The Town FilesColumbus, Kansas
City in Cherokee County · population 2,929 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,100
- Household income
- $37,961
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 38.5
Columbus is a city of 2,929 people in Cherokee County, Kansas. The median home is worth $94,100, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 88% of Kansas towns, more vibrant than 78% of Kansas towns.
How Columbus 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 Columbus is worth $94,100, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $37,961, which is more affordable than 32% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $774 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,100 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $774 | $815 |
| Median household income | $37,961 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Columbus
| People | Columbus | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 1.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Columbus
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 7.2 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
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 4, 2003 about 4.1 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 26, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 104 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 26, 2011.
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 Columbus itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Columbus
4 public schools with 990 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Junior High and High School | 7-12 | 430 | 13.4 |
| Park Elem | PK-1 | 216 | 18.0 |
| Central Elem | 4-6 | 208 | 13.9 |
| Highland Elem | 2-3 | 136 | 13.6 |
Towns near Columbus
- Baxter Springs, KS12.1 mi · 3,888 people · home $92,900
- Galena, KS13.3 mi · 2,761 people · home $78,500
- Carl Junction, MO16.6 mi · 8,143 people · home $218,300
- Pittsburg, KS18.5 mi · 20,646 people · home $123,200
- Miami, OK19.7 mi · 12,969 people · home $107,600
- Joplin, MO20.0 mi · 51,762 people · home $168,300
- Webb City, MO20.8 mi · 13,031 people · home $169,100
- Oronogo, MO21.0 mi · 2,558 people · home $188,500
Columbus questions
Is Columbus, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus scores better for retirees than 47% of Kansas towns and quieter than 30%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus is valued at $94,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,961, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $774 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus?
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 7.2 inches of snow.
Does Columbus get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 4, 2003. 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)