The Town FilesHiawatha, Kansas
City in Brown County · population 3,280 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,800
- Household income
- $68,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 41.6
Hiawatha is a city of 3,280 people in Brown County, Kansas. The median home is worth $121,800, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Kansas towns, hipper than 85% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 77% of Kansas towns.
How Hiawatha 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 Hiawatha is worth $121,800, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $68,750, which is more affordable than 66% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $652 a month. 75.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hiawatha | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,800 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $652 | $815 |
| Median household income | $68,750 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 75.7% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Hiawatha
| People | Hiawatha | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.7% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 11.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Hiawatha
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.9 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hiawatha since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 18, 1959 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 86 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 30, 1960.
Severe weather in Brown County since 1996
Brown County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Brown County
Brown County had 4,493 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,553 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Hiawatha itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Hiawatha
2 public schools with 531 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiawatha Middle School | 5-8 | 270 | 14.2 |
| Hiawatha Sr High | 9-12 | 261 | 14.5 |
Towns near Hiawatha
- Sabetha, KS14.1 mi · 2,545 people · home $170,800
- Falls City, NE14.9 mi · 4,133 people · home $89,800
- Holton, KS28.3 mi · 3,401 people · home $142,800
- Atchison, KS29.2 mi · 10,885 people · home $129,700
Hiawatha questions
Is Hiawatha, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hiawatha scores better for retirees than 12% of Kansas towns and quieter than 36%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Hiawatha?
The median owner-occupied home in Hiawatha is valued at $121,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,750, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $652 a month.
What is the weather like in Hiawatha?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 16.9 inches of snow.
Does Hiawatha get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hiawatha since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 18, 1959. 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)