The Town FilesAtchison, Kansas
City in Atchison County · population 10,885 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $129,700
- Household income
- $54,474
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 29.1
Atchison is a city of 10,885 people in Atchison County, Kansas. The median home is worth $129,700, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more walkable than 87% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 87% of Kansas towns, more vibrant than 85% of Kansas towns.
How Atchison 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 Atchison is worth $129,700, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $54,474, which is more affordable than 37% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $737 a month. 60.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Atchison | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $129,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $737 | $815 |
| Median household income | $54,474 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 60.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Atchison
| People | Atchison | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.1 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.8% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Atchison
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 18.4°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.0 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atchison since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 26, 1984 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 25, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 2010.
Severe weather in Atchison County since 1996
Atchison County has been included in 20 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 |
| July 20, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4230: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Atchison County
Atchison County had 5,566 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,842 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Atchison itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Atchison
4 public schools with 1,476 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atchison Elementary School | PK-5 | 700 | 13.5 |
| Atchison High School | 9-12 | 434 | 12.1 |
| Atchison Middle School | 6-8 | 295 | 10.9 |
| Central School | 1-12 | 47 | 6.7 |
Towns near Atchison
- Leavenworth, KS20.1 mi · 37,351 people · home $193,000
- St. Joseph, MO21.6 mi · 72,473 people · home $154,200
- Platte City, MO24.7 mi · 4,784 people · home $210,800
- Lansing, KS25.5 mi · 11,239 people · home $270,800
- Hiawatha, KS29.2 mi · 3,280 people · home $121,800
Atchison questions
Is Atchison, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Atchison scores better for retirees than 25% of Kansas towns and quieter than 7%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.1).
How much does a house cost in Atchison?
The median owner-occupied home in Atchison is valued at $129,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,474, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $737 a month.
What is the weather like in Atchison?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 18.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 17.0 inches of snow.
Does Atchison get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atchison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 26, 1984. 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)