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Living in
Junction City.
About
Life in Junction City
Junction City is a community of 22,431 people in Kansas. The median household income is $61,181, median rent runs about $1,019 per month, and median home values are around $171,500. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.
Junction City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
28.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.5%
Foreign-Born
8.2%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Population Growth
-1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Junction City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Junction City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (27.7%), and 9.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
29.5%
of residents
65 and Older
9.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.8%
of households
Married Couples
43.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.32
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 about average for KS
Rent, home values, and income in Junction City
In Junction City, home values are 21% below the KS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
34.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,586
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $200,051 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above KS average
Unemployment in Junction City
Unemployment in Junction City is 0.5 percentage points higher than the KS average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Junction City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19 min avg
How Junction City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Junction City, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK)
Regional airport · few flights89k passengers boarded in 2025
- 115 mi
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Medium hub5.6M 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 85% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Junction City runs 85% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
609.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,854.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Junction City Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
40.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Geary County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Geary County, which includes Junction City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Hail | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 6 | Hail | None reported |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
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.
15 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Geary County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2023)
Data not yet available
Climate87°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Junction City has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
32.9"
Annual Snowfall
7.4"
Hot Days/Year
46
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
122
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
85
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 19°F | 0.66" |
| Feb | 44°F | 23°F | 1.09" |
| Mar | 55°F | 33°F | 1.95" |
| Apr | 65°F | 42°F | 3.13" |
| May | 74°F | 54°F | 5.16" |
| Jun | 84°F | 64°F | 4.80" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.15" |
| Aug | 88°F | 67°F | 4.19" |
| Sep | 80°F | 58°F | 2.84" |
| Oct | 68°F | 45°F | 2.27" |
| Nov | 54°F | 33°F | 1.40" |
| Dec | 42°F | 23°F | 1.26" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Junction City
Junction City has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
9.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Stormont Vail Health Flint Hills, Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Irwin Ach (ft Riley)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 6.1 mi away · Fort Riley
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.
Education13.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Junction City
Junction City's student/teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, 43 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Junction City
Junction City has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (43 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
National Preserve
43 mi awayBrown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
63 mi awayHomestead National Historical Park
National Historical Park
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Junction City
Dorothy Bramlage Public Library
230 West Seventh Street, Junction City
Cities Near Junction City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Junction City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Junction City FAQ
Is Junction City, Kansas affordable?⌄
Junction City's median rent is $1,024/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,181/year. Median home value is $171,500.
Is Junction City, Kansas safe?⌄
Junction City's violent crime rate was 609 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1855 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Junction City, Kansas?⌄
Junction City has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Junction City, Kansas?⌄
The cost of living in Junction City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,024/month and median household income is $61,181/year. The median home value is $171,500. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Junction City, Kansas?⌄
The average commute in Junction 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