Valley Center, Kansas
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 17% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade D, better than 13% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 20% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 49% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 26% of US places
- top 14% for cost of living
- bottom 15% for monthly owner costs
Valley Center is a town in Kansas with about 8,448 residents. It grades C for getting around and D for weather. Standout strengths include cost of living and walkability. It rates lower on comfortable days and monthly owner costs.
- The median home value in Valley Center is $193k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Valley Center is $71k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Valley Center is $885 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Valley Center has a violent crime rate of 791/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- July temperatures in Valley Center average around 81°F, per the NOAA nClimGrid.
Climate
Hot summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Light snow
v.cold
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warm
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72%56%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.2 in1.2 in
muggy 88%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$71k62nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$42kbetter than 86% of US places
Home Value$193k59th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$885better than 53% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 15% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.61%better than 21% of US places
Income Tax5.70%better than 39% of US places
Sales Tax8.75%better than 22% of US places
Estimated total tax burden13.01%better than 25% of US places
Unemployment8.3%better than 19% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)33°F54th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)81°F79th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation34.6 in31st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall12.7 inbetter than 57% of US places
Sunny Days227 daysbetter than 42% of US places
Summer Humidity66°Fbetter than 34% of US places
Comfortable Days64 daysbetter than 16% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk79.5better than 27% of US places
Air Quality51 AQIbetter than 18% of US places
School Quality52.8better than 41% of US places
Violent Crime791/100kbetter than 47% of US places
Property Crime925/100kbetter than 51% of US places
Community
Population8,44885th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age33.617th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2354th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9747th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+1338th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)83.1%47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.3%48th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)7.3%66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)2.1%81st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)7.1%82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Walkability8.0/20better than 73% of US places
Airport Distance139 mibetter than 21% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access80.5%better than 31% of US places
Amenities Nearby30.78better than 29% of US places
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 54% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Valley Center an affordable place to live?
- Valley Center is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $42k, better than 86% of comparable areas. Median rent is $885.
- Is Valley Center safe?
- Valley Center is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 791/100k (better than 47%). Property crime is 925/100k.
- What is the weather like in Valley Center?
- Valley Center averages 81°F in July and 33°F in January, with 34.6 in of annual precipitation and about 227 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Valley Center?
- Public-school quality in Valley Center is about average, scoring better than 41% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.