The Town FilesUlysses, Kansas
City in Grant County · population 5,788 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,400
- Household income
- $63,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 33.5
Ulysses is a city of 5,788 people in Grant County, Kansas. The median home is worth $97,400, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more vibrant than 73% of Kansas towns.
How Ulysses 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 Ulysses is worth $97,400, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $63,857, which is more affordable than 86% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $717 a month. 73.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ulysses | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,400 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $717 | $815 |
| Median household income | $63,857 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 73.2% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ulysses
| People | Ulysses | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.5 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 0.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 30.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 34.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Ulysses
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 17.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.8 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ulysses since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 6, 1951 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 23, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 136 times; the largest was 4.75 inches on June 12, 2005.
Severe weather in Grant County since 1996
Grant County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| June 16, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4319: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 24, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1848: Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Grant County
Grant County had 2,465 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,410 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Ulysses itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Ulysses
4 public schools with 1,449 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulysses High | 9-12 | 445 | 15.3 |
| Hickok Elem | PK-2 | 370 | 17.6 |
| Sullivan Elem | 3-5 | 318 | 14.5 |
| Kepley Middle School | 6-8 | 316 | 14.4 |
Towns near Ulysses
- Hugoton, KS27.8 mi · 3,747 people · home $120,900
Ulysses questions
Is Ulysses, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ulysses scores better for retirees than 21% of Kansas towns and quieter than 30%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.5).
How much does a house cost in Ulysses?
The median owner-occupied home in Ulysses is valued at $97,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,857, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $717 a month.
What is the weather like in Ulysses?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.8 inches of precipitation a year and 17.8 inches of snow.
Does Ulysses get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ulysses since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 6, 1951. 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)