Downtown Emporia, KS · Ethan James Scherrer / CC BY-SA 3.0Sixth Avenue and Merchant Street, Emporia, KS · Unknown photographer / Public domainKansas - Emporia - NARA - 23940101 (cropped) · Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided / Public domainPlumb Administration Building · Ethan James Scherrer / CC BY-SA 3.0
Emporia is a small city of 24,118 in Kansas, with a median household income of $49,661
and a 3.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Emporia 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 Emporia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Emporia 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: 88.2
Emporia's overall cost of living index is 88.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Emporia costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Emporia, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$125,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$758
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
50.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,661
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Emporia's violent crime rate is 369.2 per 100,000 residents
— 3% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
369.2 /100k
Property Crime
2302.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Emporia is served primarily by Emporia.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Emporia, KS
National Avg
School District
Emporia
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Emporia sees average highs of 39.3°F in January
and 88.5°F in July,
with 36.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 16.3 inches of snow per year.
Emporia's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Emporia roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $125,200 and median rent is $758/month.
Emporia's violent crime rate is 369.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2302.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Emporia are operated by Emporia.
The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Emporia, KS has a population of 24,118, a median household income of $49,661, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%.
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.
Emporia averages 39.3°F in January and 88.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.8 inches
with about 16.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Emporia, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66801.
The population of Emporia, Kansas is 24,118 with a median age of 29.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Emporia: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $125,200, median household income $49,661, crime index 102 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Emporia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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