The Town FilesMcPherson, Kansas
City in McPherson County · population 14,082 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $211,700
- Household income
- $77,529
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 35.4
McPherson is a city of 14,082 people in McPherson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $211,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Kansas towns, more vibrant than 89% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 87% of Kansas towns.
How McPherson 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 McPherson is worth $211,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $77,529, which is more affordable than 21% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $925 a month. 65.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | McPherson | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $211,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $925 | $815 |
| Median household income | $77,529 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 65.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in McPherson
| People | McPherson | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.4% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 11.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in McPherson
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.2 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McPherson since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 15, 1992 about 0.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 11, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 130 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on June 5, 2014.
Severe weather in McPherson County since 1996
McPherson County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 5, 2017 | Fire | FM-5170: Highland Hills Fire |
| July 20, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4230: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McPherson County
McPherson County had 16,413 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,013 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in McPherson itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in McPherson
6 public schools with 2,197 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McPherson High | 9-12 | 692 | 13.1 |
| McPherson Middle School | 6-8 | 470 | 13.1 |
| Washington Elem | PK-5 | 265 | 13.3 |
| Eisenhower Elementary | PK-5 | 263 | 13.2 |
| Roosevelt Elem | PK-5 | 262 | 11.9 |
| Lincoln Elem | PK-5 | 245 | 12.3 |
Towns near McPherson
- Lindsborg, KS14.3 mi · 3,776 people · home $188,000
- Hesston, KS20.5 mi · 3,505 people · home $204,800
- Hutchinson, KS24.9 mi · 40,006 people · home $125,000
- Hillsboro, KS25.2 mi · 2,732 people · home $120,500
- South Hutchinson, KS28.4 mi · 2,521 people · home $151,000
- Newton, KS28.8 mi · 18,602 people · home $156,400
- Lyons, KS29.3 mi · 3,611 people · home $104,800
McPherson questions
Is McPherson, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McPherson scores better for retirees than 49% of Kansas towns and quieter than 29%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in McPherson?
The median owner-occupied home in McPherson is valued at $211,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,529, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $925 a month.
What is the weather like in McPherson?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 14.2 inches of snow.
Does McPherson get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McPherson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 15, 1992. 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)