The Town FilesNess City, Kansas
City in Ness County · population 1,329 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,600
- Household income
- $64,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 43.0
Ness City is a city of 1,329 people in Ness County, Kansas. The median home is worth $116,600, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks quieter than 86% of Kansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Kansas towns.
How Ness 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 Ness City is worth $116,600, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $64,583, which is more affordable than 66% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $663 a month. 81.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ness City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,600 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $663 | $815 |
| Median household income | $64,583 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 81.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Ness City
| People | Ness City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 13.6 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Ness City
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 22.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ness City since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 24, 2016 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 24, 1961.
Severe weather in Ness County since 1996
Ness County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 |
| 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 Ness County
Ness County had 1,085 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,722 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Ness City itself the ACS puts it at 0.2%.
Public schools in Ness City
2 public schools with 280 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ness City Elem | PK-6 | 160 | 14.5 |
| Ness City High | 7-12 | 120 | 10.0 |
Ness City questions
Is Ness City, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ness City scores better for retirees than 58% of Kansas towns and quieter than 86%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Ness City?
The median owner-occupied home in Ness City is valued at $116,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,583, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $663 a month.
What is the weather like in Ness City?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.6 inches of precipitation a year and 15.4 inches of snow.
Does Ness City get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ness City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 24, 2016. 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)