What are the schools like in Paola, KS?

Paola is served primarily by Paola. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Paola?

The median household income in Paola, KS is $69,420 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.8%.

What is the weather like in Paola, KS?

Paola has an average high temperature of 39.7°F in January and 88.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 8.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Paola, KS affordable or expensive?

Paola's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Paola is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $172,700 and the median rent is $935 per month.

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

Paola has a violent crime rate of 172.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1209.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Paola, KS a Good Place to Live?

Paola is a small town of 5,742 in Kansas, with a median household income of $69,420 and a 1.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Paola stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Paola is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Paola 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: 93.3

Paola's overall cost of living index is 93.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Paola costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Paola, KS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$172,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$935	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$69,420	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Paola's violent crime rate is 172.8 per 100,000 residents — 55% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

172.8 /100k

Property Crime

1209.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Paola is served primarily by Paola. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Paola, KS	National Avg
School District	Paola	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	25.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Paola sees average highs of 39.7°F in January and 88.6°F in July, with 41.4 inches of annual precipitation and 8.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Paola, KS
Average High — January	39.7°F
Average High — July	88.6°F
Annual Precipitation	41.4"
Annual Snowfall	8.4"

Demographics

Metric	Paola, KS	National Avg
Population	5,742	—
Median Age	44.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	19.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Somerset, KS 5 mi Hillsdale, KS 6 mi Osawatomie, KS 7 mi Louisburg, KS 10 mi Fontana, KS 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Paola

Paola, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

66071

Paola vs Other Cities

Paola, KS vs Somerset, KS Paola, KS vs Hillsdale, KS Paola, KS vs Osawatomie, KS Paola, KS vs Louisburg, KS Paola, KS vs Fontana, KS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paola, KS affordable or expensive?

Paola's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Paola roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $172,700 and median rent is $935/month.

What is the crime rate in Paola, KS?

Paola's violent crime rate is 172.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1209.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Paola?

Public schools in Paola are operated by Paola. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 25.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Paola, KS a good place to live?

Paola, KS has a population of 5,742, a median household income of $69,420, and an unemployment rate of 1.8%. 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 Paola?

Paola averages 39.7°F in January and 88.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.4 inches with about 8.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Paola?

Paola, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66071.

What is the population of Paola?

The population of Paola, Kansas is 5,742 with a median age of 44.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Paola?

Key numbers for living in Paola: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $172,700, median household income $69,420, crime index 50 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Paola side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.