The Town FilesOnaga, Kansas
City in Pottawatomie County · population 679 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,200
- Household income
- $49,444
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 53.4
Onaga is a city of 679 people in Pottawatomie County, Kansas. The median home is worth $116,200, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Kansas towns, quieter than 91% of Kansas towns, more upscale than 74% of Kansas towns.
How Onaga 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 Onaga is worth $116,200, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $49,444, which is more affordable than 37% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $945 a month. 57.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Onaga | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,200 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $945 | $815 |
| Median household income | $49,444 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 57.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Onaga
| People | Onaga | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.4 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Onaga
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.9 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onaga since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1978 about 9.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 22, 2017.
Severe weather in Pottawatomie County since 1996
Pottawatomie County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4800: 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 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Pottawatomie County
Pottawatomie County had 10,028 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,426 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Onaga itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Onaga
3 public schools with 343 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onaga Elem | PK-5 | 166 | 15.1 |
| Onaga Senior High | 9-12 | 92 | 13.1 |
| Onaga Middle School | 6-8 | 85 | 21.3 |
Towns near Onaga
- Westmoreland, KS14.6 mi · 740 people · home $145,500
- Frankfort, KS19.9 mi · 730 people · home $89,100
- Wamego, KS21.0 mi · 4,841 people · home $198,300
- St. Marys, KS21.2 mi · 2,759 people · home $206,900
- Holton, KS23.4 mi · 3,401 people · home $142,800
- St. George, KS24.4 mi · 1,054 people · home $253,500
- Seneca, KS24.7 mi · 2,139 people · home $235,100
- Rossville, KS27.1 mi · 1,105 people · home $154,600
Onaga questions
Is Onaga, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Onaga scores better for retirees than 97% of Kansas towns and quieter than 91%. 32.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.4).
How much does a house cost in Onaga?
The median owner-occupied home in Onaga is valued at $116,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,444, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $945 a month.
What is the weather like in Onaga?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 14.9 inches of snow.
Does Onaga get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onaga since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1978. 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)