The Town FilesEmporia, Kansas
City in Lyon County · population 24,139 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $132,700
- Household income
- $52,704
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 30.2
Emporia is a city of 24,139 people in Lyon County, Kansas. The median home is worth $132,700, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 96% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 91% of Kansas towns.
How Emporia 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 Emporia is worth $132,700, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $52,704, which is more affordable than 32% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $815 a month. 49.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emporia | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $815 | $815 |
| Median household income | $52,704 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 49.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Emporia
| People | Emporia | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.2 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.4% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 12.3 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Emporia
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 18.2°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.7 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emporia since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1974 about 2.0 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 194 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 19, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 149 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on December 15, 2021.
Severe weather in Lyon County since 1996
Lyon County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4891: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| June 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
| May 28, 2019 | Severe Storm | EM-3412: Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lyon County
Lyon County had 15,357 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,458 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Emporia itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Emporia
8 public schools with 4,399 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emporia High | 9-12 | 1,629 | 18.5 |
| Emporia Middle School | 6-8 | 852 | 13.3 |
| Riverside Elementary | PK-5 | 421 | 16.2 |
| Village Elem | PK-5 | 386 | 13.8 |
| Timmerman Elementary | PK-5 | 367 | 12.7 |
| Walnut Elem | PK-5 | 285 | 12.4 |
| W A White Elem | PK-5 | 244 | 12.8 |
| Logan Ave Elem | PK-5 | 215 | 11.3 |
Towns near Emporia
- Osage City, KS25.7 mi · 2,861 people · home $155,800
- Burlington, KS28.2 mi · 2,634 people · home $149,300
Emporia questions
Is Emporia, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emporia scores better for retirees than 7% of Kansas towns and quieter than 2%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.2).
How much does a house cost in Emporia?
The median owner-occupied home in Emporia is valued at $132,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,704, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $815 a month.
What is the weather like in Emporia?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 18.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 12.7 inches of snow.
Does Emporia get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emporia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1974. 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)