Blue Rapids vs Clay Center
Blue Rapids, Kansas versus Clay Center, Kansas: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Blue Rapids edges out Clay Center on overall objective livability (49 vs 41 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Blue Rapids | Clay Center |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $48k | $53k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $43k |
| Home Value | $52k | $120k |
| Monthly Rent | $909 | $737 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $366 | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.20% | 1.58% |
| Income Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Sales Tax | 8.75% | 8.75% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.98% | 12.15% |
| Unemployment | 6.1% | 1.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 29°F | 29°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 79°F | 79°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1 in | 31.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.3 in | 10.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 265 days | 278 days |
| Summer Humidity | 67°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 59 days | 60 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 70.3 | 85.0 |
| Air Quality | 40 AQI | — |
| School Quality | 61.0 | 62.1 |
| Violent Crime | 218/100k | 2314/100k |
| Property Crime | 109/100k | 1973/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 1,076 | 4,154 |
| Median Age | 45.1 | 42.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.13 | 0.08 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 1.05 |
| Political Leaning | R+49 | R+56 |
| White (%) | 93.1% | 93.6% |
| Black (%) | 0.2% | 3.5% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.6% | 2.2% |
| Asian (%) | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.0% | 0.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | — | 17 min |
| Walkability | 6.3/20 | 6.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 107 mi | 130 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 91.0% | 72.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 55.76 | 19.26 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Blue Rapids or Clay Center more affordable?
- Clay Center has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Blue Rapids's $44k and Clay Center's $43k. Median rent is $909 in Blue Rapids versus $737 in Clay Center.
- Is Blue Rapids or Clay Center safer?
- Blue Rapids has the lower violent crime rate. Blue Rapids reports 218/100k and Clay Center reports 2314/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Blue Rapids or Clay Center?
- The median home value is $52k in Blue Rapids and $120k in Clay Center, so homes are more affordable in Blue Rapids.