What are the schools like in Chanute, KS?

Chanute is served primarily by Chanute Public Schools. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Chanute?

The median household income in Chanute, KS is $52,608 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.2%.

What is the weather like in Chanute, KS?

Chanute has an average high temperature of 44.3°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 9.7 inches.

Chanute, KS Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Chanute, KS affordable or expensive?

Chanute's cost of living index is 85, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chanute is 15% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $89,400 and the median rent is $636 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Chanute, KS?

Chanute has a violent crime rate of 525.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2017.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chanute, KS a Good Place to Live?

Chanute is a small town of 8,713 in Kansas, with a median household income of $52,608 and a 7.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is 15% below the national average.

Strengths: Chanute stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Chanute is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Chanute 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: 85.2

Chanute's overall cost of living index is 85.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chanute costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chanute, KS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$89,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$636	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,608	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Chanute's violent crime rate is 525.2 per 100,000 residents — 38% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

525.2 /100k

Property Crime

2017.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Chanute is served primarily by Chanute Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chanute, KS	National Avg
School District	Chanute Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chanute sees average highs of 44.3°F in January and 91.6°F in July, with 40.7 inches of annual precipitation and 9.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chanute, KS
Average High — January	44.3°F
Average High — July	91.6°F
Annual Precipitation	40.7"
Annual Snowfall	9.7"

Demographics

Metric	Chanute, KS	National Avg
Population	8,713	—
Median Age	38.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	12.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	24.5%	22.2%
65 and over	19.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Earlton, KS 6 mi Urbana, KS 8 mi Humboldt, KS 10 mi Thayer, KS 13 mi Buffalo, KS 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Chanute

Chanute, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

66720

Chanute vs Other Cities

Chanute, KS vs Earlton, KS Chanute, KS vs Urbana, KS Chanute, KS vs Humboldt, KS Chanute, KS vs Thayer, KS Chanute, KS vs Buffalo, KS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chanute, KS affordable or expensive?

Chanute's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chanute roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $89,400 and median rent is $636/month.

What is the crime rate in Chanute, KS?

Chanute's violent crime rate is 525.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2017.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chanute?

Public schools in Chanute are operated by Chanute Public Schools. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 17.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chanute, KS a good place to live?

Chanute, KS has a population of 8,713, a median household income of $52,608, and an unemployment rate of 7.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Chanute?

Chanute averages 44.3°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.7 inches with about 9.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chanute?

Chanute, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66720.

What is the population of Chanute?

The population of Chanute, Kansas is 8,713 with a median age of 38.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chanute?

Key numbers for living in Chanute: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $89,400, median household income $52,608, crime index 121 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chanute side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.