The Town FilesTonganoxie, Kansas
City in Leavenworth County · population 5,573 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $261,700
- Household income
- $80,109
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 36.8
Tonganoxie is a city of 5,573 people in Leavenworth County, Kansas. The median home is worth $261,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 92% of Kansas towns, more upscale than 78% of Kansas towns.
How Tonganoxie 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 Tonganoxie is worth $261,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $80,109, which is more affordable than 7% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,224 a month. 68.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tonganoxie | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $261,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,224 | $815 |
| Median household income | $80,109 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 68.0% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tonganoxie
| People | Tonganoxie | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.4% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 14.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 30.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Tonganoxie
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 17.9°F. About 35.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.2 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tonganoxie since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 28, 2019 about 6.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 19, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 135 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 12, 2006.
Severe weather in Leavenworth County since 1996
Leavenworth County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 28, 2019 | Severe Storm | EM-3412: Tornadoes And Flooding |
| September 23, 2011 | Flood | DR-4035: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Leavenworth County
Leavenworth County had 21,951 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,997 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Tonganoxie itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Tonganoxie
3 public schools with 1,991 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonganoxie Elem | PK-5 | 936 | 15.3 |
| Tonganoxie High | 9-12 | 633 | 13.2 |
| Tonganoxie Middle School | 6-8 | 422 | 13.6 |
Towns near Tonganoxie
- Basehor, KS8.3 mi · 6,896 people · home $349,900
- Bonner Springs, KS11.3 mi · 7,837 people · home $247,200
- Eudora, KS12.2 mi · 6,408 people · home $280,100
- De Soto, KS12.5 mi · 6,118 people · home $422,400
- Lansing, KS13.5 mi · 11,239 people · home $270,800
- Edwardsville, KS14.1 mi · 4,717 people · home $216,400
- Lawrence, KS14.3 mi · 94,934 people · home $292,700
- Shawnee, KS15.9 mi · 67,311 people · home $359,700
Tonganoxie questions
Is Tonganoxie, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tonganoxie scores better for retirees than 74% of Kansas towns and quieter than 29%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Tonganoxie?
The median owner-occupied home in Tonganoxie is valued at $261,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,109, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,224 a month.
What is the weather like in Tonganoxie?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 17.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.6 inches of precipitation a year and 12.2 inches of snow.
Does Tonganoxie get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tonganoxie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 28, 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)