The Town FilesCouncil Grove, Kansas
City in Morris County · population 2,140 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $134,900
- Household income
- $57,962
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 42.8
Council Grove is a city of 2,140 people in Morris County, Kansas. The median home is worth $134,900, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks hipper than 98% of Kansas towns, better for retirees than 91% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 80% of Kansas towns.
How Council Grove 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 Council Grove is worth $134,900, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $57,962, which is more affordable than 43% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $715 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Council Grove | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,900 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $715 | $815 |
| Median household income | $57,962 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Council Grove
| People | Council Grove | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Council Grove
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 19.7°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.0 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Council Grove since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 10, 1953 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 89 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 2, 2008.
Severe weather in Morris County since 1996
Morris County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4926: 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 |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4811: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Morris County
Morris County had 1,574 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,045 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Council Grove itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Council Grove
2 public schools with 698 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council Grove Junior Senior High School | 7-12 | 360 | 12.4 |
| Council Grove Elementary School | PK-6 | 338 | 16.1 |
Towns near Council Grove
- Americus, KS16.5 mi · 776 people · home $124,100
- Herington, KS17.2 mi · 2,109 people · home $85,200
- Cottonwood Falls, KS20.6 mi · 851 people · home $85,100
- Emporia, KS24.3 mi · 24,139 people · home $132,700
- Alma, KS26.7 mi · 802 people · home $136,900
Council Grove questions
Is Council Grove, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Council Grove scores better for retirees than 91% of Kansas towns and quieter than 44%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Council Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in Council Grove is valued at $134,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,962, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $715 a month.
What is the weather like in Council Grove?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 19.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 12.0 inches of snow.
Does Council Grove get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Council Grove since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 10, 1953. 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)