The Town FilesGarnett, Kansas
City in Anderson County · population 3,242 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $149,100
- Household income
- $65,230
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 34.6
Garnett is a city of 3,242 people in Anderson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $149,100, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200).
How Garnett 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 Garnett is worth $149,100, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $65,230, which is more affordable than 43% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $929 a month. 68.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garnett | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $149,100 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $929 | $815 |
| Median household income | $65,230 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 68.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Garnett
| People | Garnett | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.1% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.2% | 89.2% |
Weather in Garnett
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 19.7°F. About 40.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.8 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garnett since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 12, 1964 about 2.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 8, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 11, 2020.
Severe weather in Anderson County since 1996
Anderson County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 15, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4800: 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 |
| June 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
| May 28, 2019 | Severe Storm | EM-3412: Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Anderson County
Anderson County had 2,422 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,571 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Garnett itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Garnett
2 public schools with 855 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 433 | 13.1 |
| Garnett Elementary School | PK-6 | 422 | 13.6 |
Towns near Garnett
- Ottawa, KS21.6 mi · 12,625 people · home $166,500
- Osawatomie, KS21.8 mi · 4,255 people · home $155,100
- Iola, KS26.2 mi · 5,396 people · home $78,300
- Burlington, KS28.1 mi · 2,634 people · home $149,300
- Paola, KS28.9 mi · 5,768 people · home $210,800
Garnett questions
Is Garnett, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garnett scores better for retirees than 40% of Kansas towns and quieter than 41%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.6).
How much does a house cost in Garnett?
The median owner-occupied home in Garnett is valued at $149,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,230, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $929 a month.
What is the weather like in Garnett?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 19.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.6 inches of precipitation a year and 12.8 inches of snow.
Does Garnett get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garnett since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 12, 1964. 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)