The Town FilesValley Center, Kansas
City in Sedgwick County · population 7,340 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,700
- Household income
- $77,020
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 52
- Median age
- 33.8
Valley Center is a city of 7,340 people in Sedgwick County, Kansas. The median home is worth $227,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more upscale than 90% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 88% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 88% of Kansas towns.
How Valley Center 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 Valley Center is worth $227,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $77,020, which is more affordable than 13% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $883 a month. 72.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valley Center | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $883 | $815 |
| Median household income | $77,020 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 72.4% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Valley Center
| People | Valley Center | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.8 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 34.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.1% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Valley Center
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 32.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.9 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Center since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 12, 2004 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 180 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 367 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on February 17, 2000.
Severe weather in Sedgwick County since 1996
Sedgwick County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| October 20, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4287: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4063: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 30, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1860: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Sedgwick County
Sedgwick County had 264,782 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,652 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Valley Center itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Valley Center
6 public schools with 3,112 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Center High | 9-12 | 1,028 | 16.3 |
| Valley Center Middle School | 6-8 | 761 | 15.2 |
| Valley Center Intermediate School | 4-5 | 457 | 13.8 |
| Wheatland Elem | K-3 | 335 | 12.9 |
| West Elem | K-3 | 279 | 12.7 |
| Abilene Elem | PK-3 | 252 | 13.3 |
Towns near Valley Center
- Park City, KS2.9 mi · 8,333 people · home $177,100
- Maize, KS6.4 mi · 5,735 people · home $276,200
- Bel Aire, KS7.7 mi · 8,262 people · home $238,100
- Wichita, KS9.9 mi · 397,532 people · home $190,800
- Newton, KS14.2 mi · 18,602 people · home $156,400
- Goddard, KS15.6 mi · 5,084 people · home $242,800
- Oaklawn-Sunview, KS16.0 mi · 2,880 people · home $54,200
- Andover, KS16.2 mi · 14,892 people · home $291,400
Valley Center questions
Is Valley Center, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valley Center scores better for retirees than 52% of Kansas towns and quieter than 16%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.8).
How much does a house cost in Valley Center?
The median owner-occupied home in Valley Center is valued at $227,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,020, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $883 a month.
What is the weather like in Valley Center?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.6 inches of precipitation a year and 10.9 inches of snow.
Does Valley Center get tornadoes?
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Center since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 12, 2004. 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)