The Town FilesHesston, Kansas
City in Harvey County · population 3,505 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $204,800
- Household income
- $75,225
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 49.1
Hesston is a city of 3,505 people in Harvey County, Kansas. The median home is worth $204,800, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Kansas towns, better for retirees than 87% of Kansas towns, hipper than 87% of Kansas towns.
How Hesston 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 Hesston is worth $204,800, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $75,225, which is more affordable than 21% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $729 a month. 55.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hesston | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,800 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $729 | $815 |
| Median household income | $75,225 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 55.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hesston
| People | Hesston | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.1 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.2% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Hesston
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 11.8 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
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hesston since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on March 13, 1990 about 0.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 62 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 29, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 136 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 13, 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 Hesston itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Hesston
3 public schools with 831 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hesston Elem | PK-4 | 304 | 16.9 |
| Hesston Middle | 5-8 | 268 | 19.1 |
| Hesston High | 9-12 | 259 | 14.4 |
Towns near Hesston
- Newton, KS8.4 mi · 18,602 people · home $156,400
- Hillsboro, KS19.2 mi · 2,732 people · home $120,500
- McPherson, KS20.5 mi · 14,082 people · home $211,700
- Valley Center, KS21.5 mi · 7,340 people · home $227,700
- Park City, KS23.6 mi · 8,333 people · home $177,100
- Maize, KS25.3 mi · 5,735 people · home $276,200
- Hutchinson, KS26.7 mi · 40,006 people · home $125,000
- Bel Aire, KS27.0 mi · 8,262 people · home $238,100
Hesston questions
Is Hesston, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hesston scores better for retirees than 87% of Kansas towns and quieter than 24%. 28.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.1).
How much does a house cost in Hesston?
The median owner-occupied home in Hesston is valued at $204,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,225, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $729 a month.
What is the weather like in Hesston?
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 11.8 inches of snow.
Does Hesston get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hesston 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)