The Town FilesKansas, Illinois
Village in Edgar County · population 670 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $70,800
- Household income
- $69,231
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 44.1
Kansas is a village of 670 people in Edgar County, Illinois. The median home is worth $70,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Illinois towns, quieter than 98% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 94% of Illinois towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois
- #4 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois With Mild Winters
- #6 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Illinois
- #12 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Illinois
- #23 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #23 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
How Kansas ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Kansas is worth $70,800, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.0 times the median household income of $69,231, which is more affordable than 99% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $725 a month. 74.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kansas | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $70,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $725 | $960 |
| Median household income | $69,231 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Kansas
| People | Kansas | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Kansas
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kansas since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 11, 1958 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 1, 2016.
Severe weather in Edgar County since 1996
Edgar County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Edgar County
Edgar County had 7,065 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,835 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Kansas itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Kansas
3 public schools with 177 students, about 6.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas Elem School | PK-6 | 96 | 8.0 |
| Kansas High School | 7-12 | 81 | 8.1 |
| Treatment & Learning Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Kansas
- Ashmore, IL4.6 mi · 637 people · home $91,700
- Westfield, IL7.5 mi · 536 people · home $85,600
- Oakland, IL8.5 mi · 739 people · home $98,100
- Charleston, IL13.6 mi · 17,286 people · home $137,400
- Paris, IL14.0 mi · 8,291 people · home $75,700
- Martinsville, IL15.3 mi · 1,118 people · home $69,100
- Newman, IL16.9 mi · 778 people · home $101,900
- Marshall, IL17.0 mi · 3,947 people · home $118,500
Kansas questions
Is Kansas, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kansas scores better for retirees than 94% of Illinois towns and quieter than 98%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Kansas?
The median owner-occupied home in Kansas is valued at $70,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,231, so homes cost about 1.0 times income. Median rent is $725 a month.
What is the weather like in Kansas?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 17.5 inches of snow.
Does Kansas get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kansas since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 11, 1958. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)