The Town FilesSyracuse, Kansas
City in Hamilton County · population 1,826 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,800
- Household income
- $67,361
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 36.8
Syracuse is a city of 1,826 people in Hamilton County, Kansas. The median home is worth $120,800, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200).
How Syracuse 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 Syracuse is worth $120,800, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $67,361, which is more affordable than 66% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $734 a month. 77.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Syracuse | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,800 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $734 | $815 |
| Median household income | $67,361 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 77.6% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Syracuse
| People | Syracuse | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.7% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 27.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Syracuse
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 13.5°F. About 17.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.9 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Syracuse since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 17, 1962 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 105 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 3, 2025.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4824: 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 16, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4319: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 1,507 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,912 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Syracuse itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Syracuse
2 public schools with 526 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse Elem | PK-6 | 304 | 11.7 |
| Syracuse High | 7-12 | 222 | 17.1 |
Towns near Syracuse
- Holly, CO19.2 mi · 837 people · home $99,800
- Johnson City, KS26.6 mi · 1,464 people · home $65,200
- Lakin, KS29.3 mi · 2,205 people · home $170,000
Syracuse questions
Is Syracuse, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Syracuse scores better for retirees than 11% of Kansas towns and quieter than 51%. 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Syracuse?
The median owner-occupied home in Syracuse is valued at $120,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,361, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $734 a month.
What is the weather like in Syracuse?
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 13.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.0 inches of precipitation a year and 16.9 inches of snow.
Does Syracuse get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Syracuse since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 17, 1962. 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)