The Town FilesGreat Bend, Kansas
City in Barton County · population 14,733 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,900
- Household income
- $54,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 52
- Median age
- 36.5
Great Bend is a city of 14,733 people in Barton County, Kansas. The median home is worth $133,900, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 86% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 73% of Kansas towns.
How Great Bend 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 Great Bend is worth $133,900, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $54,139, which is more affordable than 32% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $759 a month. 55.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Great Bend | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,900 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $759 | $815 |
| Median household income | $54,139 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 55.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Great Bend
| People | Great Bend | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 14.0 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Great Bend
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 18.2°F. About 27.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.5 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Great Bend since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 2001 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 17, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 158 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 16, 2023.
Severe weather in Barton County since 1996
Barton County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4897: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4869: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4811: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Barton County
Barton County had 11,522 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,896 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Great Bend itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Great Bend
7 public schools with 2,774 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Bend High School | 9-12 | 954 | 14.7 |
| Great Bend Middle School | 7-8 | 423 | 11.1 |
| Eisenhower Elem | PK-6 | 316 | 12.6 |
| Riley Elem | PK-6 | 294 | 12.8 |
| Jefferson Elem | PK-6 | 282 | 14.8 |
| Park Elem | PK-6 | 266 | 12.7 |
| Lincoln Elem | PK-6 | 239 | 13.3 |
Towns near Great Bend
- Hoisington, KS11.0 mi · 2,699 people · home $95,000
- Larned, KS20.4 mi · 3,769 people · home $94,500
Great Bend questions
Is Great Bend, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Great Bend scores better for retirees than 26% of Kansas towns and quieter than 15%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Great Bend?
The median owner-occupied home in Great Bend is valued at $133,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,139, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $759 a month.
What is the weather like in Great Bend?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 18.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.3 inches of precipitation a year and 11.5 inches of snow.
Does Great Bend get tornadoes?
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Great Bend since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 2001. 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)