Melvern is a small town of 322 in Kansas, with a median household income of $50,000
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Melvern stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Melvern is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Melvern 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: 85.9
Melvern's overall cost of living index is 85.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Melvern costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Melvern, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$77,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$639
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Melvern's violent crime rate is 100.3 per 100,000 residents
— 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
100.3 /100k
Property Crime
645.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Melvern is served primarily by Marais Des Cygnes Valley.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Melvern, KS
National Avg
School District
Marais Des Cygnes Valley
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Melvern sees average highs of 40.9°F in January
and 90.3°F in July,
with 38.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 10.4 inches of snow per year.
Melvern's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Melvern roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $77,300 and median rent is $639/month.
Melvern's violent crime rate is 100.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 645.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Melvern are operated by Marais Des Cygnes Valley.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.2:1. 21.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Melvern, KS has a population of 322, a median household income of $50,000, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
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.
Melvern averages 40.9°F in January and 90.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.1 inches
with about 10.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Melvern, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66510.
The population of Melvern, Kansas is 322 with a median age of 47.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Melvern: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $77,300, median household income $50,000, crime index 28 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Melvern side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.