The Town FilesGarden Plain, Kansas
City in Sedgwick County · population 948 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $258,300
- Household income
- $85,455
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 27.5
Garden Plain is a city of 948 people in Sedgwick County, Kansas. The median home is worth $258,300, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Kansas towns, better for families than 99% of Kansas towns, more upscale than 91% of Kansas towns.
How Garden Plain 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 Garden Plain is worth $258,300, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $85,455, which is more affordable than 13% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $958 a month. 73.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garden Plain | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $258,300 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $958 | $815 |
| Median household income | $85,455 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 73.7% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Garden Plain
| People | Garden Plain | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.5 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 38.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.0% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Garden Plain
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 22.2°F. About 34.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garden Plain since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 23, 1969 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 140 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on September 15, 2010.
Severe weather in Sedgwick County since 1996
Sedgwick County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| October 20, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4287: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4063: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 30, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1860: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Sedgwick County
Sedgwick County had 264,782 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,652 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Garden Plain itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Garden Plain
2 public schools with 615 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden Plain Elem | PK-8 | 448 | 19.5 |
| Garden Plain High | 9-12 | 167 | 11.9 |
Towns near Garden Plain
- Cheney, KS5.9 mi · 2,181 people · home $167,900
- Goddard, KS6.5 mi · 5,084 people · home $242,800
- Andale, KS9.3 mi · 941 people · home $253,400
- Colwich, KS11.3 mi · 1,455 people · home $221,500
- Maize, KS14.2 mi · 5,735 people · home $276,200
- Clearwater, KS14.4 mi · 2,653 people · home $216,200
- Mount Hope, KS14.6 mi · 806 people · home $152,200
- Haven, KS17.5 mi · 1,170 people · home $91,400
Garden Plain questions
Is Garden Plain, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garden Plain scores better for retirees than 55% of Kansas towns and quieter than 53%. 10.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 27.5).
How much does a house cost in Garden Plain?
The median owner-occupied home in Garden Plain is valued at $258,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,455, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $958 a month.
What is the weather like in Garden Plain?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 22.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.4 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Garden Plain get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garden Plain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 23, 1969. 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)