The Town FilesScott City, Kansas
City in Scott County · population 4,113 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,200
- Household income
- $54,880
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 37.4
Scott City is a city of 4,113 people in Scott County, Kansas. The median home is worth $162,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for retirees than 88% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 80% of Kansas towns.
How Scott 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 Scott City is worth $162,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $54,880, which is more affordable than 13% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $649 a month. 67.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Scott City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,200 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $649 | $815 |
| Median household income | $54,880 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Scott City
| People | Scott City | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.7% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 9.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Scott City
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 20.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.6 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scott City since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 13, 1968 about 5.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 169 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on June 14, 1967.
Severe weather in Scott County since 1996
Scott County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4943: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4883: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4824: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Scott County
Scott County had 2,142 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,214 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Scott City itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Scott City
3 public schools with 958 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott City Middle | 3-8 | 401 | 13.4 |
| Scott City High | 9-12 | 322 | 13.4 |
| Scott City Lower Elem | PK-2 | 235 | 14.7 |
Scott City questions
Is Scott City, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Scott City scores better for retirees than 88% of Kansas towns and quieter than 55%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Scott City?
The median owner-occupied home in Scott City is valued at $162,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,880, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $649 a month.
What is the weather like in Scott City?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.2 inches of precipitation a year and 19.6 inches of snow.
Does Scott City get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scott City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 13, 1968. 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)