The Town FilesHugoton, Kansas
City in Stevens County · population 3,747 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,900
- Household income
- $62,773
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 36.7
Hugoton is a city of 3,747 people in Stevens County, Kansas. The median home is worth $120,900, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more of a college town than 73% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 72% of Kansas towns.
How Hugoton 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 Hugoton is worth $120,900, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $62,773, which is more affordable than 61% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $931 a month. 72.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hugoton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,900 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $931 | $815 |
| Median household income | $62,773 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 72.3% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hugoton
| People | Hugoton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Hugoton
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 19.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.9 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hugoton since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1993 about 4.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 19, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 13, 2003.
Severe weather in Stevens County since 1996
Stevens County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4897: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| June 16, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4319: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Stevens County
Stevens County had 2,117 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,377 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Hugoton itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Hugoton
3 public schools with 985 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugoton Elem | PK-6 | 506 | 14.1 |
| Hugoton High | 9-12 | 329 | 15.7 |
| Hugoton Middle | 7-8 | 150 | 12.5 |
Towns near Hugoton
- Liberal, KS24.6 mi · 19,825 people · home $137,100
- Ulysses, KS27.8 mi · 5,788 people · home $97,400
Hugoton questions
Is Hugoton, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hugoton scores better for retirees than 30% of Kansas towns and quieter than 27%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Hugoton?
The median owner-occupied home in Hugoton is valued at $120,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,773, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $931 a month.
What is the weather like in Hugoton?
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.7 inches of precipitation a year and 12.9 inches of snow.
Does Hugoton get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hugoton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1993. 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)