The Town FilesRussell, Kansas
City in Russell County · population 4,401 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $135,600
- Household income
- $56,832
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 40.7
Russell is a city of 4,401 people in Russell County, Kansas. The median home is worth $135,600, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks hipper than 87% of Kansas towns, better transit than 83% of Kansas towns, better for retirees than 76% of Kansas towns.
How Russell 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 Russell is worth $135,600, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $56,832, which is more affordable than 37% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $824 a month. 72.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Russell | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,600 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $824 | $815 |
| Median household income | $56,832 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 72.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Russell
| People | Russell | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 11.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Russell
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 18.8°F. About 24.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.5 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Russell since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 25, 2012 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 130 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 19, 2024.
Severe weather in Russell County since 1996
Russell County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4943: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4869: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4811: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4747: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Russell County
Russell County had 2,485 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,661 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Russell itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Public schools in Russell
4 public schools with 787 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bickerdyke Elem | 2-5 | 220 | 12.2 |
| Russell High | 9-12 | 214 | 9.3 |
| Ruppenthal Middle | 6-8 | 188 | 11.1 |
| Simpson Elem | PK-1 | 165 | 12.7 |
Towns near Russell
- Hays, KS25.3 mi · 21,116 people · home $225,500
- Hoisington, KS25.8 mi · 2,699 people · home $95,000
Russell questions
Is Russell, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Russell scores better for retirees than 76% of Kansas towns and quieter than 63%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Russell?
The median owner-occupied home in Russell is valued at $135,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,832, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $824 a month.
What is the weather like in Russell?
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 18.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.8 inches of precipitation a year and 12.5 inches of snow.
Does Russell get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Russell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 25, 2012. 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)