The Town FilesStafford, Kansas
City in Stafford County · population 959 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $70,700
- Household income
- $42,266
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 41.8
Stafford is a city of 959 people in Stafford County, Kansas. The median home is worth $70,700, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 91% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 82% of Kansas towns.
How Stafford 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 Stafford is worth $70,700, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $42,266, which is more affordable than 74% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $735 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stafford | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $70,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $735 | $815 |
| Median household income | $42,266 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.8% | — |
Who lives in Stafford
| People | Stafford | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.1% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 13.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 1.2% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 14.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Stafford
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 28.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.5 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 77 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stafford since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 18, 2025 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 144 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 8, 1996.
Severe weather in Stafford County since 1996
Stafford County has been included in 27 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 |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4883: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4869: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4811: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Stafford County
Stafford County had 1,198 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,017 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Stafford itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Stafford
2 public schools with 242 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford Elementary | PK-5 | 129 | 11.7 |
| Stafford Middle School/High School | 6-12 | 113 | 10.3 |
Towns near Stafford
- St. John, KS9.2 mi · 1,228 people · home $94,600
- Pratt, KS20.4 mi · 6,603 people · home $107,500
- Ellinwood, KS27.3 mi · 2,011 people · home $109,300
- Sterling, KS27.3 mi · 2,248 people · home $133,000
- Great Bend, KS29.5 mi · 14,733 people · home $133,900
Stafford questions
Is Stafford, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stafford scores better for retirees than 93% of Kansas towns and quieter than 70%. 31.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Stafford?
The median owner-occupied home in Stafford is valued at $70,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,266, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $735 a month.
What is the weather like in Stafford?
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.7 inches of precipitation a year and 16.5 inches of snow.
Does Stafford get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stafford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 18, 2025. 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)