The Town FilesSilver Lake, Kansas
City in Shawnee County · population 1,345 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,300
- Household income
- $56,834
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 39.3
Silver Lake is a city of 1,345 people in Shawnee County, Kansas. The median home is worth $169,300, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for families than 91% of Kansas towns, more upscale than 81% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 72% of Kansas towns.
How Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake is worth $169,300, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $56,834, which is more affordable than 13% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $860 a month. 73.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Silver Lake | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,300 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $860 | $815 |
| Median household income | $56,834 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 73.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Silver Lake
| People | Silver Lake | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 16.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Silver Lake
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 37.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.3 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Silver Lake since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 8, 1966 about 8.9 miles from the town center and killed 16. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 17 deaths and 559 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 13, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 227 times; the largest was 5.25 inches on May 21, 2011.
Severe weather in Shawnee County since 1996
Shawnee County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 28, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4774: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| March 9, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1885: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| February 1, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1741: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Shawnee County
Shawnee County had 99,247 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,096 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Silver Lake itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Silver Lake
2 public schools with 701 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Lake Elem | PK-6 | 355 | 12.7 |
| Silver Lake Jr-Sr High | 7-12 | 346 | 11.5 |
Towns near Silver Lake
- Rossville, KS5.6 mi · 1,105 people · home $154,600
- Maple Hill, KS9.2 mi · 631 people · home $204,700
- Topeka, KS9.7 mi · 126,587 people · home $144,200
- St. Marys, KS12.9 mi · 2,759 people · home $206,900
- Hoyt, KS13.0 mi · 593 people · home $170,300
- Auburn, KS13.5 mi · 1,273 people · home $151,200
- Tecumseh, KS15.5 mi · 696 people · home $200,400
- Meriden, KS16.7 mi · 744 people · home $176,400
Silver Lake questions
Is Silver Lake, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Silver Lake scores better for retirees than 61% of Kansas towns and quieter than 45%. 25.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Silver Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Silver Lake is valued at $169,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,834, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $860 a month.
What is the weather like in Silver Lake?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.3 inches of precipitation a year and 12.3 inches of snow.
Does Silver Lake get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Silver Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 8, 1966. 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)