The Town FilesSalina, Kansas
City in Saline County · population 46,889 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,200
- Household income
- $61,783
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 39.3
Salina is a city of 46,889 people in Saline County, Kansas. The median home is worth $173,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 95% of Kansas towns, better transit than 87% of Kansas towns.
How Salina 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 Salina is worth $173,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $61,783, which is more affordable than 18% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $959 a month. 64.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salina | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,200 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $959 | $815 |
| Median household income | $61,783 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 64.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Salina
| People | Salina | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.7% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 14.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Salina
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 29.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.0 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 68 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salina since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on October 6, 2016 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 8, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 172 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 11, 2008.
Severe weather in Saline County since 1996
Saline County has been included in 19 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 |
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4926: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| December 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4897: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Saline County
Saline County had 30,244 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,682 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Salina itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Salina
13 public schools with 6,725 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salina High South | 9-12 | 1,064 | 14.8 |
| Salina High Central | 9-12 | 950 | 14.0 |
| Salina South Middle | 6-8 | 782 | 13.5 |
| Lakewood Middle School | 6-8 | 676 | 12.5 |
| Meadowlark Ridge Elem | PK-5 | 432 | 13.5 |
| Stewart Elem | PK-5 | 424 | 14.1 |
| Coronado Elem | PK-5 | 400 | 12.5 |
| Schilling Elem | PK-5 | 399 | 11.7 |
| Heusner Elem | PK-5 | 382 | 12.3 |
| Sunset Elem | PK-5 | 379 | 11.8 |
| Cottonwood Elementary School | PK-5 | 317 | 10.9 |
| Oakdale Elem | PK-5 | 294 | 12.3 |
Towns near Salina
- Lindsborg, KS16.6 mi · 3,776 people · home $188,000
- Abilene, KS22.2 mi · 6,460 people · home $131,500
Salina questions
Is Salina, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salina scores better for retirees than 14% of Kansas towns and quieter than 6%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Salina?
The median owner-occupied home in Salina is valued at $173,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,783, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $959 a month.
What is the weather like in Salina?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.7 inches of precipitation a year and 15.0 inches of snow.
Does Salina get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salina since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on October 6, 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)