Carnegie Library, Yates Center, KS · 25or6to4 / CC BY-SA 4.0Bandstand, Yates Center, KS · 25or6to4 / CC BY-SA 4.0Woody's Motel, Yates Center, Kansas (8734329185) · Boston Public Library / CC BY 2.0
Yates Center is a small town of 1,488 in Kansas, with a median household income of $40,597
and a 9.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 82 (US average = 100), which is
18% below the national average.
Strengths:
Yates Center stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Yates Center is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Yates Center 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: 82.5
Yates Center's overall cost of living index is 82.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Yates Center costs roughly 18% less than the average American city.
Metric
Yates Center, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$60,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$578
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,597
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Yates Center's violent crime rate is 127.5 per 100,000 residents
— 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
127.5 /100k
Property Crime
446.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Yates Center is served primarily by Woodson.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Yates Center, KS
National Avg
School District
Woodson
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Yates Center sees average highs of 42.0°F in January
and 89.3°F in July,
with 41.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 9.0 inches of snow per year.
Yates Center's cost of living index is 82, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Yates Center roughly 18% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $60,800 and median rent is $578/month.
Yates Center's violent crime rate is 127.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 446.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Yates Center are operated by Woodson.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1. 21.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Yates Center, KS has a population of 1,488, a median household income of $40,597, and an unemployment rate of 9.9%.
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.
Yates Center averages 42.0°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.8 inches
with about 9.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Yates Center, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66783.
The population of Yates Center, Kansas is 1,488 with a median age of 46.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Yates Center: cost of living index 82 (100 = US average), median home $60,800, median household income $40,597, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Yates Center side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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