The Town FilesCaney, Kansas
City in Montgomery County · population 1,788 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $81,500
- Household income
- $39,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 35.7
Caney is a city of 1,788 people in Montgomery County, Kansas. The median home is worth $81,500, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more walkable than 77% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 75% of Kansas towns.
How Caney 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 Caney is worth $81,500, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $39,000, which is more affordable than 52% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $780 a month. 63.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Caney | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $81,500 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $780 | $815 |
| Median household income | $39,000 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 63.7% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Caney
| People | Caney | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 34.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.4% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.4% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Caney
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 21.6°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.2 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Caney since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 15, 1982 about 4.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 31, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 93 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 14, 1986.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 28, 2019 | Severe Storm | EM-3412: Tornadoes And Flooding |
| October 22, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4150: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 14,716 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,284 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Caney itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Caney
3 public schools with 783 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Memorial Elem | PK-6 | 455 | 16.3 |
| Caney Valley High | 7-12 | 326 | 11.6 |
| Caney Valley Charter Academy (charter) | 9-12 | 2 | 1.0 |
Towns near Caney
- Copan, OK7.8 mi · 710 people · home $107,400
- Dewey, OK15.4 mi · 3,372 people · home $119,000
- Coffeyville, KS15.5 mi · 8,826 people · home $60,800
- Sedan, KS16.0 mi · 1,000 people · home $41,200
- South Coffeyville, OK17.2 mi · 683 people · home $102,700
- Bartlesville, OK19.1 mi · 37,290 people · home $167,200
- Independence, KS19.3 mi · 8,548 people · home $88,800
- Nowata, OK27.1 mi · 3,517 people · home $89,900
Caney questions
Is Caney, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Caney scores better for retirees than 43% of Kansas towns and quieter than 47%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Caney?
The median owner-occupied home in Caney is valued at $81,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,000, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $780 a month.
What is the weather like in Caney?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 21.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 9.2 inches of snow.
Does Caney get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Caney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 15, 1982. 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)