The Town FilesHillsboro, Kansas
City in Marion County · population 2,732 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,500
- Household income
- $63,462
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 30.4
Hillsboro is a city of 2,732 people in Marion County, Kansas. The median home is worth $120,500, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better transit than 100% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 99% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 93% of Kansas towns.
How Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro is worth $120,500, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $63,462, which is more affordable than 61% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $763 a month. 76.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillsboro | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,500 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $763 | $815 |
| Median household income | $63,462 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 76.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.0% | — |
Who lives in Hillsboro
| People | Hillsboro | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.4 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.2% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 13.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Hillsboro
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsboro since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on March 13, 1990 about 1.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 29, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 23, 2026.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 28, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4774: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| July 20, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4230: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 3,615 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,013 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Hillsboro itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Hillsboro
2 public schools with 613 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro Middle/High School | 6-12 | 307 | 16.2 |
| Hillsboro Elem | PK-5 | 306 | 16.1 |
Towns near Hillsboro
- Hesston, KS19.2 mi · 3,505 people · home $204,800
- Newton, KS23.2 mi · 18,602 people · home $156,400
- McPherson, KS25.2 mi · 14,082 people · home $211,700
- Lindsborg, KS30.0 mi · 3,776 people · home $188,000
Hillsboro questions
Is Hillsboro, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillsboro scores better for retirees than 70% of Kansas towns and quieter than 28%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.4).
How much does a house cost in Hillsboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillsboro is valued at $120,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,462, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $763 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillsboro?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 12.4 inches of snow.
Does Hillsboro get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsboro 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)