The Town FilesBlue Rapids, Kansas
City in Marshall County · population 928 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $68,300
- Household income
- $53,214
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 46.3
Blue Rapids is a city of 928 people in Marshall County, Kansas. The median home is worth $68,300, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for families than 93% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 92% of Kansas towns, quieter than 90% of Kansas towns.
How Blue Rapids 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 Blue Rapids is worth $68,300, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $53,214, which is more affordable than 96% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $771 a month. 79.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Blue Rapids | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $68,300 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $771 | $815 |
| Median household income | $53,214 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 79.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Blue Rapids
| People | Blue Rapids | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 0.8% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Blue Rapids
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.3 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blue Rapids since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 2, 1959 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 26, 2008.
Severe weather in Marshall County since 1996
Marshall County has been included in 19 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 |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Marshall County
Marshall County had 4,422 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,153 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Blue Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Blue Rapids
2 public schools with 294 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Heights Jr/Sr High | 7-12 | 178 | 11.1 |
| Valley Heights Elem | 3-6 | 116 | 11.6 |
Towns near Blue Rapids
- Waterville, KS4.8 mi · 658 people · home $91,300
- Marysville, KS11.5 mi · 3,447 people · home $119,200
- Frankfort, KS12.9 mi · 730 people · home $89,100
- Hanover, KS18.8 mi · 690 people · home $110,400
- Washington, KS22.8 mi · 1,071 people · home $101,100
- Westmoreland, KS23.6 mi · 740 people · home $145,500
- Riley, KS27.7 mi · 938 people · home $163,100
- Onaga, KS29.1 mi · 679 people · home $116,200
Blue Rapids questions
Is Blue Rapids, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Blue Rapids scores better for retirees than 64% of Kansas towns and quieter than 90%. 27.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Blue Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Blue Rapids is valued at $68,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,214, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $771 a month.
What is the weather like in Blue Rapids?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 13.3 inches of snow.
Does Blue Rapids get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blue Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 2, 1959. 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)