The Town FilesHill City, Kansas
City in Graham County · population 1,403 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $92,800
- Household income
- $48,512
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 39.8
Hill City is a city of 1,403 people in Graham County, Kansas. The median home is worth $92,800, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks quieter than 87% of Kansas towns, better for retirees than 81% of Kansas towns, better transit than 81% of Kansas towns.
How Hill City 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 Hill City is worth $92,800, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $48,512, which is more affordable than 61% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $735 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hill City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $92,800 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $735 | $815 |
| Median household income | $48,512 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Hill City
| People | Hill City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.8% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 7.6 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Hill City
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 21.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hill City since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 20, 2011 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 109 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 10, 2008.
Severe weather in Graham County since 1996
Graham County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4869: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires |
| May 25, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4654: Severe Winter Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Graham County
Graham County had 876 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,969 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Hill City itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Hill City
2 public schools with 390 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hill City Elem | PK-6 | 213 | 13.3 |
| Hill City Junior-Senior High | 7-12 | 177 | 13.6 |
Towns near Hill City
- WaKeeney, KS24.0 mi · 1,799 people · home $125,200
- Quinter, KS29.7 mi · 929 people · home $122,000
Hill City questions
Is Hill City, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hill City scores better for retirees than 81% of Kansas towns and quieter than 87%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Hill City?
The median owner-occupied home in Hill City is valued at $92,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,512, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $735 a month.
What is the weather like in Hill City?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.5 inches of precipitation a year and 17.4 inches of snow.
Does Hill City get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hill City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 20, 2011. 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)