The Town FilesAbilene, Kansas
City in Dickinson County · population 6,460 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $131,500
- Household income
- $57,924
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 44.0
Abilene is a city of 6,460 people in Dickinson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $131,500, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Kansas towns, better transit than 96% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 90% of Kansas towns.
How Abilene 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 Abilene is worth $131,500, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $57,924, which is more affordable than 43% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,022 a month. 73.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Abilene | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $131,500 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,022 | $815 |
| Median household income | $57,924 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 73.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Abilene
| People | Abilene | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Abilene
July highs average 94.4°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.2 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Abilene since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 25, 2016 about 3.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 161 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Dickinson County since 1996
Dickinson County has been included in 17 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Dickinson County
Dickinson County had 6,412 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,483 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Abilene itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Abilene
7 public schools with 1,582 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene High School | 9-12 | 449 | 15.0 |
| Abilene Middle School | 6-8 | 331 | 13.8 |
| Kennedy Elem | PK-1 | 234 | 14.6 |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary | 4-5 | 233 | 21.2 |
| McKinley Elem | 2-3 | 205 | 18.6 |
| Rural Center Elem | PK-5 | 66 | 11.0 |
| Blue Ridge Elem | PK-5 | 64 | 9.1 |
Towns near Abilene
- Junction City, KS21.4 mi · 22,932 people · home $171,500
- Salina, KS22.2 mi · 46,889 people · home $173,200
- Fort Riley, KS25.6 mi · 9,230 people · home —
Abilene questions
Is Abilene, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Abilene scores better for retirees than 52% of Kansas towns and quieter than 36%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in Abilene?
The median owner-occupied home in Abilene is valued at $131,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,924, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,022 a month.
What is the weather like in Abilene?
July highs average 94.4°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 12.2 inches of snow.
Does Abilene get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Abilene since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 25, 2016. 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)