The Town FilesDe Soto, Kansas
City in Johnson County · population 6,118 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $422,400
- Household income
- $104,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 38.4
De Soto is a city of 6,118 people in Johnson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $422,400, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more upscale than 93% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 87% of Kansas towns, better for families than 78% of Kansas towns.
How De Soto 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 De Soto is worth $422,400, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $104,000, which is more affordable than 2% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,158 a month. 72.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | De Soto | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $422,400 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,158 | $815 |
| Median household income | $104,000 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 72.1% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in De Soto
| People | De Soto | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 19.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in De Soto
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.2 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Soto since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 28, 2019 about 5.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 19, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 164 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on March 13, 2024.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4747: 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 |
| November 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4347: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| December 12, 2007 | Severe Storm | EM-3282: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 370,992 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,090 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in De Soto itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Public schools in De Soto
3 public schools with 1,792 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Soto High School | 9-12 | 968 | 14.7 |
| Starside Elem | PK-5 | 439 | 11.3 |
| Lexington Trails Middle School | 6-8 | 385 | 13.8 |
Towns near De Soto
- Eudora, KS6.0 mi · 6,408 people · home $280,100
- Olathe, KS9.8 mi · 141,290 people · home $364,700
- Gardner, KS9.8 mi · 23,287 people · home $306,200
- Lenexa, KS9.9 mi · 57,434 people · home $394,900
- Shawnee, KS11.0 mi · 67,311 people · home $359,700
- Bonner Springs, KS11.1 mi · 7,837 people · home $247,200
- Tonganoxie, KS12.5 mi · 5,573 people · home $261,700
- Edwardsville, KS13.0 mi · 4,717 people · home $216,400
De Soto questions
Is De Soto, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, De Soto scores better for retirees than 27% of Kansas towns and quieter than 26%. 10.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in De Soto?
The median owner-occupied home in De Soto is valued at $422,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $104,000, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,158 a month.
What is the weather like in De Soto?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 12.2 inches of snow.
Does De Soto get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Soto since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 28, 2019. 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)