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Place dossier plate
SheetKS-DODGE-CITY-KS · Dodge City, KS 27,652 pop · income 47th pct · 9 tracts
Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.
Income neighbourhood around Dodge City
Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Dodge City on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.
median HH income
Williamsport · lowest
49,363
Williamsport · lowest
49,363 median HH income
45.5% of the leader · rank #1
West York · near
67,938
West York · near
67,938 median HH income
62.7% of the leader · rank #2
Dodge City · this city
67,958
Dodge City · this city
67,958 median HH income
62.7% of the leader · rank #3
Woodsboro · near
67,969
Woodsboro · near
67,969 median HH income
62.7% of the leader · rank #4
Geistown · near
67,972
Geistown · near
67,972 median HH income
62.7% of the leader · rank #5
New Auburn · near
67,981
New Auburn · near
67,981 median HH income
62.7% of the leader · rank #6
Homewood · highest
108,386
Homewood · highest
108,386 median HH income
100.0% of the leader · rank #7
What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by population, income, and FBI crime rate
Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Dodge City on ACS population and median household income
, plus FBI UCR reporting rate when the extract covers this place. Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.
Similar population
Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 27,652.
Agency-reported UCR totals per 100,000 population, not a neighborhood safety grade or a prediction of personal risk.
Dodge City - the verdict
Dodge City ranks in the 47th percentile for household income and the 51st percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.
47th
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
6th
percentile, median rent
51st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this
Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.
Data Snapshot: Dodge City, KS
Census ACS 2023 estimates count 27,652 residents in Dodge City, a small city within Kansas. Dodge City households earn a median of $67,958 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 15.0%. Home values in Dodge City run a median of $122,800, and the median resident age is 29.5 years. About 19.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 68.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.
In 2024, 131 residential building permits were authorized in Dodge City (Building Boom), up 138% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Dodge City reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1341.1 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Dodge City's yearly average temperature at 55.9°F with 22.0 inches of precipitation per year and 19.1 inches of snowfall.
Living costs in Kansas run below the national norm: the state registers 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $947 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Kansas run around $217, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Dodge City workers runs 11.8 minutes, with 81.8% driving alone and 1.1% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 29.9 out of 100 (Very Low).
A decision-led reading path
Useful questions to ask of Dodge City's data
How this reading path is ordered
This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from reported crime to within-city variation to schools and households to housing and income to work and mobility to comparison shortlist to population change to climate and hazard context; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.
For Dodge City, city-specific coverage includes annual population history, local building permits, commute-mode shares, matched public-school count, within-city Census tract profiles, FBI reported-crime rates.
All six city-specific enrichment layers used by this profile are present.
1. Reported crime
What can the FBI record say about safety in Dodge City?
Treat this as a reporting-rate comparison, not a prediction of personal risk or a neighborhood-level safety grade. Tourism, daytime population, reporting practices, and variation inside the city are not adjusted away. The state rank and same-state peer table are the narrower comparisons available on this page.
The joined FBI UCR record reports 1341.1 violent and property crimes per 100,000 residents, below the 2280.5 national reference used here. The difference is 41% lower in arithmetic terms, but agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies.
What can 9 Census tracts reveal inside Dodge City?
That layer breaks the citywide income, rent, and home-value medians into smaller Census geographies, which can reveal differences that one municipal median necessarily hides. A tract is a statistical area, not a locally defined neighborhood or a promise about conditions on a particular block. Start with the city profile for the broad comparison, then use the tract layer to test whether the same housing and income pattern is consistent across the city. Large within-city spreads are a reason to avoid treating any citywide median as a universal resident experience.
What does the education layer cover for Dodge City?
The NCES join finds 11 public schools within the city match. 19.7% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher in the ACS estimate. These measures answer different questions: the school count describes local institutions, while adult attainment describes residents and cannot be used as a school-quality rating.
