The Town FilesDodge City, Kansas
City in Ford County · population 27,788 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,700
- Household income
- $68,721
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 30.2
Dodge City is a city of 27,788 people in Ford County, Kansas. The median home is worth $151,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more vibrant than 88% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 84% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 71% of Kansas towns.
How Dodge City 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 Dodge City is worth $151,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $68,721, which is more affordable than 47% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,045 a month. 56.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dodge City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,045 | $815 |
| Median household income | $68,721 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 56.6% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Dodge City
| People | Dodge City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.2 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 28.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.9% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 11.6 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Dodge City
July highs average 93.7°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 22.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.1 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 71 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dodge City since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 24, 2016 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 12, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 283 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on May 24, 2016.
Severe weather in Ford County since 1996
Ford County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 28, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4774: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4747: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 25, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4654: Severe Winter Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Ford County
Ford County had 18,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,782 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Dodge City itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Dodge City
11 public schools with 7,181 students, about 21.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge City High School | 9-12 | 2,141 | 21.4 |
| Dodge City Middle School | 6-8 | 793 | 18.4 |
| Miller Elem | PK-5 | 765 | 25.5 |
| Comanche Middle School | 6-8 | 761 | 16.5 |
| Ross Elementary School | K-5 | 519 | 22.6 |
| Soule Elementary School | K-5 | 400 | 23.5 |
| Central Elem | K-5 | 387 | 21.5 |
| Northwest Elem | K-5 | 374 | 24.9 |
| Sunnyside Elem | PK-5 | 363 | 30.3 |
| Linn Elementary | K-5 | 349 | 29.1 |
| Beeson Elementary | K-5 | 329 | 21.9 |
Dodge City questions
Is Dodge City, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dodge City scores better for retirees than 5% of Kansas towns and quieter than 10%. 9.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.2).
How much does a house cost in Dodge City?
The median owner-occupied home in Dodge City is valued at $151,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,721, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,045 a month.
What is the weather like in Dodge City?
July highs average 93.7°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.0 inches of precipitation a year and 19.1 inches of snow.
Does Dodge City get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dodge City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 24, 2016. 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)