The Town Files

Thomas County, Kansas

7,885 people. The median home is worth $172,700 (typical Kansas town: $128,200) and the median household earns $71,325.

Towns in Thomas County

Towns in Thomas County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Colby5,570$163,000$63,49432.3

People and housing

Thomas CountyTypical Kansas town
Median home value$172,700$128,200
Median rent$752$815
Median household income$71,325$63,857
Median age35.338.5
Bachelor's degree or higher34.6%24.0%
Below the poverty line6.5%10.6%

Jobs and pay

4,104 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,946 a year.

Largest industries in Thomas CountyRetail641 jobs · $31,426Wholesale trade324 jobs · $64,054Construction219 jobs · $68,959Finance & insurance128 jobs · $81,317Manufacturing111 jobs · $52,884Professional & technical serv…105 jobs · $56,791
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Thomas County0%2%4%2000200420082012201620202023 1.9%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 1,094 storm events in Thomas County from 1996 to 2026, with 9 deaths.

Storm events in Thomas County by type since 1996Hail411Flood11Drought68Tornado35Blizzard15High Wind90Dust Storm22Heavy Snow16Flash Flood26Winter Storm20
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Thomas County has been included in 13 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
September 1, 2026Severe StormDR-4943: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
September 24, 2024Severe StormDR-4824: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
October 26, 2023Severe StormDR-4747: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
March 29, 2020BiologicalDR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3481: Covid-19
June 16, 2017SnowstormDR-4319: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, 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).