Cherokee
Kansas

What stands out

Three things set Cherokee County apart from the other 3,142 counties: the home price against local income is in the bottom 5% of American counties (1.3 years of income), the median home price is in the bottom 9% of American counties ($131K), and life expectancy is in the bottom 15% of American counties (72.3 years). Within Kansas it ranks 36th of 105 counties for the home price against local income, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Cherokee County, Kansas. 19,380 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.1% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +169).

Kansas stopped taxing Social Security entirely in 2024 and consolidated its brackets, and property taxes fall heavily on homeowners because agricultural land is assessed on use value. Johnson County, in the Kansas City suburbs, has the state's best-rated schools and highest home prices. The state sits squarely in Tornado Alley.

Money

The typical household here brings in $53,382 a year, lower than 71% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $56,667. Unemployment runs 2.6%, lower than 79% of American counties. 5% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 19 minutes each way.

Kansas takes 5.4% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,891 a year.

Home

The median home costs $131K, cheaper than 91% of American counties, about 1.3 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $729 a month. Property tax is 1.32% of home value, roughly $1,213 a year on that median home, higher than 78% of American counties. 71% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.7 per 1,000 residents, lower than 62% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 19 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 72.3 years, shorter than 85% of American counties. There are 17 active physicians in the county, about 8.8 per 10,000 people. 11.7% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.09 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 52% of American counties. 90% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 50 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 60% of eligible voters turned out. Under Kansas law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is illegal.

Weather and risk

The year averages 59°F, highs near 70 and lows near 48, warmer than 64% of American counties. About 42 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 64 out of 100, riskier than 65% of American counties; the county has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 130 Mbps down, slower than 78% of American counties. There is 1 airport in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 3 museums.