Effingham is a small town of 609 in Kansas, with a median household income of $60,000
and a 0.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Effingham stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Effingham is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Effingham 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: 85.5
Effingham's overall cost of living index is 85.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Effingham costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Effingham, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$97,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$625
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Effingham's violent crime rate is 99.5 per 100,000 residents
— 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
99.5 /100k
Property Crime
877.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Effingham is served primarily by Atchison Co Comm Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Effingham, KS
National Avg
School District
Atchison Co Comm Schools
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
7.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Effingham sees average highs of 36.9°F in January
and 88.4°F in July,
with 36.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 16.3 inches of snow per year.
Effingham's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Effingham roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $97,600 and median rent is $625/month.
Effingham's violent crime rate is 99.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 877.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Effingham are operated by Atchison Co Comm Schools.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1. 7.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Effingham, KS has a population of 609, a median household income of $60,000, and an unemployment rate of 0.9%.
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.
Effingham averages 36.9°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.0 inches
with about 16.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Effingham, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66023.
The population of Effingham, Kansas is 609 with a median age of 55.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Effingham: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $97,600, median household income $60,000, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Effingham side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
