The Town FilesColdwater, Kansas
City in Comanche County · population 687 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $85,600
- Household income
- $51,338
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 55.0
Coldwater is a city of 687 people in Comanche County, Kansas. The median home is worth $85,600, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Kansas towns, quieter than 88% of Kansas towns, hipper than 86% of Kansas towns.
- #1 in The 19 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Kansas With Mild Winters
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in Kansas With the Mildest Winters
- #13 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Kansas
- #13 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Kansas
- #24 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Kansas
How Coldwater 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 Coldwater is worth $85,600, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $51,338, which is more affordable than 74% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $728 a month. 67.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Coldwater | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $85,600 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $728 | $815 |
| Median household income | $51,338 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.8% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.1% | — |
Who lives in Coldwater
| People | Coldwater | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.0 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 1.8% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 8.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Coldwater
July highs average 94.6°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 25.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.1 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 99 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Coldwater since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 4, 2007 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 11. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 64 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 25, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 154 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 23, 1996.
Severe weather in Comanche County since 1996
Comanche County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4897: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4824: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4747: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 25, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4654: Severe Winter Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Comanche County
Comanche County had 622 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,352 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Coldwater itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Coldwater
1 public school with 85 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Central High School | 9-12 | 85 | 12.1 |
Towns near Coldwater
- Greensburg, KS23.4 mi · 740 people · home $190,800
- Ashland, KS25.2 mi · 783 people · home $70,300
- Bucklin, KS25.9 mi · 727 people · home $84,600
- Haviland, KS27.0 mi · 678 people · home $97,900
Coldwater questions
Is Coldwater, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Coldwater scores better for retirees than 96% of Kansas towns and quieter than 88%. 38.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.0).
How much does a house cost in Coldwater?
The median owner-occupied home in Coldwater is valued at $85,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,338, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $728 a month.
What is the weather like in Coldwater?
July highs average 94.6°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.3 inches of precipitation a year and 17.1 inches of snow.
Does Coldwater get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Coldwater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 4, 2007. 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)