The Town FilesPaola, Kansas
City in Miami County · population 5,768 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $210,800
- Household income
- $74,662
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 45.0
Paola is a city of 5,768 people in Miami County, Kansas. The median home is worth $210,800, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks hipper than 94% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 92% of Kansas towns, more vibrant than 90% of Kansas towns.
How Paola 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 Paola is worth $210,800, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $74,662, which is more affordable than 18% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,091 a month. 65.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paola | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,800 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,091 | $815 |
| Median household income | $74,662 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 65.0% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Paola
| People | Paola | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Paola
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paola since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 13, 2026 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 17, 1997.
Severe weather in Miami County since 1996
Miami County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| July 20, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4230: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 10, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1932: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Miami County
Miami County had 9,085 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,616 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Paola itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Paola
4 public schools with 1,758 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paola High | 9-12 | 589 | 17.3 |
| Paola Middle | 6-8 | 431 | 13.9 |
| Sunflower Elem | 3-5 | 379 | 14.0 |
| Cottonwood Elem | PK-2 | 359 | 12.4 |
Towns near Paola
- Osawatomie, KS7.2 mi · 4,255 people · home $155,100
- Louisburg, KS10.3 mi · 4,969 people · home $269,500
- Spring Hill, KS12.5 mi · 7,952 people · home $357,800
- Gardner, KS16.2 mi · 23,287 people · home $306,200
- Olathe, KS21.1 mi · 141,290 people · home $364,700
- Ottawa, KS21.8 mi · 12,625 people · home $166,500
- Baldwin City, KS22.3 mi · 4,826 people · home $249,500
- Overland Park, KS23.3 mi · 197,238 people · home $413,600
Paola questions
Is Paola, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paola scores better for retirees than 14% of Kansas towns and quieter than 19%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in Paola?
The median owner-occupied home in Paola is valued at $210,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,662, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,091 a month.
What is the weather like in Paola?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 8.4 inches of snow.
Does Paola get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 13, 2026. 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)