The Town FilesCaldwell, Kansas
City in Sumner County · population 1,025 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $75,600
- Household income
- $44,286
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 41.1
Caldwell is a city of 1,025 people in Sumner County, Kansas. The median home is worth $75,600, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for cycling than 88% of Kansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Kansas towns.
How Caldwell 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 Caldwell is worth $75,600, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $44,286, which is more affordable than 74% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $371 a month. 77.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Caldwell | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $75,600 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $371 | $815 |
| Median household income | $44,286 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 77.6% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.2% | — |
Who lives in Caldwell
| People | Caldwell | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.7% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Caldwell
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 22.0°F. About 36.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.9 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Caldwell since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 10, 2010 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 5, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 23, 2026.
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 Caldwell itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Public schools in Caldwell
2 public schools with 240 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell Elem | PK-5 | 133 | 19.0 |
| Caldwell Secondary School | 6-12 | 107 | 6.7 |
Towns near Caldwell
- Medford, OK17.5 mi · 932 people · home $87,500
- Wellington, KS20.2 mi · 7,715 people · home $97,100
- Blackwell, OK23.4 mi · 6,085 people · home $85,600
- Conway Springs, KS24.6 mi · 1,086 people · home $113,300
- Anthony, KS25.4 mi · 2,108 people · home $69,000
- Pond Creek, OK27.5 mi · 885 people · home $153,300
- Harper, KS28.8 mi · 1,313 people · home $78,600
- Oxford, KS29.3 mi · 1,048 people · home $117,200
Caldwell questions
Is Caldwell, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Caldwell scores better for retirees than 45% of Kansas towns and quieter than 56%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Caldwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Caldwell is valued at $75,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,286, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $371 a month.
What is the weather like in Caldwell?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 22.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.1 inches of precipitation a year and 9.9 inches of snow.
Does Caldwell get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Caldwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 10, 2010. 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)