What are the schools like in Grinnell, KS?

Grinnell is served primarily by Grinnell Public Schools. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 7.4:1.

What is the median household income in Grinnell?

The median household income in Grinnell, KS is $56,042 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.7%.

What is the weather like in Grinnell, KS?

Grinnell has an average high temperature of 42.4°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 21.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 20.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Grinnell, KS affordable or expensive?

Grinnell's cost of living index is 85, where 100 represents the national average. This means Grinnell is 15% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $105,400 and the median rent is $575 per month.

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

Grinnell has a violent crime rate of 37.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 227.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Grinnell, KS a Good Place to Live?

Grinnell is a small town of 320 in Kansas, with a median household income of $56,042 and a 0.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is 15% below the national average.

Strengths: Grinnell 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 Grinnell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Grinnell 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

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

Metric	Grinnell, KS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$105,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$575	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	87.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,042	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Grinnell's violent crime rate is 37.9 per 100,000 residents — 90% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

37.9 /100k

Property Crime

227.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Grinnell is served primarily by Grinnell Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Grinnell, KS	National Avg
School District	Grinnell Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	7.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Grinnell sees average highs of 42.4°F in January and 91.6°F in July, with 21.5 inches of annual precipitation and 20.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Grinnell, KS
Average High — January	42.4°F
Average High — July	91.6°F
Annual Precipitation	21.5"
Annual Snowfall	20.4"

Demographics

Metric	Grinnell, KS	National Avg
Population	320	—
Median Age	37.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	100.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	31.3%	22.2%
65 and over	29.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Grainfield, KS 9 mi Oakley, KS 11 mi Gove City, KS 14 mi Park, KS 14 mi Menlo, KS 17 mi

ZIP Codes in Grinnell

Grinnell, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

67738

Grinnell vs Other Cities

Grinnell, KS vs Grainfield, KS Grinnell, KS vs Oakley, KS Grinnell, KS vs Gove City, KS Grinnell, KS vs Park, KS Grinnell, KS vs Menlo, KS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grinnell, KS affordable or expensive?

Grinnell's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average. That makes Grinnell roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $105,400 and median rent is $575/month.

What is the crime rate in Grinnell, KS?

Grinnell's violent crime rate is 37.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 227.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Grinnell?

Public schools in Grinnell are operated by Grinnell Public Schools. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.4:1. 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Grinnell, KS a good place to live?

Grinnell, KS has a population of 320, a median household income of $56,042, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%. 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 Grinnell?

Grinnell averages 42.4°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.5 inches with about 20.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Grinnell?

Grinnell, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 67738.

What is the population of Grinnell?

The population of Grinnell, Kansas is 320 with a median age of 37.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Grinnell?

Key numbers for living in Grinnell: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $105,400, median household income $56,042, crime index 10 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Grinnell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.