The city has a broader matched school footprint, but count alone does not describe performance, capacity, program availability, or attendance boundaries. This profile deliberately avoids converting it into an unsupported family-friendliness score.
Which cities make useful reference points for Dodge City?
Within Kansas, the closest population matches are Garden City (27,781 residents, $72,511 income); Derby (25,801 residents, $82,089 income); Emporia (24,098 residents, $52,787 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are West Melbourne, FL (27,643 residents); Drexel Heights, AZ (27,636 residents); Williamsport, PA (27,629 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.
Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching. The nationwide peer panel below adds a fourth FBI UCR reporting-rate lens, not personal risk.
These joined records add useful context, but they do not need another full-size panel. Each remains a separate measure with its own geography and source boundary.
Housing and income
How far does income reach against housing in Dodge City?
The home-value-to-income reference is relatively compact: the ACS median home value is 1.8 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 15.0%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.
This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. The ratio makes housing the clearest place to start this profile, but a low multiple can coexist with slow demand, older stock, or household-level hardship. Compare the home-value distribution and same-state peer table before treating it as an advantage.
Household income
$67,958
Home value
$122,800
Value / income
1.8×
City-level Census ACS 2023 medians. The ratio divides two separate medians and is descriptive only.
What does the journey to work look like in Dodge City?
Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.
Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 81.8%. The reported mean trip to work is 11.8 minutes.
Public transit
0.0%
Work from home
1.1%
Drive alone
81.8%
City-level Census ACS commuting estimates covering 13,315 workers age 16+.
Is Dodge City growing, shrinking, or holding steady?
The recent population line is broadly flat. That makes the composition of change more important than the headline count: housing turnover, household size, and age structure can shift even when the total barely moves.
Census PEP estimates show the population declined by -82 residents from 2020 to 2025, a -0.3% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 131 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.
Period change
-0.3%
2025 estimate
27,653
2020 estimate
27,735
Census Population Estimates Program, 2020–2025; permit context uses Census BPS.
What physical conditions frame life in Dodge City?
NOAA normals put the annual mean temperature at 55.9°F, with 22.0 inches of precipitation and 19.1 inches of annual snowfall. FEMA's state-averaged National Risk Index score for Kansas is 29.9 out of 100. Climate normals describe long-run weather; the FEMA score on PlainCities is a state average of county NRI inputs and combines hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and resilience.
The two sources should not be blended into one comfort or safety score. Use the climate values for baseline conditions and the risk index as a prompt to inspect specific hazards, insurance, and local emergency guidance for a particular address.
Mean temperature
55.9°F
Annual precipitation
22.0 in
FEMA risk index (state avg)
29.9
NOAA Climate Normals and FEMA National Risk Index (state-averaged on PlainCities). Hazard context is not address-level.
Below median income · poverty 15.0% (High poverty)
Cost of Living Index (state)
90.1 (US=100)
Affordable · BEA RPP 2024, Kansas average
D
City profile score · Dodge City, KS
46/100
5 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023
Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians
(income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when
published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability
rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out
and redistribute weight.
How it is calculated.
Cost of living A
90.1 index
BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.
Household income D
$67,958
Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.
Violent crime D
251 /100k
FBI UCR violent offenses per 100,000 residents; lower is stronger on this axis.
Bachelor's+ share F
19.7%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.
Poverty rate F
15.0%
Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.
Dodge City profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)Read the chart values
Cost of living: 85/100 (A) · 90.1 index
Household income: 46/100 (D) · $67,958
Violent crime: 40/100 (D) · 251 /100k
Bachelor's+ share: 33/100 (F) · 19.7%
Poverty rate: 23/100 (F) · 15.0%
Where Dodge City sits on home value vs crime among peer cities
Dodge City's median home value and FBI crime rate plotted with similar-size and
same-state peers (padded with large cities when the peer set is thin). The second
read: pricey does not always mean safer, check which quadrant this city lands in.
