Hope is a small town of 417 in Kansas, with a median household income of $58,438
and a 6.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hope 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 Hope is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hope 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: 84.6
Hope's overall cost of living index is 84.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hope costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hope, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$108,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$525
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
75.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$58,438
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Hope's violent crime rate is 157.0 per 100,000 residents
— 59% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
157.0 /100k
Property Crime
790.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hope is served primarily by Rural Vista.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Hope, KS
National Avg
School District
Rural Vista
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
81.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hope sees average highs of 39.9°F in January
and 90.0°F in July,
with 34.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 13.1 inches of snow per year.
Hope's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hope roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $108,300 and median rent is $525/month.
Hope's violent crime rate is 157.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 790.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hope are operated by Rural Vista.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.8:1. 11.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hope, KS has a population of 417, a median household income of $58,438, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%.
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.
Hope averages 39.9°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.0 inches
with about 13.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Hope, Kansas is 417 with a median age of 35.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hope: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $108,300, median household income $58,438, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hope side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
