What it's like to live in Junction City
Junction City is a small city in Kansas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Junction City deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, cold winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Junction City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Junction City
Based on Junction City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,048
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $40,960 a year
- 34% of Junction City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$34,300
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $17,150
- Homes cost 2.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 28% below US
$1,024/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,024 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $171,500. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $171,500 · 34% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 85% above US
609 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 1855/100k · Junction City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 29% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (43 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Junction City's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,024/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Junction City
All Kansas guides →Moving to Manhattan →
17 mi away · pop. 54,239
Rent $1,003/mo · Income $60,172
Compare with Junction City →Moving to Emporia →
56 mi away · pop. 24,131
Rent $815/mo · Income $52,704
Compare with Junction City →Moving to Topeka →
62 mi away · pop. 125,786
Rent $979/mo · Income $56,956
Compare with Junction City →Not sure Junction City is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.