Below Average CostNear National AverageCentral Kansas Cooperative in Education
Comanche 1718 · Guillaume de L'Isle / Public domainSalina, Kansas, September, 1867, 185 miles west of Missouri River. (Boston Public Library) (cropped) · BPL / CC BY 2.02007-02-03 Salina Grain Elevators · Original uploader was Aaron Headly (Aaron headly) at en.wikipedia / Public domainKWU main building · Daniel Bethe / CC BY-SA 3.0
Salina is a small city of 46,734 in Kansas, with a median household income of $56,945
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Salina stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Salina is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Salina 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
Salina's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Salina costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Salina, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$155,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$863
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,945
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Salina's violent crime rate is 492.9 per 100,000 residents
— 30% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
492.9 /100k
Property Crime
2475.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Salina is served primarily by Central Kansas Cooperative in Education.
Metric
Salina, KS
National Avg
School District
Central Kansas Cooperative in Education
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Salina sees average highs of 41.4°F in January
and 92.8°F in July,
with 32.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 15.5 inches of snow per year.
Salina's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Salina roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $155,500 and median rent is $863/month.
Salina's violent crime rate is 492.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2475.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Salina are operated by Central Kansas Cooperative in Education.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
27.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Salina, KS has a population of 46,734, a median household income of $56,945, 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.
Salina averages 41.4°F in January and 92.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.0 inches
with about 15.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Salina, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 67401.
The population of Salina, Kansas is 46,734 with a median age of 39.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Salina: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $155,500, median household income $56,945, crime index 125 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Salina side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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