The Town FilesBennington, Kansas
City in Ottawa County · population 622 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,400
- Household income
- $74,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 37.3
Bennington is a city of 622 people in Ottawa County, Kansas. The median home is worth $156,400, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for families than 99% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 86% of Kansas towns, better transit than 85% of Kansas towns.
How Bennington 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 Bennington is worth $156,400, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $74,375, which is more affordable than 52% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $971 a month. 74.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bennington | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,400 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $971 | $815 |
| Median household income | $74,375 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 74.6% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bennington
| People | Bennington | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Bennington
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 18.2°F. About 31.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.6 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bennington since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 25, 2016 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 26, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 107 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 28, 2013.
Severe weather in Ottawa County since 1996
Ottawa County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| December 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4897: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4811: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 28, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4774: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Ottawa County
Ottawa County had 1,291 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,552 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Bennington itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Bennington
2 public schools with 467 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bennington Elem | PK-6 | 253 | 14.1 |
| Bennington Junior High/High School | 7-12 | 214 | 15.3 |
Towns near Bennington
- Minneapolis, KS8.5 mi · 1,946 people · home $143,800
- Solomon, KS14.3 mi · 993 people · home $119,300
- Salina, KS15.2 mi · 46,889 people · home $173,200
- Abilene, KS21.0 mi · 6,460 people · home $131,500
- Enterprise, KS27.1 mi · 708 people · home $93,600
- Lincoln Center, KS29.7 mi · 1,171 people · home $68,500
Bennington questions
Is Bennington, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bennington scores better for retirees than 68% of Kansas towns and quieter than 62%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Bennington?
The median owner-occupied home in Bennington is valued at $156,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,375, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $971 a month.
What is the weather like in Bennington?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 18.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.7 inches of precipitation a year and 17.6 inches of snow.
Does Bennington get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bennington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 25, 2016. 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)