Valley Center, KS
Census place 2073250 · pop 8,590
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
29 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.59% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
95/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
3.8% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
90.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
3 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
35.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
43 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$77,020 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
12.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
36.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$227,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
15.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
7.4% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
72.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
20.4% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.40 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
41 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
245 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+19.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
3.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
Not measured for Valley Center: Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Valley Center, KS a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Valley Center scores 61/100 — a C (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is poverty rate and its weakest is commute time. Kansas overall ranks #20 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Valley Center, KS?
- Valley Center reports 41 violent crimes per 100k and 245 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Valley Center, KS expensive to live in?
- Valley Center has a median home value of $227,700 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Valley Center, KS?
- Its weakest measured area is commute time (29 min) — 20/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Valley Center, KS best at?
- Its strongest measured area is poverty rate (3.6%) — 93/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.