Centralia is a small town of 441 in Kansas, with a median household income of $44,762
and a 4.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Centralia stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Centralia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Centralia 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: 86.9
Centralia's overall cost of living index is 86.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Centralia costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Centralia, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$79,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$850
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$44,762
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Centralia's violent crime rate is 9.8 per 100,000 residents
— 97% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
9.8 /100k
Property Crime
166.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Centralia is served primarily by Vermillion.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Centralia, KS
National Avg
School District
Vermillion
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
34.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Centralia sees average highs of 37.8°F in January
and 89.1°F in July,
with 35.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 33.4 inches of snow per year.
Centralia's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Centralia roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $79,500 and median rent is $850/month.
Centralia's violent crime rate is 9.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 166.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Centralia are operated by Vermillion.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1. 34.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Centralia, KS has a population of 441, a median household income of $44,762, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%.
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.
Centralia averages 37.8°F in January and 89.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.9 inches
with about 33.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Centralia, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66415.
The population of Centralia, Kansas is 441 with a median age of 48.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Centralia: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $79,500, median household income $44,762, crime index 5 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Centralia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.