At a Glance
Median Income
$75,500
$27,533 per capita
Home Value
$127,700
Zillow: $139,479
Median Rent
$785/mo
13.7% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
20.2%
71.0% high school+
Unemployment
1.6%
15.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.7%
15.2% smoking rate
How Plains Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Plains's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Plains a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.9 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Plains residents earn a median household income of $75,500 , which is 0% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $27,533. The unemployment rate stands at 1.6% (56% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 15.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 169 business establishments, including 8 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Plains is $127,700 , 55% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $139,479. Median rent is $785/month, with 13.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 90.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1971.
Education
20.2% of adults in Plains hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(40% below the national average).
71.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Plains has an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C).
Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 23.0 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,308
Median Age26.8 yrs
Density1,308/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born21.7%
Veterans3.2%
Economy
A
Median Income$75,500
Per Capita$27,533
Unemployment1.6%
Poverty15.8%
County GDP$318M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,012
Housing
A+
Home Value$127,700
Rent$785
Ownership75.9%
Zillow$139,479
Housing Units503
Rent Burden13.7%
Health
Obesity37.7%
Diabetes11.0%
Smoking15.2%
Heart Disease5.8%
Premature Death10,432/100K
Climate
Avg Temp55°F
Rain23.0 in/yr
Elevation2,760 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+20.2%
High School+71.0%
Graduate+11.0%
School Score5.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 84% / D 15%
Commute15 min
Broadband90.5%
Internet Speed14 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries3
Did You Know?
The median home in Plains was built in 1971.
The nearest airport is Liberal Mid-America Regional (25 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.521 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
6.7% of the population has a disability.
21.7% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.