The Town FilesNorton, Kansas
City in Norton County · population 2,747 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,800
- Household income
- $53,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 35.1
Norton is a city of 2,747 people in Norton County, Kansas. The median home is worth $96,800, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better transit than 95% of Kansas towns, quieter than 92% of Kansas towns, hipper than 83% of Kansas towns.
- #10 in 23 Small Towns in Kansas With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #15 in The 20 Most Affordable Small Towns in Kansas
- #16 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Kansas
- #19 in The 19 Best Small Towns to Retire in Kansas
- #31 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in America
- #31 in The 50 Best Affordable Places for Remote Workers in America
How Norton 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 Norton is worth $96,800, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $53,125, which is more affordable than 66% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $598 a month. 76.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,800 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $598 | $815 |
| Median household income | $53,125 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 76.8% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Norton
| People | Norton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 7.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Norton
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 14.3°F. About 26.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.6 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norton since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 20, 2011 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 21, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 116 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 6, 2025.
Severe weather in Norton County since 1996
Norton County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, 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 |
| June 16, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4319: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Norton County
Norton County had 2,281 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,252 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Norton itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Norton
3 public schools with 699 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower Elem | PK-6 | 404 | 16.2 |
| Norton High | 9-12 | 188 | 11.1 |
| Norton Jr High | 7-8 | 107 | 13.4 |
Norton questions
Is Norton, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norton scores better for retirees than 62% of Kansas towns and quieter than 92%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Norton?
The median owner-occupied home in Norton is valued at $96,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,125, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $598 a month.
What is the weather like in Norton?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 14.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.2 inches of precipitation a year and 19.6 inches of snow.
Does Norton get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 20, 2011. 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)