Atchison is a small city of 10,834 in Kansas, with a median household income of $50,344
and a 6.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Atchison stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Atchison is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Atchison city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 87.8
Atchison's overall cost of living index is 87.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Atchison costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Atchison, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$113,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$763
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
57.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,344
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Atchison's violent crime rate is 150.9 per 100,000 residents
— 60% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
150.9 /100k
Property Crime
1329.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Atchison is served primarily by Atchison Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Atchison, KS
National Avg
School District
Atchison Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Atchison sees average highs of 36.2°F in January
and 87.6°F in July,
with 36.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 17.0 inches of snow per year.
Atchison's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Atchison roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $113,900 and median rent is $763/month.
Atchison's violent crime rate is 150.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1329.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Atchison are operated by Atchison Public Schools.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 27.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Atchison, KS has a population of 10,834, a median household income of $50,344, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Atchison averages 36.2°F in January and 87.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.4 inches
with about 17.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Atchison, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66002.
The population of Atchison, Kansas is 10,834 with a median age of 29.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Atchison: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $113,900, median household income $50,344, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Atchison side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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