The Town FilesVassar, Kansas
Community in Osage County · population 584 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,300
- Household income
- $68,036
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 46.2
Vassar is a community of 584 people in Osage County, Kansas. The median home is worth $176,300, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks quieter than 83% of Kansas towns.
How Vassar 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 Vassar is worth $176,300, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $68,036, which is more affordable than 26% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,167 a month. 88.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vassar | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,300 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,167 | $815 |
| Median household income | $68,036 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 88.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.4% | — |
Who lives in Vassar
| People | Vassar | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.2 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 13.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 33.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Vassar
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 38.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.9 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vassar since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 8, 2003 about 0.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 122 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on July 4, 1992.
Severe weather in Osage County since 1996
Osage County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4926: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4891: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 28, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4774: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Osage County
Osage County had 2,941 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $38,780 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Vassar itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near Vassar
- Lyndon, KS4.7 mi · 1,037 people · home $114,400
- Pomona, KS8.8 mi · 884 people · home $145,800
- Overbrook, KS9.5 mi · 1,005 people · home $146,300
- Scranton, KS11.4 mi · 653 people · home $75,900
- Osage City, KS11.4 mi · 2,861 people · home $155,800
- Carbondale, KS12.8 mi · 1,352 people · home $119,400
- Burlingame, KS14.1 mi · 971 people · home $86,700
- Waverly, KS17.5 mi · 574 people · home $102,400
Vassar questions
Is Vassar, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vassar scores better for retirees than 36% of Kansas towns and quieter than 83%. 23.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.2).
How much does a house cost in Vassar?
The median owner-occupied home in Vassar is valued at $176,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,036, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,167 a month.
What is the weather like in Vassar?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.6 inches of precipitation a year and 9.9 inches of snow.
Does Vassar get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vassar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 8, 2003. 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)