102 | Wholly in this county |
| Ellis | city | 2,189 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Victoria | city | 1,095 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Munjor | CDP | 247 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Catharine | CDP | 186 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Schoenchen | city | 181 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby