The Town FilesKansas City, Kansas
City in Wyandotte County · population 156,607 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,400
- Household income
- $62,401
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 33.9
Kansas City is a city of 156,607 people in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The median home is worth $167,400, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Kansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 96% of Kansas towns, better transit than 95% of Kansas towns.
How Kansas 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 Kansas City is worth $167,400, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $62,401, which is more affordable than 21% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,123 a month. 60.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kansas City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,400 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,123 | $815 |
| Median household income | $62,401 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 60.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Kansas City
| People | Kansas City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.9 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Kansas City
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 22.2°F. About 38.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.0 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kansas City since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 4, 2003 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 404 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on March 13, 2024.
Severe weather in Wyandotte County since 1996
Wyandotte County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4897: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4811: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4747: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Wyandotte County
Wyandotte County had 94,304 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,983 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Kansas City itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Kansas City
57 public schools with 28,115 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyandotte High | 9-12 | 1,841 | 20.2 |
| Silver City Elem | PK-5 | 1,421 | 16.9 |
| J C Harmon High | 9-12 | 1,282 | 19.4 |
| Washington High | 9-12 | 1,190 | 18.0 |
| Turner High | 6-12 | 1,134 | 15.3 |
| Sumner Academy of Arts & Science | 8-12 | 1,005 | 16.5 |
| Carl B. Bruce Middle School | 6-8 | 835 | 17.8 |
| Piper High | 9-12 | 817 | 15.1 |
| F L Schlagle High | 9-12 | 800 | 16.7 |
| Gloria Willis Middle School | 6-8 | 739 | 18.9 |
| Central Middle | 6-8 | 688 | 16.0 |
| Piper Middle | 6-8 | 688 | 14.0 |
Towns near Kansas City
- Edwardsville, KS5.1 mi · 4,717 people · home $216,400
- Parkville, MO6.7 mi · 7,117 people · home $573,500
- Riverside, MO6.8 mi · 4,013 people · home $411,300
- Merriam, KS7.7 mi · 11,098 people · home $263,300
- Bonner Springs, KS7.7 mi · 7,837 people · home $247,200
- Shawnee, KS8.0 mi · 67,311 people · home $359,700
- Mission, KS8.0 mi · 9,954 people · home $289,100
- Roeland Park, KS8.2 mi · 6,871 people · home $276,200
Kansas City questions
Is Kansas City, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kansas City scores better for retirees than 3% of Kansas towns and quieter than 4%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.9).
How much does a house cost in Kansas City?
The median owner-occupied home in Kansas City is valued at $167,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,401, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,123 a month.
What is the weather like in Kansas City?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 22.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.1 inches of precipitation a year and 11.0 inches of snow.
Does Kansas City get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kansas City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 4, 2003. 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)