The Town FilesWilson, Kansas
City in Ellsworth County · population 859 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $75,700
- Household income
- $59,145
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 43.7
Wilson is a city of 859 people in Ellsworth County, Kansas. The median home is worth $75,700, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Kansas towns, quieter than 74% of Kansas towns.
How Wilson 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 Wilson is worth $75,700, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $59,145, which is more affordable than 96% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $739 a month. 78.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wilson | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $75,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $739 | $815 |
| Median household income | $59,145 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 78.6% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Wilson
| People | Wilson | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Wilson
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 26.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.1 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilson since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 29, 1956 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 109 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 26, 1991.
Severe weather in Ellsworth County since 1996
Ellsworth County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4811: Severe Storm, 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 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Ellsworth County
Ellsworth County had 2,179 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,668 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Wilson itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Wilson
1 public school with 80 students, about 7.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson Elementary School | PK-6 | 80 | 7.3 |
Towns near Wilson
- Ellsworth, KS14.7 mi · 3,066 people · home $157,600
- Russell, KS20.7 mi · 4,401 people · home $135,600
- Claflin, KS21.0 mi · 562 people · home $107,300
- Lincoln Center, KS23.2 mi · 1,171 people · home $68,500
- Hoisington, KS26.8 mi · 2,699 people · home $95,000
Wilson questions
Is Wilson, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wilson scores better for retirees than 92% of Kansas towns and quieter than 74%. 29.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Wilson?
The median owner-occupied home in Wilson is valued at $75,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,145, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $739 a month.
What is the weather like in Wilson?
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.2 inches of precipitation a year and 12.1 inches of snow.
Does Wilson get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 29, 1956. 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)