The Town FilesSeneca, Kansas
City in Nemaha County · population 2,139 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,100
- Household income
- $76,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 51.8
Seneca is a city of 2,139 people in Nemaha County, Kansas. The median home is worth $235,100, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Kansas towns, better transit than 90% of Kansas towns, better for families than 85% of Kansas towns.
How Seneca 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 Seneca is worth $235,100, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $76,750, which is more affordable than 9% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $602 a month. 79.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Seneca | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,100 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $602 | $815 |
| Median household income | $76,750 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 79.3% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Seneca
| People | Seneca | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.8 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 7.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Seneca
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 30.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Seneca since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 21, 2019 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 94 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 28, 2013.
Severe weather in Nemaha County since 1996
Nemaha County has been included in 17 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 |
| 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 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Nemaha County
Nemaha County had 5,748 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,113 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Seneca itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Seneca
2 public schools with 782 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nemaha Central Elementary and Middle School | PK-8 | 558 | 15.1 |
| Nemaha Central High School | 9-12 | 224 | 11.8 |
Towns near Seneca
- Sabetha, KS15.5 mi · 2,545 people · home $170,800
- Pawnee City, NE19.3 mi · 865 people · home $64,000
- Frankfort, KS20.7 mi · 730 people · home $89,100
- Humboldt, NE23.6 mi · 800 people · home $67,500
- Onaga, KS24.7 mi · 679 people · home $116,200
- Hiawatha, KS28.2 mi · 3,280 people · home $121,800
- Falls City, NE29.3 mi · 4,133 people · home $89,800
Seneca questions
Is Seneca, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Seneca scores better for retirees than 66% of Kansas towns and quieter than 57%. 29.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.8).
How much does a house cost in Seneca?
The median owner-occupied home in Seneca is valued at $235,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,750, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $602 a month.
What is the weather like in Seneca?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.5 inches of precipitation a year and 33.4 inches of snow.
Does Seneca get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Seneca since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 21, 2019. 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)