The Town FilesLiberal, Kansas
City in Seward County · population 19,825 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,100
- Household income
- $63,706
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 30.6
Liberal is a city of 19,825 people in Seward County, Kansas. The median home is worth $137,100, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more vibrant than 85% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 84% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 81% of Kansas towns.
How Liberal 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 Liberal is worth $137,100, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $63,706, which is more affordable than 47% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $900 a month. 59.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Liberal | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,100 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $900 | $815 |
| Median household income | $63,706 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 59.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Liberal
| People | Liberal | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.6 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.8% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 29.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 14.3 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Liberal
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 19.7°F. About 21.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Liberal since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on November 16, 2015 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 26, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 133 times; the largest was 6.00 inches on July 12, 1958.
Severe weather in Seward County since 1996
Seward County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| June 16, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4319: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2017 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4304: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 24, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1848: Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Seward County
Seward County had 11,072 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,156 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Liberal itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Liberal
8 public schools with 4,676 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Sr High | 9-12 | 1,403 | 15.8 |
| Sunflower Elementary School | PK-5 | 560 | 25.5 |
| Eisenhower Middle School | 6-8 | 544 | 14.3 |
| Cottonwood Elementary School | K-5 | 514 | 16.1 |
| Seymour Rogers Middle School | 6-8 | 504 | 12.6 |
| Prairie View Elementary School | K-5 | 416 | 13.9 |
| MacArthur Elementary School | K-5 | 377 | 15.1 |
| Meadowlark Elementary School | K-5 | 358 | 13.8 |
Towns near Liberal
- Hugoton, KS24.6 mi · 3,747 people · home $120,900
Liberal questions
Is Liberal, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Liberal scores better for retirees than 2% of Kansas towns and quieter than 4%. 10.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.6).
How much does a house cost in Liberal?
The median owner-occupied home in Liberal is valued at $137,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,706, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $900 a month.
What is the weather like in Liberal?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 19.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.1 inches of precipitation a year and 14.4 inches of snow.
Does Liberal get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Liberal since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on November 16, 2015. 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)