Riley County, Kansas: commercial real estate data.
Riley County, Kansas had an estimated 72,557 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 71,959, across 610 square miles. County output reached $3.81 bn in 2024, 1,620 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 58 7(a) approvals worth $18.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Riley County
How many people live in Riley County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202471,946
- Households27,695
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$61,098
- Median age25.5
- Median gross rent$1,046 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$237,100
- Home value to household income3.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher48.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree22.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over36,911
- Population under 1811,589
- Share under 1816.1 percent
- Population 65 and over7,203
- Share 65 and over10.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6453,154
- Civilian labor force37,189
- Unemployment rate3.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.6 percent
- Rank by population among Kansas counties7th of 105
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included775th of 3,222
Riley County is the 7th largest of 105 Kansas counties by population. A median home costs 3.9 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 16.1 percent against 10.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Riley County
Is Riley County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202472,557
- Census 2020 base population71,959
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.83 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024884
- Births, 2024680
- Deaths, 2024360
- Natural change, 2024320
- Net domestic migration, 2024-297
- Net international migration, 2024851
- Total net migration, 2024554
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-2,767
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1540th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.83 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.
Riley County
Where are people moving to Riley County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving3,065
- People arriving, from those returns5,217
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,744
- Net household movement-679
- Adjusted gross income arriving$160.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-39.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$52,374
- Average income of a leaving household$53,352
- Largest single originGeary County (302 households)
- Largest single destinationGeary County (330 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geary County | 302 | 549 | $11.9 m |
| Pottawatomie County | 220 | 400 | $11.1 m |
| Johnson County | 99 | 141 | $5.3 m |
| Sedgwick County | 79 | 126 | $4.2 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 75 | 141 | $4.1 m |
| Shawnee County | 67 | 90 | $2.3 m |
| Clay County | 48 | 68 | $1.6 m |
| Saline County | 40 | 63 | $1.6 m |
Households arriving report $978 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Geary 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.
Riley County
What is the Riley County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.81 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.66 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.2 percent
- GDP change over five years31.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Kansas areas BEA publishes9th of 105
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes845th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$53,008
Output grew 4.2 percent in the latest year and 31.6 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.
Riley County
Employment by industry in Riley County
- Covered employment, annual average30,349
- Establishments reporting2,032
- Average annual pay$52,341
- Average weekly wage$1,007
- Accommodation and food services, employment3,673
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,174
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,592
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$47,349
- Retail trade, employment3,446
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,658
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment1,916
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$72,748
- Construction, employment1,796
- Other services, except public administration, employment1,438
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 3,673 | 171 | $20,174 |
| Health care and social assistance | 3,592 | 220 | $47,349 |
| Retail trade | 3,446 | 212 | $30,658 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,916 | 348 | $72,748 |
| Construction | 1,796 | 160 | $70,621 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,438 | 154 | $58,796 |
| Finance and insurance | 1,190 | 118 | $75,876 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 812 | 148 | $48,968 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 3,673 jobs, 12.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Riley County
How many businesses are in Riley County?
- Establishments, all industries1,620
- Employment at those establishments20,580
- Annual payroll$844.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.5
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.
Riley County
Building permits in Riley County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024126
- Declared construction value permitted$34.6 m
- Single family units authorized91
- Multifamily units authorized35
- Multifamily share of units27.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$274,258
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.5
Single-family homes are 72.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Riley County
SBA loans in Riley County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded58
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$18.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$314,347
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$20,700
- 90th percentile approval$817,550
- Largest single approval$3,838,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)643
- Jobs per approval11.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active22
- Distinct industries receiving approvals44
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer6.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter49
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals8.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countAll Other Specialty Trade Contractors (3)
- Most active lenderCommunity First National Bank (15)
- 504 approvals recorded24
- 504 gross approval dollars$22.2 m
- Average 504 approval$923,417
- Median 504 approval$680,500
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval25.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved27.5
- Most active CDCFrontier Financial Partners, Inc. (16)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$40.4 m
The average approval of $314,347 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 6.9 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.
Riley County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Riley County
Do SBA loans in Riley County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded20
- Paid in full20
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full20
- Status: Exempt from disclosure33
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 20 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
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.
Riley County
SBA lending by place in Riley County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Manhattan, approvals55
- Riley, approvals2
- Salina, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | 55 | $17,817,100 |
| Riley | 2 | $290,000 |
| Salina | 1 | $125,000 |
Manhattan accounts for 55 approvals against 2 in Riley. 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.
Riley County
How large is Riley County?
- Land area610 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Kansas counties82nd of 105
- Width, east to west30.7 mi
- Height, north to south36.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land118
- Establishments per square mile2.66
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.
Riley County
Flood risk in Riley County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Riley County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 200298
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 9
- 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 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class3
- Radon levels in Riley 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 Riley County (community 200298), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 9, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Riley 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 6, 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 Riley 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 Riley County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202471,946
- Households27,695
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$61,098
- Median age25.5
Common questions
Riley County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Riley County, Kansas?
The Census Bureau estimates 72,557 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 71,946, in 27,695 households, ranking 7th of 105 Kansas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Riley County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.83 percent since the 2020 census base of 71,959, to 72,557 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 680 births against 360 deaths, with net migration of 554. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Riley County?
$61,098. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $237,100, which is 3.9 times income, and median gross rent is $1,046 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Riley County?
1,620 establishments, employing 20,580 people with an annual payroll of $844.5 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 Riley County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 3,673 jobs, 12.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 30,349 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,341, or $1,007 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Riley County?
58 7(a) approvals totaling $18.2 m since FY2020, across 22 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 24 504 approvals worth $22.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Riley County?
126 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $34.6 m. Multifamily was 27.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Riley 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 Riley County come from?
The largest single origin is Geary County, with 302 households. Arriving households report an average income of $52,374 against $53,352 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Riley 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 Riley 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.
Riley County
Cities and places in Riley.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Riley County. 7 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | city | 54,239 | 55 | 93.4 percent here, 6.6 percent Pottawatomie County |
| Fort Riley | CDP | 8,606 | None recorded | 88.0 percent here, 12.0 percent Geary County |
| Ogden | city | 1,696 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Riley | city | 943 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Leonardville | city | 514 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Keats | CDP | 182 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Randolph | city | 178 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bala | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Zeandale | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 58 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Riley County, the largest being Salina (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby