The Town FilesBelle Plaine, Kansas
City in Sumner County · population 1,467 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,900
- Household income
- $63,214
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 42.4
Belle Plaine is a city of 1,467 people in Sumner County, Kansas. The median home is worth $123,900, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 90% of Kansas towns, quieter than 76% of Kansas towns.
How Belle Plaine 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 Belle Plaine is worth $123,900, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $63,214, which is more affordable than 55% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $711 a month. 56.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belle Plaine | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,900 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $711 | $815 |
| Median household income | $63,214 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 56.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Belle Plaine
| People | Belle Plaine | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Belle Plaine
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.9 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belle Plaine since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 25, 1955 about 7.7 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 86 deaths and 439 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 5, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 135 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 13, 1998.
Severe weather in Sumner County since 1996
Sumner 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 |
| December 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4897: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4891: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Sumner County
Sumner County had 6,248 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,763 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Belle Plaine itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Belle Plaine
3 public schools with 550 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Plaine Elem | PK-4 | 206 | 12.1 |
| Belle Plaine High | 9-12 | 183 | 13.1 |
| Belle Plaine Middle | 5-8 | 161 | 13.4 |
Towns near Belle Plaine
- Mulvane, KS6.2 mi · 6,286 people · home $176,300
- Udall, KS8.9 mi · 661 people · home $96,100
- Oxford, KS10.3 mi · 1,048 people · home $117,200
- Wellington, KS10.6 mi · 7,715 people · home $97,100
- Derby, KS11.6 mi · 25,625 people · home $236,900
- Haysville, KS12.6 mi · 11,262 people · home $161,800
- Clearwater, KS14.5 mi · 2,653 people · home $216,200
- Rose Hill, KS14.5 mi · 4,185 people · home $219,900
Belle Plaine questions
Is Belle Plaine, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belle Plaine scores better for retirees than 91% of Kansas towns and quieter than 76%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Belle Plaine?
The median owner-occupied home in Belle Plaine is valued at $123,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,214, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $711 a month.
What is the weather like in Belle Plaine?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 9.9 inches of snow.
Does Belle Plaine get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belle Plaine 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)