The Town FilesClearwater, Kansas
City in Sedgwick County · population 2,653 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $216,200
- Household income
- $83,879
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 37.2
Clearwater is a city of 2,653 people in Sedgwick County, Kansas. The median home is worth $216,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Kansas towns, more upscale than 83% of Kansas towns, better for retirees than 78% of Kansas towns.
How Clearwater 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 Clearwater is worth $216,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $83,879, which is more affordable than 26% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $964 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clearwater | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $216,200 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $964 | $815 |
| Median household income | $83,879 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Clearwater
| People | Clearwater | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.4% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Clearwater
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.8 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clearwater since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 26, 1991 about 2.8 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 285 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 6, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 133 times; the largest was 7.75 inches on September 15, 2010.
Severe weather in Sedgwick County since 1996
Sedgwick County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| October 20, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4287: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4063: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 30, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1860: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Sedgwick County
Sedgwick County had 264,782 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,652 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Clearwater itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Clearwater
3 public schools with 1,092 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater Intermediate - Middle School | 4-8 | 408 | 15.1 |
| Clearwater High | 9-12 | 358 | 14.3 |
| Clearwater Elementary West | PK-3 | 326 | 15.5 |
Towns near Clearwater
- Haysville, KS8.8 mi · 11,262 people · home $161,800
- Goddard, KS11.1 mi · 5,084 people · home $242,800
- Oaklawn-Sunview, KS12.8 mi · 2,880 people · home $54,200
- Derby, KS13.7 mi · 25,625 people · home $236,900
- Mulvane, KS14.6 mi · 6,286 people · home $176,300
- Wichita, KS14.9 mi · 397,532 people · home $190,800
- Wellington, KS16.8 mi · 7,715 people · home $97,100
- Maize, KS18.4 mi · 5,735 people · home $276,200
Clearwater questions
Is Clearwater, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clearwater scores better for retirees than 78% of Kansas towns and quieter than 32%. 12.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Clearwater?
The median owner-occupied home in Clearwater is valued at $216,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,879, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $964 a month.
What is the weather like in Clearwater?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 10.8 inches of snow.
Does Clearwater get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clearwater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 26, 1991. 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)