The Town FilesOberlin, Kansas
City in Decatur County · population 1,644 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,700
- Household income
- $52,284
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 52.5
Oberlin is a city of 1,644 people in Decatur County, Kansas. The median home is worth $88,700, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better transit than 98% of Kansas towns, quieter than 94% of Kansas towns, better for retirees than 85% of Kansas towns.
How Oberlin 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 Oberlin is worth $88,700, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $52,284, which is more affordable than 74% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $593 a month. 76.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oberlin | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $593 | $815 |
| Median household income | $52,284 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 76.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Oberlin
| People | Oberlin | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.5 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 19.1% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 12.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Oberlin
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 15.8°F. About 21.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.2 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oberlin since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 12, 1983 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 4, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 88 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 7, 1986.
Severe weather in Decatur County since 1996
Decatur County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4943: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| August 10, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1932: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Decatur County
Decatur County had 877 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $38,309 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Oberlin itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Oberlin
2 public schools with 410 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oberlin Elem | PK-6 | 259 | 15.2 |
| Decatur Community Jr/Sr High | 7-12 | 151 | 8.9 |
Towns near Oberlin
- McCook, NE26.8 mi · 7,446 people · home $154,300
- Atwood, KS27.1 mi · 1,290 people · home $119,800
- Indianola, NE29.0 mi · 524 people · home $91,000
Oberlin questions
Is Oberlin, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oberlin scores better for retirees than 85% of Kansas towns and quieter than 94%. 33.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.5).
How much does a house cost in Oberlin?
The median owner-occupied home in Oberlin is valued at $88,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,284, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $593 a month.
What is the weather like in Oberlin?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 15.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.8 inches of precipitation a year and 25.2 inches of snow.
Does Oberlin get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oberlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 12, 1983. 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)