The Town FilesWashington, Kansas
City in Washington County · population 1,071 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $101,100
- Household income
- $58,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 48.2
Washington is a city of 1,071 people in Washington County, Kansas. The median home is worth $101,100, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks quieter than 94% of Kansas towns, better for retirees than 90% of Kansas towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Kansas towns.
How Washington 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 Washington is worth $101,100, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $58,438, which is more affordable than 74% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $553 a month. 68.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $101,100 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $553 | $815 |
| Median household income | $58,438 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 68.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 13.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 15.0°F. About 32.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 20, 1957 about 9.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 119 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 8, 2003.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 13, 2023 | Fire | FM-5463: Haddam Fire |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 2,051 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,377 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Washington
2 public schools with 362 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Elementary | PK-6 | 196 | 13.1 |
| Washington County High School | 7-12 | 166 | 11.1 |
Towns near Washington
- Hanover, KS10.6 mi · 690 people · home $110,400
- Waterville, KS18.2 mi · 658 people · home $91,300
- Marysville, KS21.8 mi · 3,447 people · home $119,200
- Blue Rapids, KS22.8 mi · 928 people · home $68,300
- Fairbury, NE23.7 mi · 3,970 people · home $101,700
- Clyde, KS24.3 mi · 694 people · home $70,000
- Wymore, NE29.4 mi · 1,377 people · home $64,200
Washington questions
Is Washington, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 90% of Kansas towns and quieter than 94%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $101,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,438, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $553 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 15.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.4 inches of precipitation a year and 14.4 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 20, 1957. 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)