The Town FilesMontezuma, Kansas
City in Gray County · population 975 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,200
- Household income
- $48,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 50.0
Montezuma is a city of 975 people in Gray County, Kansas. The median home is worth $152,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for families than 90% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 86% of Kansas towns.
How Montezuma 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 Montezuma is worth $152,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $48,438, which is more affordable than 9% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,012 a month. 77.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montezuma | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,200 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,012 | $815 |
| Median household income | $48,438 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 77.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Montezuma
| People | Montezuma | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.0 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 12.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Montezuma
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 18.5°F. About 21.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.8 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montezuma since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 13, 2021 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 113 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 10, 2002.
Severe weather in Gray County since 1996
Gray County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4869: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4824: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 28, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4774: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 25, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4654: Severe Winter Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Gray County
Gray County had 3,046 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,985 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Montezuma itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Montezuma
2 public schools with 147 students, about 8.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma Elem | PK-5 | 86 | 10.8 |
| South Gray High | 9-12 | 61 | 6.8 |
Towns near Montezuma
- Cimarron, KS16.1 mi · 1,981 people · home $202,600
- Fowler, KS20.1 mi · 534 people · home $108,300
- Meade, KS22.1 mi · 1,505 people · home $121,700
- Sublette, KS23.0 mi · 1,413 people · home $160,500
- Plains, KS23.9 mi · 1,037 people · home $151,400
- Minneola, KS26.1 mi · 738 people · home $96,200
- Dodge City, KS26.3 mi · 27,788 people · home $151,700
- Wilroads Gardens, KS29.9 mi · 639 people · home $93,400
Montezuma questions
Is Montezuma, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montezuma scores better for retirees than 24% of Kansas towns and quieter than 67%. 28.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.0).
How much does a house cost in Montezuma?
The median owner-occupied home in Montezuma is valued at $152,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,438, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,012 a month.
What is the weather like in Montezuma?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 18.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.7 inches of precipitation a year and 15.8 inches of snow.
Does Montezuma get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montezuma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 13, 2021. 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)