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Living in
McPherson.
About
Life in McPherson
Life here revolves around affordability and stability rather than excitement—and that's exactly what keeps people rooted. With a median home value around $211,700 and a median household income near $77,746, you're looking at a genuinely manageable cost of living where homeownership feels realistic, not aspirational. The job market is tight with unemployment at 3.1%, well below the national average, though you'll want to research specific industries before the move since McPherson isn't a major employment hub; many residents work locally while others commute to Wichita or Salina via I-135 access.
McPherson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.5%
Foreign-Born
5.1%
Broadband Internet
89.7%
of households
Population Growth
-1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in McPherson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In McPherson, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (31.5%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
16.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.9%
of households
Married Couples
49.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
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 13% below KS average
Rent, home values, and income in McPherson
In McPherson, rent runs 13% below the KS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.1%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,115
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $215,447 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below KS average
Unemployment in McPherson
Unemployment in McPherson County, which includes McPherson, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the KS average.
Unemployment rate
McPherson: McPherson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
McPherson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What McPherson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute11.4 min avg
How McPherson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In McPherson, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 88% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 29 mi
Salina Municipal Airport (SLN)
Regional airport · few flights35k 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 12% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in McPherson runs 12% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
369.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,421.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
McPherson Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
39.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
McPherson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In McPherson County, which includes McPherson, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 30 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 19 | Drought | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100 |
| 2020 | 12 | High Wind | $20,000 |
| 2019 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $55,400 |
| 2018 | 23 | Drought | $100,500 |
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.
18 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
McPherson County, county-wide
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Sedgwick County, KS (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 49 miles from McPherson) 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
Nearest EPA monitor county: Sedgwick County, KS (49 mi away)
Climate90°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
McPherson has hot summers (avg high 90°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.6"
Annual Snowfall
14.2"
Hot Days/Year
63
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
126
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
86
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 19°F | 0.90" |
| Feb | 47°F | 22°F | 1.22" |
| Mar | 58°F | 31°F | 2.35" |
| Apr | 67°F | 41°F | 2.98" |
| May | 77°F | 52°F | 5.42" |
| Jun | 88°F | 63°F | 4.75" |
| Jul | 93°F | 68°F | 4.19" |
| Aug | 91°F | 66°F | 3.51" |
| Sep | 83°F | 58°F | 2.97" |
| Oct | 71°F | 44°F | 2.44" |
| Nov | 56°F | 31°F | 1.56" |
| Dec | 44°F | 22°F | 1.29" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in McPherson
McPherson has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Mcpherson Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Mercy Hospital, Inc.
Rural Emergency Hospital · ER available · 13.9 mi away · Moundridge
Lindsborg Community Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.1 mi away · Lindsborg
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.
Education12.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in McPherson
McPherson's student/teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 38.4% 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
38.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in McPherson
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 872 students · in-state tuition $38,974 · 53% graduate · median earnings $51,560 (10 yrs after entry)
Central Christian College of Kansas
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 380 students · in-state tuition $25,755 · 38% graduate · median earnings $46,855 (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, 60 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for McPherson
McPherson has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (60 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
National Preserve
60 mi awayFort Larned National Historic Site
National Historic Site
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in McPherson
Mcpherson Public Library
214 W. Marlin, Mcpherson
Cities Near McPherson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to McPherson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
McPherson FAQ
Is McPherson, Kansas affordable?⌄
McPherson's median rent is $925/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $77,529/year. Median home value is $211,700.
Is McPherson, Kansas safe?⌄
McPherson's violent crime rate was 370 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1422 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in McPherson, Kansas?⌄
McPherson County, which includes McPherson, 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 McPherson, Kansas?⌄
The cost of living in McPherson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $925/month and median household income is $77,529/year. The median home value is $211,700. About 35% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in McPherson, Kansas?⌄
The average commute in McPherson is 11 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