The Town FilesWichita, Kansas
City in Sedgwick County · population 397,532 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $190,800
- Household income
- $64,620
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 52
- Median age
- 35.7
Wichita is a city of 397,532 people in Sedgwick County, Kansas. The median home is worth $190,800, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 94% of Kansas towns, better transit than 93% of Kansas towns.
How Wichita 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 Wichita is worth $190,800, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $64,620, which is more affordable than 13% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $975 a month. 58.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wichita | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $190,800 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $975 | $815 |
| Median household income | $64,620 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 58.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Wichita
| People | Wichita | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Wichita
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 22.5°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.7 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wichita since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 26, 1991 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 337 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 29, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 541 times; the largest was 7.75 inches on September 15, 2010.
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 Wichita itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Wichita
97 public schools with 51,004 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East High | 9-12 | 2,338 | 16.1 |
| North High | 9-12 | 2,078 | 16.9 |
| Southeast High | 9-12 | 1,973 | 17.6 |
| Campus High Haysville | 9-12 | 1,833 | 19.5 |
| South High | 9-12 | 1,661 | 14.7 |
| Heights High | 9-12 | 1,454 | 16.7 |
| Northwest High | 9-12 | 1,435 | 16.5 |
| West High | 9-12 | 1,390 | 15.4 |
| Maize South High School | 9-12 | 1,121 | 17.0 |
| Truesdell Middle School | 6-8 | 913 | 13.8 |
| Christa McAuliffe Academy | PK-8 | 847 | 14.1 |
| Curtis Middle School | 6-8 | 774 | 12.1 |
Towns near Wichita
- Oaklawn-Sunview, KS6.2 mi · 2,880 people · home $54,200
- Bel Aire, KS8.0 mi · 8,262 people · home $238,100
- Park City, KS8.2 mi · 8,333 people · home $177,100
- Maize, KS8.5 mi · 5,735 people · home $276,200
- Haysville, KS8.6 mi · 11,262 people · home $161,800
- Valley Center, KS9.9 mi · 7,340 people · home $227,700
- Derby, KS10.3 mi · 25,625 people · home $236,900
- Andover, KS11.6 mi · 14,892 people · home $291,400
Wichita questions
Is Wichita, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wichita scores better for retirees than 5% of Kansas towns and quieter than 2%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Wichita?
The median owner-occupied home in Wichita is valued at $190,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,620, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $975 a month.
What is the weather like in Wichita?
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 22.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 12.7 inches of snow.
Does Wichita get tornadoes?
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wichita since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 26, 1991. 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)