The Town FilesFrontenac, Kansas
City in Crawford County · population 3,382 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,600
- Household income
- $58,733
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 39.4
Frontenac is a city of 3,382 people in Crawford County, Kansas. The median home is worth $165,600, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks easier by car than 83% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 75% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 71% of Kansas towns.
How Frontenac 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 Frontenac is worth $165,600, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $58,733, which is more affordable than 18% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $778 a month. 73.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Frontenac | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,600 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $778 | $815 |
| Median household income | $58,733 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 73.0% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Frontenac
| People | Frontenac | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.7% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Frontenac
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.5 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Frontenac since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 4, 2003 about 3.8 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 98 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 19, 1981.
Severe weather in Crawford County since 1996
Crawford County has been included in 24 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 |
| 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 Crawford County
Crawford County had 17,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,212 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Frontenac itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Frontenac
3 public schools with 982 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Layden Elem | PK-5 | 471 | 14.3 |
| Frontenac Sr. High School | 9-12 | 288 | 16.0 |
| Frontenac Jr. High | 6-8 | 223 | 13.1 |
Towns near Frontenac
- Pittsburg, KS3.1 mi · 20,646 people · home $123,200
- Columbus, KS21.3 mi · 2,929 people · home $94,100
- Carl Junction, MO22.1 mi · 8,143 people · home $218,300
- Oronogo, MO22.6 mi · 2,558 people · home $188,500
- Lamar, MO23.3 mi · 4,266 people · home $117,200
- Webb City, MO25.4 mi · 13,031 people · home $169,100
- Fort Scott, KS25.5 mi · 7,552 people · home $100,500
- Galena, KS26.7 mi · 2,761 people · home $78,500
Frontenac questions
Is Frontenac, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Frontenac scores better for retirees than 56% of Kansas towns and quieter than 29%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Frontenac?
The median owner-occupied home in Frontenac is valued at $165,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,733, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $778 a month.
What is the weather like in Frontenac?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 9.5 inches of snow.
Does Frontenac get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Frontenac since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 4, 2003. 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)