Manhattan: Economy & Jobs
$60,172 is the median household income in Manhattan (about the same as Riley County median $61,098; 1.2× below Kansas median $74,275), with homes at a median value of $246,700. The surrounding county supports 10,028 jobs (avg $51,426).
- $81,037 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Kansas $76,783).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $60,172 — below the Kansas median ($64,620). Poverty rate 23.3% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 42% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.1× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 20.3% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 42.5% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 23.3% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 6.3% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $11,730 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $950,569 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $81,037 (vs Kansas $76,783) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $66,594 |
| Median Household Income | $60,172 (vs Kansas $64,620) |
| Poverty Rate | 23.3% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $60,172 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.4% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 13% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 17.30 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 12.6% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 10,028 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $515,694,569 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $51,426 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,412,000 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.4% (vs Kansas 2.6%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 820 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 38,900 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 47.40 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Crop Totals, Cattle, Grain, Corn |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 679 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 9,635 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 454,811 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 10 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 6 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 18 |
| Local Businesses · Real Estate Offices | 12 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 14 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 15 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 15 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 5 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (20)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | KWIK SHOP 350733 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 28 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | MANHATTAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $147,281,751 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 5,810.39 (vs Kansas $6,960) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 25,348 people (vs Kansas 58,384) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 1 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 68.4% |
| Pct Public Transit | 6.6% |
| Pct Walked | 12.6% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 25.7 years (vs Kansas 36.5y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 18.4% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 2 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12