The Town FilesHalstead, Kansas
City in Harvey County · population 2,179 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,000
- Household income
- $76,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 40
- Median age
- 38.6
Halstead is a city of 2,179 people in Harvey County, Kansas. The median home is worth $163,000, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 93% of Kansas towns, better for families than 84% of Kansas towns.
How Halstead 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 Halstead is worth $163,000, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $76,250, which is more affordable than 52% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $826 a month. 76.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Halstead | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,000 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $826 | $815 |
| Median household income | $76,250 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 76.7% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Halstead
| People | Halstead | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Halstead
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.8 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Halstead since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on March 13, 1990 about 4.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 70 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 30, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 155 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 9, 1990.
Severe weather in Harvey County since 1996
Harvey County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4811: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 5, 2022 | Fire | FM-5425: Cottonwood Fire Complex |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Harvey County
Harvey County had 14,133 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,957 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Halstead itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Halstead
2 public schools with 606 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halstead Middle School | 4-8 | 363 | 15.8 |
| Halstead High | 9-12 | 243 | 12.8 |
Towns near Halstead
- Sedgwick, KS7.5 mi · 1,603 people · home $179,400
- Bentley, KS8.0 mi · 560 people · home $122,700
- Burrton, KS9.0 mi · 861 people · home $87,400
- Newton, KS9.2 mi · 18,602 people · home $156,400
- North Newton, KS10.3 mi · 1,814 people · home $217,800
- Hesston, KS10.5 mi · 3,505 people · home $204,800
- Mount Hope, KS12.0 mi · 806 people · home $152,200
- Moundridge, KS13.8 mi · 1,974 people · home $177,800
Halstead questions
Is Halstead, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Halstead scores better for retirees than 23% of Kansas towns and quieter than 48%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Halstead?
The median owner-occupied home in Halstead is valued at $163,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,250, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $826 a month.
What is the weather like in Halstead?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 8.8 inches of snow.
Does Halstead get tornadoes?
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Halstead since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on March 13, 1990. 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)