De Soto, Kansas City Hall · CommunicationsDeSoto / CC BY-SA 4.0De Soto Water Tower & Sunflower Mural · CommunicationsDeSoto / CC BY-SA 4.0De Soto Welcome Sign, off K-10 Highway · CommunicationsDeSoto / CC BY-SA 4.0Astra Park COnstruction 2022 · SabakaZMahusky / CC BY-SA 4.0
De Soto is a small town of 6,248 in Kansas, with a median household income of $102,685
and a 7.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
De Soto stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether De Soto is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All De Soto 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: 93.3
De Soto's overall cost of living index is 93.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in De Soto costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
De Soto, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$352,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,003
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
66.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$102,685
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
De Soto's violent crime rate is 198.4 per 100,000 residents
— 48% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
198.4 /100k
Property Crime
1589.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
De Soto is served primarily by De Soto.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
De Soto, KS
National Avg
School District
De Soto
—
Elementary Schools
7
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
36.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
De Soto sees average highs of 38.3°F in January
and 87.2°F in July,
with 38.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 12.2 inches of snow per year.
De Soto's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes De Soto roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $352,500 and median rent is $1,003/month.
De Soto's violent crime rate is 198.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1589.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in De Soto are operated by De Soto.
The district has 7 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 36.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
De Soto, KS has a population of 6,248, a median household income of $102,685, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%.
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.
De Soto averages 38.3°F in January and 87.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.8 inches
with about 12.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
De Soto, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66018.
The population of De Soto, Kansas is 6,248 with a median age of 37.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in De Soto: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $352,500, median household income $102,685, crime index 62 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare De Soto side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
