The Town FilesBaldwin City, Kansas
City in Douglas County · population 4,826 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,500
- Household income
- $72,941
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 27.9
Baldwin City is a city of 4,826 people in Douglas County, Kansas. The median home is worth $249,500, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Kansas towns, better transit than 93% of Kansas towns.
How Baldwin 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 Baldwin City is worth $249,500, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $72,941, which is more affordable than 6% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $858 a month. 65.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Baldwin City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,500 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $858 | $815 |
| Median household income | $72,941 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 65.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Baldwin City
| People | Baldwin City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.9 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.1% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 2.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 17.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Baldwin City
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 18.2°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.2 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baldwin City since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 20, 1957 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 97 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 10, 2015.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 9, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1885: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 50,969 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,079 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Baldwin City itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Baldwin City
4 public schools with 1,434 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin High School | 9-12 | 413 | 13.8 |
| Baldwin Elementary Primary Center | PK-2 | 393 | 18.7 |
| Baldwin Junior High School | 6-8 | 340 | 16.2 |
| Baldwin Elementary Intermediate Center | 3-5 | 288 | 20.6 |
Towns near Baldwin City
- Eudora, KS11.8 mi · 6,408 people · home $280,100
- Ottawa, KS13.0 mi · 12,625 people · home $166,500
- Lawrence, KS13.3 mi · 94,934 people · home $292,700
- Gardner, KS14.5 mi · 23,287 people · home $306,200
- De Soto, KS15.7 mi · 6,118 people · home $422,400
- Spring Hill, KS19.8 mi · 7,952 people · home $357,800
- Olathe, KS21.1 mi · 141,290 people · home $364,700
- Paola, KS22.3 mi · 5,768 people · home $210,800
Baldwin City questions
Is Baldwin City, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Baldwin City scores better for retirees than 78% of Kansas towns and quieter than 18%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 27.9).
How much does a house cost in Baldwin City?
The median owner-occupied home in Baldwin City is valued at $249,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,941, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $858 a month.
What is the weather like in Baldwin City?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 18.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.2 inches of snow.
Does Baldwin City get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baldwin City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 20, 1957. 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)