The Town FilesCheney, Kansas
City in Sedgwick County · population 2,181 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,900
- Household income
- $85,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 36.9
Cheney is a city of 2,181 people in Sedgwick County, Kansas. The median home is worth $167,900, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 86% of Kansas towns, better for families than 82% of Kansas towns.
How Cheney 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 Cheney is worth $167,900, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $85,313, which is more affordable than 55% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,051 a month. 78.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cheney | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,900 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,051 | $815 |
| Median household income | $85,313 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 78.0% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cheney
| People | Cheney | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.8% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Cheney
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 21.0°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheney since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 23, 1969 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 85 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 23, 2013.
Severe weather in Sedgwick County since 1996
Sedgwick County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| October 20, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4287: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4063: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 30, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1860: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Sedgwick County
Sedgwick County had 264,782 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,652 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Cheney itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Cheney
3 public schools with 810 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheney Elem | PK-5 | 396 | 17.2 |
| Cheney High | 9-12 | 236 | 11.2 |
| Cheney Middle School 6-8 | 6-8 | 178 | 17.8 |
Towns near Cheney
- Garden Plain, KS5.9 mi · 948 people · home $258,300
- Goddard, KS12.3 mi · 5,084 people · home $242,800
- Andale, KS13.6 mi · 941 people · home $253,400
- Pretty Prairie, KS16.6 mi · 660 people · home $100,000
- Colwich, KS16.7 mi · 1,455 people · home $221,500
- Clearwater, KS17.7 mi · 2,653 people · home $216,200
- Mount Hope, KS17.8 mi · 806 people · home $152,200
- Haven, KS18.4 mi · 1,170 people · home $91,400
Cheney questions
Is Cheney, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cheney scores better for retirees than 30% of Kansas towns and quieter than 65%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Cheney?
The median owner-occupied home in Cheney is valued at $167,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,313, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,051 a month.
What is the weather like in Cheney?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 21.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Cheney get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 23, 1969. 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)