The Town FilesValley Falls, Kansas
City in Jefferson County · population 1,092 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,700
- Household income
- $46,681
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 47.4
Valley Falls is a city of 1,092 people in Jefferson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $122,700, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200).
How Valley Falls 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 Valley Falls is worth $122,700, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $46,681, which is more affordable than 26% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $785 a month. 54.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valley Falls | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $785 | $815 |
| Median household income | $46,681 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 54.8% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Valley Falls
| People | Valley Falls | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.2% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Valley Falls
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 17.8°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.5 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Falls since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 19, 1960 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 29, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 79 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on October 12, 1961.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 19 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 |
| July 20, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4230: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 3,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,468 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Valley Falls itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Valley Falls
2 public schools with 391 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Falls Elem | PK-8 | 263 | 13.2 |
| Valley Falls High | 9-12 | 128 | 14.2 |
Towns near Valley Falls
- Ozawkie, KS7.2 mi · 638 people · home $214,300
- Nortonville, KS8.8 mi · 601 people · home $102,000
- Oskaloosa, KS11.6 mi · 1,110 people · home $183,100
- Meriden, KS11.8 mi · 744 people · home $176,400
- Hoyt, KS14.6 mi · 593 people · home $170,300
- McLouth, KS16.7 mi · 859 people · home $202,500
- Holton, KS17.1 mi · 3,401 people · home $142,800
- Perry, KS18.8 mi · 852 people · home $174,000
Valley Falls questions
Is Valley Falls, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valley Falls scores better for retirees than 60% of Kansas towns and quieter than 53%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.4).
How much does a house cost in Valley Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Valley Falls is valued at $122,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,681, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $785 a month.
What is the weather like in Valley Falls?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 13.5 inches of snow.
Does Valley Falls get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 19, 1960. 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)