The Town FilesKinsley, Kansas
City in Edwards County · population 1,456 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $68,200
- Household income
- $49,206
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 42.9
Kinsley is a city of 1,456 people in Edwards County, Kansas. The median home is worth $68,200, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks hipper than 82% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 78% of Kansas towns.
How Kinsley 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 Kinsley is worth $68,200, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $49,206, which is more affordable than 92% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $745 a month. 76.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kinsley | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $68,200 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $745 | $815 |
| Median household income | $49,206 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 76.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Kinsley
| People | Kinsley | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Kinsley
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 18.3°F. About 26.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.1 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 72 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kinsley since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 4, 1955 about 0.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 144 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 4, 1955.
Severe weather in Edwards County since 1996
Edwards County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4943: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| December 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4897: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4883: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4869: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Edwards County
Edwards County had 924 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,926 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Kinsley itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Kinsley
1 public school with 151 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinsley Jr/Sr High School | 6-12 | 151 | 10.8 |
Towns near Kinsley
- Spearville, KS19.4 mi · 791 people · home $206,700
- Greensburg, KS22.9 mi · 740 people · home $190,800
- Larned, KS24.7 mi · 3,769 people · home $94,500
- Jetmore, KS26.2 mi · 770 people · home $94,300
- Haviland, KS26.9 mi · 678 people · home $97,900
- Bucklin, KS28.6 mi · 727 people · home $84,600
Kinsley questions
Is Kinsley, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kinsley scores better for retirees than 17% of Kansas towns and quieter than 57%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Kinsley?
The median owner-occupied home in Kinsley is valued at $68,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,206, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $745 a month.
What is the weather like in Kinsley?
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 18.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.8 inches of precipitation a year and 15.1 inches of snow.
Does Kinsley get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kinsley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 4, 1955. 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)