The Town FilesHolton, Kansas
City in Jackson County · population 3,401 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,800
- Household income
- $52,532
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 38.2
Holton is a city of 3,401 people in Jackson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $142,800, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more walkable than 80% of Kansas towns, better for retirees than 79% of Kansas towns, more vibrant than 78% of Kansas towns.
How Holton 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 Holton is worth $142,800, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $52,532, which is more affordable than 21% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $664 a month. 56.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Holton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,800 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $664 | $815 |
| Median household income | $52,532 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 56.3% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Holton
| People | Holton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Holton
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 37.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.1 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holton since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 6, 1962 about 0.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 4, 2005.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: 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 |
| July 20, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4230: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 10, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1932: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 4,378 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,312 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Holton itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Holton
5 public schools with 1,622 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holton Elementary School | PK-5 | 559 | 14.7 |
| Holton High | 9-12 | 324 | 12.0 |
| Jackson Heights Elementary School | PK-6 | 291 | 16.2 |
| Holton Middle | 6-8 | 228 | 10.9 |
| Jackson Heights High School and Middle School | 7-12 | 220 | 13.8 |
Towns near Holton
- St. Marys, KS26.0 mi · 2,759 people · home $206,900
- Hiawatha, KS28.3 mi · 3,280 people · home $121,800
Holton questions
Is Holton, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Holton scores better for retirees than 79% of Kansas towns and quieter than 42%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Holton?
The median owner-occupied home in Holton is valued at $142,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,532, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $664 a month.
What is the weather like in Holton?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.4 inches of precipitation a year and 13.1 inches of snow.
Does Holton get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 6, 1962. 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)