The Town FilesJunction City, Kansas
City in Geary County · population 22,932 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,500
- Household income
- $61,181
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 28.8
Junction City is a city of 22,932 people in Geary County, Kansas. The median home is worth $171,500, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more walkable than 91% of Kansas towns, more vibrant than 88% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 87% of Kansas towns.
How Junction 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 Junction City is worth $171,500, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $61,181, which is more affordable than 18% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,024 a month. 50.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Junction City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,500 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,024 | $815 |
| Median household income | $61,181 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 50.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Junction City
| People | Junction City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.8 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 20.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Junction City
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.5 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Junction City since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 25, 2016 about 8.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 146 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 6, 2024.
Severe weather in Geary County since 1996
Geary County has been included in 16 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 |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4824: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 28, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4774: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 Geary County
Geary County had 12,559 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,873 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Junction City itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Junction City
9 public schools with 4,675 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junction City Sr High | 9-12 | 1,723 | 13.0 |
| Junction City Middle School | 6-8 | 909 | 11.5 |
| Spring Valley Elementary | PK-5 | 449 | 17.3 |
| Washington Elem | PK-5 | 343 | 12.3 |
| Eisenhower Elem | PK-5 | 332 | 13.8 |
| Lincoln Elem | PK-5 | 301 | 17.7 |
| Sheridan Elem | PK-5 | 276 | 13.8 |
| Westwood Elem | PK-5 | 259 | 12.3 |
| Grandview Elem | PK-5 | 83 | 10.4 |
Towns near Junction City
- Fort Riley, KS5.9 mi · 9,230 people · home —
- Manhattan, KS17.3 mi · 54,100 people · home $246,700
- Abilene, KS21.4 mi · 6,460 people · home $131,500
- Clay Center, KS28.5 mi · 4,199 people · home $143,600
Junction City questions
Is Junction City, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Junction City scores better for retirees than 3% of Kansas towns and quieter than 0%. 9.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.8).
How much does a house cost in Junction City?
The median owner-occupied home in Junction City is valued at $171,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,181, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,024 a month.
What is the weather like in Junction City?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 11.5 inches of snow.
Does Junction City get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Junction City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 25, 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)