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Living in
Derby.
About
Life in Derby
If you're considering Derby as a place to live, you're looking at a solidly middle-class suburb with good bones and steady growth. The aerospace industry dominates the job market here—Spirit AeroSystems and Textron Aviation employ a significant chunk of the workforce—which means job stability but also means the economy can shift with defense spending and aircraft demand. The commute to Wichita averages 23 minutes, making it accessible without the full urban grind.
Derby at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Foreign-Born
2.5%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
+3.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Derby: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Derby, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (42.1%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.7%
of residents
65 and Older
16.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.3%
of households
Married Couples
54.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.48
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 7% above KS average
Rent, home values, and income in Derby
In Derby, rent runs 7% above the KS average, and home values are 9% above the KS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,358
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $284,931 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KS
Unemployment in Derby and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Derby is close to the KS average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Derby Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Wichita, KS metro area
Commute23 min avg
How Derby residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Derby, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 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 43% below national average
Crime rates for 2022
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2022. It's compared with the national rate for 2022.
Violent crime in Derby runs 43% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
227.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (398 national, 2022)
Property Crime Rate
2,188.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,999 national, 2022)
Derby Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 33 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Sedgwick County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Sedgwick County, which includes Derby, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 33 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | Hail | None reported |
| 2024 | 34 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 33 | Drought | $12,000 |
| 2022 | 43 | Hail | $4.6M |
| 2021 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 23 | Hail | $32,000 |
| 2019 | 39 | Hail | $41,000 |
| 2018 | 29 | Drought | $1,600 |
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.
10 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Sedgwick County, county-wide
Derby is about 5% of Sedgwick County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Sedgwick County, which includes Derby, is typically good — 210 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
210
per year
Moderate Days
154
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Sedgwick County, county-wide
Derby is about 5% of Sedgwick County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate90°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Derby has warm summers (avg high 90°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.0"
Annual Snowfall
8.1"
Hot Days/Year
60
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
114
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
78
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 21°F | 0.88" |
| Feb | 48°F | 25°F | 1.46" |
| Mar | 59°F | 34°F | 2.52" |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 3.26" |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 6.03" |
| Jun | 87°F | 65°F | 6.26" |
| Jul | 92°F | 69°F | 4.37" |
| Aug | 90°F | 67°F | 4.28" |
| Sep | 83°F | 58°F | 2.95" |
| Oct | 72°F | 45°F | 3.12" |
| Nov | 57°F | 33°F | 1.79" |
| Dec | 46°F | 24°F | 1.34" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Derby
Derby has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Rock Regional Hospital, Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Wichita VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Wichita
Wesley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.7 mi away · Wichita
Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.7 mi away · Wichita
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 Derby
Derby's student/teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 37.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.6%
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 Derby (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 10,780 students · in-state tuition $9,948 · 55% graduate · median earnings $56,003 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,048 students · in-state tuition $35,685 · 57% graduate · median earnings $54,046 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 851 students · in-state tuition $37,000 · 56% graduate · median earnings $55,478 (10 yrs after entry)
Galen Health Institutes-Wichita
9.8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 233 students · in-state tuition $17,984 · median earnings $69,188 (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, 71 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Derby
Derby has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (71 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
National Preserve
71 mi awayPublic Libraries in Derby
Derby Public Library
1600 E Walnut Grove, Derby
Cities Near Derby
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Derby?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Derby FAQ
Is Derby, Kansas affordable?⌄
Derby's median rent is $1,136/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $84,112/year. Median home value is $236,900.
Is Derby, Kansas safe?⌄
Derby's violent crime rate was 228 per 100,000 residents in 2022, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 398/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2189 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Derby, Kansas?⌄
Derby has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Derby, Kansas?⌄
The cost of living in Derby is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,136/month and median household income is $84,112/year. The median home value is $236,900. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Derby, Kansas?⌄
The average commute in Derby is 23 minutes, which is about 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