The Town FilesArkansas City, Kansas
City in Cowley County · population 11,974 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $86,800
- Household income
- $49,629
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 37.1
Arkansas City is a city of 11,974 people in Cowley County, Kansas. The median home is worth $86,800, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 94% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 94% of Kansas towns.
How Arkansas City ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Arkansas City is worth $86,800, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $49,629, which is more affordable than 74% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $781 a month. 56.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arkansas City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $86,800 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $781 | $815 |
| Median household income | $49,629 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 56.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Arkansas City
| People | Arkansas City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Arkansas City
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 23.7°F. About 34.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.2 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arkansas City since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 25, 1955 about 8.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 172 times; the largest was 3.81 inches on June 17, 2025.
Severe weather in Cowley County since 1996
Cowley County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4943: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4891: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| June 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Cowley County
Cowley County had 13,041 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,217 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Arkansas City itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Arkansas City
8 public schools with 2,917 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas City High | 9-12 | 866 | 16.0 |
| Arkansas City Middle Sch | 6-8 | 669 | 17.6 |
| Adams Elem | PK-5 | 296 | 17.4 |
| Jefferson Elem | PK-5 | 282 | 20.1 |
| Frances Willard Elem | PK-5 | 275 | 19.6 |
| Roosevelt Elem | PK-5 | 218 | 15.6 |
| I X L Elem | PK-5 | 198 | 13.2 |
| C 4 Elem | PK-5 | 113 | 16.1 |
Towns near Arkansas City
- Winfield, KS12.1 mi · 11,777 people · home $132,700
- Blackwell, OK23.8 mi · 6,085 people · home $85,600
- Ponca City, OK24.5 mi · 24,424 people · home $135,800
- Wellington, KS24.7 mi · 7,715 people · home $97,100
- Mulvane, KS29.8 mi · 6,286 people · home $176,300
Arkansas City questions
Is Arkansas City, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arkansas City scores better for retirees than 9% of Kansas towns and quieter than 14%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Arkansas City?
The median owner-occupied home in Arkansas City is valued at $86,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,629, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $781 a month.
What is the weather like in Arkansas City?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 23.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.9 inches of precipitation a year and 6.2 inches of snow.
Does Arkansas City get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arkansas City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 25, 1955. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- 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)