The Town FilesHoward, Kansas
City in Elk County · population 570 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $52,600
- Household income
- $65,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 45.5
Howard is a city of 570 people in Elk County, Kansas. The median home is worth $52,600, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for retirees than 78% of Kansas towns.
- #1 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Kansas
- #3 in 25 Small Towns in Kansas With the Cheapest Homes
- #8 in The 15 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Kansas
- #13 in The 19 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Kansas With Mild Winters
- #24 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Kansas
How Howard 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 Howard is worth $52,600, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 0.8 times the median household income of $65,625, which is more affordable than 100% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $514 a month. 75.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Howard | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $52,600 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $514 | $815 |
| Median household income | $65,625 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 75.3% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.4% | — |
Who lives in Howard
| People | Howard | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 38.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Howard
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 38.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 50 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Howard since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 2, 1956 about 0.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 28, 1960.
Severe weather in Elk County since 1996
Elk County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4869: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires |
| July 15, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4800: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 Elk County
Elk County had 619 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $35,644 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Howard itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Howard
1 public school with 375 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Elk Schools | PK-12 | 375 | 11.0 |
Towns near Howard
- Sedan, KS23.9 mi · 1,000 people · home $41,200
- Fredonia, KS24.6 mi · 2,151 people · home $76,000
- Eureka, KS24.7 mi · 2,332 people · home $79,200
- Burden, KS29.0 mi · 512 people · home $58,600
Howard questions
Is Howard, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Howard scores better for retirees than 78% of Kansas towns and quieter than 69%. 30.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in Howard?
The median owner-occupied home in Howard is valued at $52,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,625, so homes cost about 0.8 times income. Median rent is $514 a month.
What is the weather like in Howard?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.6 inches of precipitation a year and 6.4 inches of snow.
Does Howard get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Howard since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 2, 1956. 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)