The Town FilesLa Crosse, Kansas
City in Rush County · population 1,266 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $84,600
- Household income
- $53,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 47.8
La Crosse is a city of 1,266 people in Rush County, Kansas. The median home is worth $84,600, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks quieter than 88% of Kansas towns, better transit than 81% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 75% of Kansas towns.
How La Crosse 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 La Crosse is worth $84,600, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $53,750, which is more affordable than 81% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $725 a month. 66.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | La Crosse | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $84,600 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $725 | $815 |
| Median household income | $53,750 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 66.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in La Crosse
| People | La Crosse | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.3% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 15.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in La Crosse
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 26.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.1 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Crosse since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 30, 1972 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 19, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 158 times; the largest was 6.00 inches on May 24, 2011.
Severe weather in Rush County since 1996
Rush County has been included in 23 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 |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4869: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4811: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 25, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4654: Severe Winter Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Rush County
Rush County had 1,073 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,311 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in La Crosse itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Public schools in La Crosse
3 public schools with 281 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse Elementary | PK-6 | 134 | 11.2 |
| La Crosse High | 9-12 | 102 | 12.8 |
| La Crosse Middle School | 7-8 | 45 | 11.3 |
Towns near La Crosse
- Victoria, KS23.9 mi · 1,129 people · home $174,200
- Hays, KS24.2 mi · 21,116 people · home $225,500
- Larned, KS26.6 mi · 3,769 people · home $94,500
- Hoisington, KS28.8 mi · 2,699 people · home $95,000
La Crosse questions
Is La Crosse, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, La Crosse scores better for retirees than 72% of Kansas towns and quieter than 88%. 30.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.8).
How much does a house cost in La Crosse?
The median owner-occupied home in La Crosse is valued at $84,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,750, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $725 a month.
What is the weather like in La Crosse?
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.5 inches of precipitation a year and 14.1 inches of snow.
Does La Crosse get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Crosse since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 30, 1972. 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)