The Town FilesBaxter Springs, Kansas
City in Cherokee County · population 3,888 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $92,900
- Household income
- $51,404
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 40.2
Baxter Springs is a city of 3,888 people in Cherokee County, Kansas. The median home is worth $92,900, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more walkable than 90% of Kansas towns, hipper than 84% of Kansas towns, more vibrant than 81% of Kansas towns.
How Baxter Springs 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 Baxter Springs is worth $92,900, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $51,404, which is more affordable than 66% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $754 a month. 74.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Baxter Springs | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $92,900 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $754 | $815 |
| Median household income | $51,404 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 74.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Baxter Springs
| People | Baxter Springs | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Baxter Springs
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.0 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baxter Springs since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 22, 2011 about 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 161. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 185 deaths and 1,616 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 107 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 4, 2020.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4943: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4926: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4800: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 5,829 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Baxter Springs itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Baxter Springs
3 public schools with 826 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter Springs High | 7-12 | 371 | 12.8 |
| Lincoln Elem | PK-2 | 233 | 14.6 |
| Central Elem | 3-6 | 222 | 12.3 |
Towns near Baxter Springs
- Galena, KS6.7 mi · 2,761 people · home $78,500
- Miami, OK11.8 mi · 12,969 people · home $107,600
- Columbus, KS12.1 mi · 2,929 people · home $94,100
- Joplin, MO13.4 mi · 51,762 people · home $168,300
- Carl Junction, MO14.5 mi · 8,143 people · home $218,300
- Webb City, MO17.0 mi · 13,031 people · home $169,100
- Oronogo, MO19.1 mi · 2,558 people · home $188,500
- Neosho, MO23.2 mi · 12,590 people · home $163,400
Baxter Springs questions
Is Baxter Springs, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Baxter Springs scores better for retirees than 2% of Kansas towns and quieter than 26%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Baxter Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Baxter Springs is valued at $92,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,404, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $754 a month.
What is the weather like in Baxter Springs?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 7.0 inches of snow.
Does Baxter Springs get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baxter Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 22, 2011. 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)