Below Average CostSafer than AverageManhattan-Ogden
War dance in the interiour of a Konza lodge · Samuel Seymour / Public domainFlint Hills Discovery Center · Kgwo1972 / CC BY-SA 3.0Rocky Ford spillway in Manhattan Kansas · John P Salvatore / CC BY-SA 4.0Manhattan 2008 Tornado Damage · Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
Manhattan is a mid-sized city of 54,287 in Kansas, with a median household income of $55,316
and a 4.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Manhattan stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Manhattan is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Manhattan 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: 90.3
Manhattan's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Manhattan costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Manhattan, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$242,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$977
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
40.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$55,316
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Manhattan's violent crime rate is 241.1 per 100,000 residents
— 37% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
241.1 /100k
Property Crime
1189.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Manhattan is served primarily by Manhattan-Ogden.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Manhattan, KS
National Avg
School District
Manhattan-Ogden
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
52.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Manhattan sees average highs of 39.6°F in January
and 90.8°F in July,
with 35.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 17.6 inches of snow per year.
Manhattan's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Manhattan roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $242,300 and median rent is $977/month.
Manhattan's violent crime rate is 241.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1189.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Manhattan are operated by Manhattan-Ogden.
The district has 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 52.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Manhattan, KS has a population of 54,287, a median household income of $55,316, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%.
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.
Manhattan averages 39.6°F in January and 90.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.8 inches
with about 17.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Manhattan, KS is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 66502, 66503, 66506.
The population of Manhattan, Kansas is 54,287 with a median age of 24.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Manhattan: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $242,300, median household income $55,316, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Manhattan side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
