The Town FilesArma, Kansas
City in Crawford County · population 1,407 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $85,400
- Household income
- $50,795
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 54.2
Arma is a city of 1,407 people in Crawford County, Kansas. The median home is worth $85,400, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks easier by car than 86% of Kansas towns.
How Arma 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 Arma is worth $85,400, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $50,795, which is more affordable than 74% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arma | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $85,400 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $775 | $815 |
| Median household income | $50,795 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Arma
| People | Arma | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.2 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 9.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.1% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Arma
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.2 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arma since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 4, 2003 about 1.8 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 28, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 86 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 19, 1981.
Severe weather in Crawford County since 1996
Crawford County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: 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 |
| May 28, 2019 | Severe Storm | EM-3412: Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Crawford County
Crawford County had 17,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,212 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Arma itself the ACS puts it at 10%.
Public schools in Arma
2 public schools with 459 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Elem | PK-8 | 335 | 12.0 |
| North East High | 9-12 | 124 | 8.3 |
Towns near Arma
- Frontenac, KS5.8 mi · 3,382 people · home $165,600
- Girard, KS8.2 mi · 2,496 people · home $93,600
- Pittsburg, KS8.9 mi · 20,646 people · home $123,200
- Liberal, MO10.2 mi · 629 people · home $77,000
- Cherokee, KS15.2 mi · 590 people · home $85,300
- Weir, KS16.6 mi · 569 people · home $78,300
- Fort Scott, KS19.7 mi · 7,552 people · home $100,500
- Lamar, MO23.4 mi · 4,266 people · home $117,200
Arma questions
Is Arma, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arma scores better for retirees than 30% of Kansas towns and quieter than 56%. 28.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.2).
How much does a house cost in Arma?
The median owner-occupied home in Arma is valued at $85,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,795, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Arma?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 6.2 inches of snow.
Does Arma get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 4, 2003. 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)