The Town Files

Brown County, Kansas

9,343 people. The median home is worth $118,100 (typical Kansas town: $128,200) and the median household earns $62,233.

Towns in Brown County

Towns in Brown County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Hiawatha3,280$121,800$68,75041.6

People and housing

Brown CountyTypical Kansas town
Median home value$118,100$128,200
Median rent$646$815
Median household income$62,233$63,857
Median age41.738.5
Bachelor's degree or higher19.6%24.0%
Below the poverty line13.8%10.6%

Jobs and pay

4,493 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,553 a year.

Largest industries in Brown CountyManufacturing933 jobs · $75,699Retail426 jobs · $29,561Wholesale trade166 jobs · $84,777Finance & insurance153 jobs · $58,971Professional & technical serv…122 jobs · $64,448Construction98 jobs · $36,716
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Brown County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 2.8%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 485 storm events in Brown County from 1996 to 2026, with 4 deaths.

Storm events in Brown County by type since 1996Hail162Heat10Drought10Tornado18Dense Fog10High Wind11Heavy Snow9Flash Flood26Winter Storm38Excessive Heat7
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Brown County has been included in 19 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
September 1, 2026Severe StormDR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 17, 2022Severe StormDR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds
March 29, 2020BiologicalDR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3481: Covid-19
June 20, 2019Severe StormDR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides
July 20, 2015Severe StormDR-4230: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).