The Town FilesMankato, Kansas
City in Jewell County · population 836 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $55,800
- Household income
- $50,893
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 51.5
Mankato is a city of 836 people in Jewell County, Kansas. The median home is worth $55,800, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks quieter than 98% of Kansas towns, better for retirees than 90% of Kansas towns, better transit than 88% of Kansas towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Kansas
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Kansas
- #5 in 25 Small Towns in Kansas With the Cheapest Homes
- #6 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Kansas
- #6 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Kansas
- #28 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
How Mankato 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 Mankato is worth $55,800, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $50,893, which is more affordable than 98% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $639 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mankato | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $55,800 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $639 | $815 |
| Median household income | $50,893 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mankato
| People | Mankato | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.5 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.1% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 13.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Mankato
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 14.2°F. About 28.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.0 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mankato since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 4, 1955 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 104 times; the largest was 5.25 inches on May 27, 2013.
Severe weather in Jewell County since 1996
Jewell County has been included in 17 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 |
| 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 |
| February 24, 2017 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4304: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Jewell County
Jewell County had 724 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $36,363 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Mankato itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Mankato
2 public schools with 378 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hills Elementary School | PK-5 | 200 | 12.5 |
| Rock Hills Jr/Sr High School | 6-12 | 178 | 11.9 |
Towns near Mankato
- Superior, NE18.0 mi · 1,825 people · home $82,400
- Beloit, KS22.9 mi · 3,404 people · home $125,600
- Red Cloud, NE26.5 mi · 962 people · home $74,200
- Downs, KS26.6 mi · 800 people · home $102,700
Mankato questions
Is Mankato, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mankato scores better for retirees than 90% of Kansas towns and quieter than 98%. 32.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.5).
How much does a house cost in Mankato?
The median owner-occupied home in Mankato is valued at $55,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,893, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $639 a month.
What is the weather like in Mankato?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 14.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.3 inches of precipitation a year and 25.0 inches of snow.
Does Mankato get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mankato 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)