Scranton is a small town of 868 in Kansas, with a median household income of $51,484
and a 5.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Scranton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Scranton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Scranton 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
Scranton's overall cost of living index is 85.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Scranton costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Scranton, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$65,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$558
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
87.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,484
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Scranton'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
Scranton is served primarily by Santa Fe Trail.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Scranton, KS
National Avg
School District
Santa Fe Trail
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Scranton sees average highs of 40.4°F in January
and 89.3°F in July,
with 38.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 12.3 inches of snow per year.
Scranton's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Scranton roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $65,600 and median rent is $558/month.
Scranton'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 Scranton are operated by Santa Fe Trail.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 11.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Scranton, KS has a population of 868, a median household income of $51,484, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%.
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.
Scranton averages 40.4°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.4 inches
with about 12.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Scranton, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66537.
The population of Scranton, Kansas is 868 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Scranton: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $65,600, median household income $51,484, crime index 28 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Scranton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
