The Town FilesRiverton, Kansas
Community in Cherokee County · population 771 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $144,000
- Household income
- $90,365
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 49
- Median age
- 32.8
Riverton is a community of 771 people in Cherokee County, Kansas. The median home is worth $144,000, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks easier by car than 77% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 70% of Kansas towns.
How Riverton 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 Riverton is worth $144,000, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $90,365, which is more affordable than 81% of Kansas towns. 76.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riverton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,000 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | — | $815 |
| Median household income | $90,365 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 76.3% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Riverton
| People | Riverton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 35.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Riverton
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.3 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riverton since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 22, 2011 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 161. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 174 deaths and 1,491 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 23, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 134 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 4, 2020.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4926: 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 |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 5,829 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Riverton itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Riverton
3 public schools with 696 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverton Elem | PK-5 | 306 | 14.6 |
| Riverton High | 9-12 | 227 | 15.1 |
| Riverton Middle | 6-8 | 163 | 13.6 |
Towns near Riverton
- Galena, KS3.9 mi · 2,761 people · home $78,500
- Baxter Springs, KS4.0 mi · 3,888 people · home $92,900
- Loma Linda, MO8.7 mi · 943 people · home $275,700
- Quapaw, OK9.6 mi · 811 people · home $72,200
- Columbus, KS10.2 mi · 2,929 people · home $94,100
- Carl Junction, MO11.0 mi · 8,143 people · home $218,300
- Joplin, MO11.3 mi · 51,762 people · home $168,300
- Airport Drive, MO11.5 mi · 766 people · home $251,100
Riverton questions
Is Riverton, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riverton scores better for retirees than 48% of Kansas towns and quieter than 44%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Riverton?
The median owner-occupied home in Riverton is valued at $144,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,365, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Riverton?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 7.3 inches of snow.
Does Riverton get tornadoes?
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riverton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 22, 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)