The Town FilesChetopa, Kansas
City in Labette County · population 929 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $71,900
- Household income
- $25,288
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 53.7
Chetopa is a city of 929 people in Labette County, Kansas. The median home is worth $71,900, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks quieter than 95% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 90% of Kansas towns.
How Chetopa 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 Chetopa is worth $71,900, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $25,288, which is more affordable than 18% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $540 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chetopa | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $71,900 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $540 | $815 |
| Median household income | $25,288 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chetopa
| People | Chetopa | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.7 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.0% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 37.2% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 16.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Chetopa
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.9 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chetopa since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 10, 2008 about 4.5 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 190 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 16, 2010.
Severe weather in Labette County since 1996
Labette 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 |
| March 9, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1885: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| June 25, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1849: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| February 1, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1741: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Labette County
Labette County had 8,525 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,757 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Chetopa itself the ACS puts it at 14.1%.
Public schools in Chetopa
2 public schools with 146 students, about 9.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chetopa High | 6-12 | 81 | 10.1 |
| Chetopa Elem | PK-5 | 65 | 9.3 |
Towns near Chetopa
- Oswego, KS9.1 mi · 1,668 people · home $82,700
- Welch, OK11.3 mi · 622 people · home $113,300
- Commerce, OK14.6 mi · 2,271 people · home $72,600
- Altamont, KS15.0 mi · 1,061 people · home $107,400
- Miami, OK16.0 mi · 12,969 people · home $107,600
- Columbus, KS16.5 mi · 2,929 people · home $94,100
- Quapaw, OK17.9 mi · 811 people · home $72,200
- Baxter Springs, KS19.7 mi · 3,888 people · home $92,900
Chetopa questions
Is Chetopa, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chetopa scores better for retirees than 56% of Kansas towns and quieter than 95%. 29.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.7).
How much does a house cost in Chetopa?
The median owner-occupied home in Chetopa is valued at $71,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $25,288, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $540 a month.
What is the weather like in Chetopa?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 10.9 inches of snow.
Does Chetopa get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chetopa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 10, 2008. 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)