The Town FilesParsons, Kansas
City in Labette County · population 9,600 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $71,700
- Household income
- $52,428
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 42.4
Parsons is a city of 9,600 people in Labette County, Kansas. The median home is worth $71,700, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more walkable than 84% of Kansas towns, more vibrant than 81% of Kansas towns, hipper than 71% of Kansas towns.
How Parsons 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 Parsons is worth $71,700, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $52,428, which is more affordable than 92% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $774 a month. 68.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Parsons | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $71,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $774 | $815 |
| Median household income | $52,428 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 68.7% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Parsons
| People | Parsons | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 13.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Parsons
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 22.0°F. About 44.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.1 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parsons since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 21, 2005 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 19, 2003.
Severe weather in Labette County since 1996
Labette County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| March 9, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1885: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| June 25, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1849: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| February 1, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1741: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Labette County
Labette County had 8,525 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,757 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Parsons itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Parsons
8 public schools with 1,814 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parsons Sr High | 9-12 | 416 | 14.9 |
| Meadowview Elem | PK-8 | 345 | 15.0 |
| Lincoln School | PK-1 | 277 | 16.3 |
| Parsons Middle School | 6-8 | 264 | 11.0 |
| Garfield School | 2-3 | 189 | 12.6 |
| Guthridge School | 4-5 | 188 | 11.8 |
| Service Valley Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 119 | 13.2 |
| St. Hosp. Training Center Parsons | 1-12 | 16 | — |
Towns near Parsons
- Chanute, KS25.6 mi · 8,722 people · home $78,000
- Columbus, KS25.7 mi · 2,929 people · home $94,100
- Independence, KS25.7 mi · 8,548 people · home $88,800
- Coffeyville, KS29.8 mi · 8,826 people · home $60,800
Parsons questions
Is Parsons, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Parsons scores better for retirees than 16% of Kansas towns and quieter than 38%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Parsons?
The median owner-occupied home in Parsons is valued at $71,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,428, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $774 a month.
What is the weather like in Parsons?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 22.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.9 inches of precipitation a year and 7.1 inches of snow.
Does Parsons get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parsons since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 21, 2005. 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)