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Living in
Arkansas City.
About
Life in Arkansas City
Arkansas City is a community of 11,909 people in Kansas. The median household income is $49,629, median rent runs about $781 per month, and median home values are around $86,800. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.
Arkansas City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.2%
Foreign-Born
7.6%
Broadband Internet
83.6%
of households
Population Growth
-1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Arkansas City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Arkansas City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (46.6%), and 9.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.7%
of residents
65 and Older
16.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.4%
of households
Married Couples
39.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 26% below KS average
Rent, home values, and income in Arkansas City
In Arkansas City, rent runs 26% below the KS average, and home values are 60% below the KS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.2%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,531
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1953
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $97,504 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above KS average
Unemployment in Arkansas City
Unemployment in Cowley County, which includes Arkansas City, is 0.4 percentage points higher than the KS average.
Unemployment rate
Arkansas City: Cowley County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cowley County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Arkansas City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.6 min avg
How Arkansas City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Arkansas City, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 46 mi
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
Small hub909k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 35% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Arkansas City runs 35% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
444
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,348.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Arkansas City Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
69.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cowley County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cowley County, which includes Arkansas City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 25 | Hail | None reported |
| 2023 | 24 | Drought | $23,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | Drought | $100 |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 13 | Hail | $42,000 |
| 2019 | 17 | Hail | $50,900 |
| 2018 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30,200 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
7 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cowley County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kay County, OK (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 19 miles from Arkansas City) is typically good — 257 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
257
per year
Moderate Days
102
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Kay County, OK (19 mi away)
Climate90°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Arkansas City has hot summers (avg high 90°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.1"
Annual Snowfall
6.2"
Hot Days/Year
65
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
96
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
85
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 24°F | 0.69" |
| Feb | 51°F | 27°F | 1.29" |
| Mar | 60°F | 36°F | 2.42" |
| Apr | 69°F | 45°F | 3.46" |
| May | 78°F | 56°F | 4.68" |
| Jun | 87°F | 66°F | 5.28" |
| Jul | 92°F | 71°F | 3.93" |
| Aug | 91°F | 69°F | 4.06" |
| Sep | 83°F | 60°F | 2.78" |
| Oct | 71°F | 48°F | 3.27" |
| Nov | 59°F | 36°F | 1.70" |
| Dec | 47°F | 27°F | 1.32" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Arkansas City
Arkansas City has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.4%
of residents
Sck Health
Rural Emergency Hospital · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
William Newton Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 12.3 mi away · Winfield
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Arkansas City
Arkansas City's student/teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 20.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Arkansas City (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 924 students · in-state tuition $40,814 · 48% graduate · median earnings $58,452 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, 98 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Arkansas City
Arkansas City has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (98 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
National Preserve
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Arkansas City
Arkansas City Public Library
120 E. 5th Avenue, Arkansas City
Cities Near Arkansas City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Arkansas City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Arkansas City FAQ
Is Arkansas City, Kansas affordable?⌄
Arkansas City's median rent is $781/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,629/year. Median home value is $86,800.
Is Arkansas City, Kansas safe?⌄
Arkansas City's violent crime rate was 444 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2348 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Arkansas City, Kansas?⌄
Cowley County, which includes Arkansas City, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Arkansas City, Kansas?⌄
The cost of living in Arkansas City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $781/month and median household income is $49,629/year. The median home value is $86,800. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Arkansas City, Kansas?⌄
The average commute in Arkansas City is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from