The Town FilesManhattan, Kansas
City in Riley County · population 54,100 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $246,700
- Household income
- $60,172
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 25.7
Manhattan is a city of 54,100 people in Riley County, Kansas. The median home is worth $246,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 98% of Kansas towns, hipper than 97% of Kansas towns.
How Manhattan 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 Manhattan is worth $246,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $60,172, which is more affordable than 2% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,003 a month. 43.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manhattan | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $246,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,003 | $815 |
| Median household income | $60,172 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 43.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Manhattan
| People | Manhattan | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.7 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.3% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 17.3 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Manhattan
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.6 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manhattan since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on June 11, 2008 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 167 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 2, 2008.
Severe weather in Riley County since 1996
Riley County has been included in 18 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 |
| 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 Riley County
Riley County had 30,349 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,341 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Manhattan itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Manhattan
12 public schools with 6,858 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan High School | 9-12 | 1,996 | 15.1 |
| Susan B Anthony Middle School | 6-8 | 762 | 13.9 |
| Dwight D Eisenhower Middle School | 6-8 | 756 | 14.3 |
| Frank V Bergman Elem | PK-5 | 555 | 18.5 |
| Theo Roosevelt Elem | PK-5 | 474 | 24.9 |
| Marlatt Elem | K-5 | 426 | 15.2 |
| Amanda Arnold Elem | K-5 | 419 | 15.0 |
| Northview Elem | K-5 | 403 | 13.4 |
| Lee Elem | PK-5 | 311 | 10.7 |
| Oliver Brown Elementary | PK-5 | 309 | 15.5 |
| Woodrow Wilson Elem | PK-5 | 232 | 12.2 |
| Bluemont Elementary School | K-5 | 215 | 11.9 |
Towns near Manhattan
- Fort Riley, KS12.4 mi · 9,230 people · home —
- Wamego, KS15.9 mi · 4,841 people · home $198,300
- Junction City, KS17.3 mi · 22,932 people · home $171,500
- St. Marys, KS29.0 mi · 2,759 people · home $206,900
Manhattan questions
Is Manhattan, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manhattan scores better for retirees than 14% of Kansas towns and quieter than 1%. 9.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.7).
How much does a house cost in Manhattan?
The median owner-occupied home in Manhattan is valued at $246,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,172, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,003 a month.
What is the weather like in Manhattan?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 17.6 inches of snow.
Does Manhattan get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manhattan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on June 11, 2008. 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)