The Town FilesBenton, Kansas
City in Butler County · population 943 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,400
- Household income
- $88,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 37.8
Benton is a city of 943 people in Butler County, Kansas. The median home is worth $196,400, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more upscale than 86% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 74% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 73% of Kansas towns.
How Benton 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 Benton is worth $196,400, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $88,750, which is more affordable than 47% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $985 a month. 82.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,400 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $985 | $815 |
| Median household income | $88,750 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 82.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Benton
| People | Benton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.8% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.7% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Benton
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 32.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.2 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 26, 1991 about 3.0 miles from the town center and killed 13. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 32 deaths and 281 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 30, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 218 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 8, 1990.
Severe weather in Butler County since 1996
Butler County has been included in 29 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 |
| April 28, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4774: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Butler County
Butler County had 19,881 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,462 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Benton itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Benton
2 public schools with 572 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circle Middle School | 7-8 | 296 | 16.4 |
| Circle Benton Elementary | PK-6 | 276 | 15.3 |
Towns near Benton
- Towanda, KS6.3 mi · 1,447 people · home $121,500
- Andover, KS7.0 mi · 14,892 people · home $291,400
- Bel Aire, KS7.6 mi · 8,262 people · home $238,100
- Kechi, KS8.6 mi · 2,217 people · home $288,300
- Augusta, KS9.7 mi · 9,256 people · home $175,500
- Eastborough, KS10.9 mi · 756 people · home $439,500
- Park City, KS11.9 mi · 8,333 people · home $177,100
- Whitewater, KS12.3 mi · 661 people · home $124,500
Benton questions
Is Benton, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton scores better for retirees than 25% of Kansas towns and quieter than 38%. 12.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton is valued at $196,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,750, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $985 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.6 inches of precipitation a year and 8.2 inches of snow.
Does Benton get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 26, 1991. 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)