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Living in
Manhattan.
About
Life in Manhattan
If you're considering Manhattan, understand that you're moving to a college town where Kansas State University shapes much of the social fabric and economy—about 24,000 students flood the community, which keeps retail and entertainment venues active but also means a younger demographic and student-oriented culture. Weather is a real trade-off: summers are hot and humid with temperatures hitting 90°F on average 59 days per year and occasionally exceeding 100°F, while winters are cold and dry; the area also sits in Tornado Alley and has experienced significant flooding historically, including in 2019 when rainfall broke records not seen since 1993. You'll have good access to outdoor recreation with Tuttle Creek Reservoir nearby and the Flint Hills' rolling grasslands surrounding the city, though the landscape is more subtle than dramatic.
Manhattan at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
25.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.3%
Foreign-Born
7.6%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Population Growth
+1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Manhattan: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Manhattan, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (10.5%), and 3.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
14.6%
of residents
65 and Older
9.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.0%
of households
Married Couples
36.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.14
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 Manhattan
In Manhattan, home values are 14% above the KS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,767
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
43.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $294,183 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below KS average
Unemployment in Manhattan
Unemployment in Manhattan is 0.7 percentage points lower than the KS average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Manhattan Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.3 min avg
How Manhattan residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Manhattan, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK)
Regional airport · few flights89k passengers boarded in 2025
- 100 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 13% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Riley County Police Department, which covers Manhattan, runs 13% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
286.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,168.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Riley County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
58.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Riley County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Riley County, which includes Manhattan, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Hail | $90,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.0M |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 5 | Hail | None reported |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17.2M |
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.
6 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Riley County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Shawnee County, KS (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 47 miles from Manhattan) is typically good — 234 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
234
per year
Moderate Days
126
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Shawnee County, KS (47 mi away)
Climate89°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Manhattan has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.8"
Annual Snowfall
17.6"
Hot Days/Year
59
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
125
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
102
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 19°F | 0.64" |
| Feb | 45°F | 22°F | 1.14" |
| Mar | 56°F | 32°F | 2.17" |
| Apr | 66°F | 42°F | 3.38" |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 5.23" |
| Jun | 86°F | 64°F | 5.47" |
| Jul | 91°F | 69°F | 4.62" |
| Aug | 89°F | 66°F | 4.40" |
| Sep | 81°F | 57°F | 3.41" |
| Oct | 69°F | 44°F | 2.50" |
| Nov | 55°F | 32°F | 1.62" |
| Dec | 43°F | 23°F | 1.19" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Manhattan
Manhattan has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
7.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Manhattan Surgical Hospital Llc
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Irwin Ach (ft Riley)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 11.1 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.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Manhattan
Manhattan's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 53.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
53.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Manhattan
Public · 4-year · 15,142 students · in-state tuition $11,579 · 67% graduate · median earnings $61,473 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 146 students · in-state tuition $19,126 · 36% graduate · median earnings $47,738 (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: Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, 51 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Manhattan
Manhattan has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park (51 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
51 mi awayTallgrass Prairie National Preserve
National Preserve
52 mi awayHomestead National Historical Park
National Historical Park
77 mi awayPublic Libraries in Manhattan
Manhattan Public Library
629 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan
Cities Near Manhattan
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Manhattan?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Manhattan FAQ
Is Manhattan, Kansas affordable?⌄
Manhattan's median rent is $1,003/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $60,172/year. Median home value is $246,700.
Is Manhattan, Kansas safe?⌄
Manhattan is policed by the Riley County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 286 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1169 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Manhattan, Kansas?⌄
Manhattan has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Manhattan, Kansas?⌄
The cost of living in Manhattan is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,003/month and median household income is $60,172/year. The median home value is $246,700. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Manhattan, Kansas?⌄
The average commute in Manhattan is 17 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