The Town FilesOsage City, Kansas
City in Osage County · population 2,861 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,800
- Household income
- $71,191
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 42.5
Osage City is a city of 2,861 people in Osage County, Kansas. The median home is worth $155,800, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Kansas towns, hipper than 91% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 86% of Kansas towns.
How Osage 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 Osage City is worth $155,800, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $71,191, which is more affordable than 47% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $789 a month. 75.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Osage City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,800 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $789 | $815 |
| Median household income | $71,191 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 75.0% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Osage City
| People | Osage City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 11.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Osage City
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 17.9°F. About 38.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osage City since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1974 about 9.2 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 22 deaths and 180 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 131 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 18, 1983.
Severe weather in Osage County since 1996
Osage County has been included in 26 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 |
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4926: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4891: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 28, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4774: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Osage County
Osage County had 2,941 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $38,780 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Osage City itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Osage City
3 public schools with 704 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osage City Elem | PK-5 | 339 | 13.0 |
| Osage City High | 9-12 | 218 | 11.5 |
| Osage City Middle School | 6-8 | 147 | 13.4 |
Towns near Osage City
- Emporia, KS25.7 mi · 24,139 people · home $132,700
- Topeka, KS28.5 mi · 126,587 people · home $144,200
Osage City questions
Is Osage City, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Osage City scores better for retirees than 56% of Kansas towns and quieter than 35%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Osage City?
The median owner-occupied home in Osage City is valued at $155,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,191, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $789 a month.
What is the weather like in Osage City?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 17.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.4 inches of snow.
Does Osage City get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osage City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1974. 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)