Census ACS median home value vs FBI UCR crime rate - Dodge City highlighted among 9 peers.Read the chart values
Dodge City, KS (this city): home $122,800, crime 1,341/100k
West Melbourne, FL : home $341,500, crime 1,351/100k
Mount Pleasant, WI : home $269,900, crime 1,846/100k
Homewood, AL : home $502,300, crime 2,105/100k
Alvin, TX : home $212,500, crime 1,863/100k
Garden City, KS : home $186,200, crime 2,592/100k
Emporia, KS : home $127,500, crime 2,671/100k
Gardner, KS : home $276,000, crime 1,017/100k
Junction City, KS : home $162,500, crime 3,083/100k
How does Dodge City compare to other US cities?
Where Dodge City sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.
Household income47% higher than other cities
Home value18% pricier than other cities
Median rent6% pricier than other cities
Safety51% safer than other cities
"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.
A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Kansas alone, Dodge City ranks #48 of 109 Kansas cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.
How we calculate these percentiles & ranks
Each percentile compares Dodge City against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kansas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.
Kansas-relative analysis
Median Gross Rent places Dodge City near the bottom of Kansas's cities
Among the 552 Kansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Dodge City ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Dodge City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.
Median Household Income
#170 of 527
68th percentile in Kansas
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 552
0th percentile in Kansas
Median Home Value
#176 of 527
67th percentile in Kansas
Poverty Rate
#91 of 552
83rd percentile in Kansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#292 of 552
46th percentile in Kansas
How in-state ranks are ordered
Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kansas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.
Gauge source note
47th percentile nationally for median household income · 51st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.
Dodge City's profile vs. every US city
Income, affordability, and safety percentile
Dodge City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.
How Dodge City's home value compares nationally
Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)
$122,800Among the most affordablemore affordable than 82% of 15,600 US cities
Show national distribution
Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023
Dodge City's home-value-to-income ratio: 1.8×
ACS median home value divided by median household income.
Band
affordable
< 3.0×
National rank
#1,021 of 15,516
More affordable than 93% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#31 of 3,317
Small cities (10,000–49,999)
At 1.8×, Dodge City sits in the affordable band:
national rank #1,021 of 15,516 and #31 of 3,317small cities (10,000–49,999).
The multiple is comparatively compact among tracked cities, but a low ratio can still coexist with slow demand or household-level hardship.
How this ratio is calculated
Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000.
Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0).
This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.
Income distribution context
$67,958Dodge City, KS median household income (Census ACS)
Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Dodge City, KS median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Dodge City, KS.
Key socioeconomic indicators
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)19.7%
Census ACS S1501, educational attainment
Poverty rate (households below FPL)15.0%
Census ACS S1701, poverty status
Labor force participation (adults 16+)68.3%
Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force
Population
27,652
Median Income
$67,958
Median Home Value
$122,800
Median Age
29.5
Poverty Rate
15.0%
Labor force participation
68.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.7%
Safety & Crime
Total Crime Rate
1341.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
251.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1089.6
per 100,000 residents
Crime reporting caveat
Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.
Climate
Avg Temperature
55.9°F
Annual Precipitation
22.0"
Annual Snowfall
19.1"
Schools
Total Schools
11
Public schools in this city
Population Change
PEP vintage
Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025
Dodge City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.Read the chart as text
Period
Population
2020
27,735 residents
2021
27,701 residents
2022
27,457 residents
2023
27,657 residents
2024
27,830 residents
2025
27,653 residents
Housing Supply
BPS source
Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized
📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
131
housing units authorized
Single-Family
81
detached homes
Multifamily
50
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.7
permits per 1,000 residents
5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)
Year
Total
Single-Family
Multifamily
Est. Value
2019
55
37
18
$8.0M
2020
66
60
6
$10.8M
2021
66
44
22
$12.5M
2022
73
51
22
$13.1M
2023
150
72
78
$23.1M
2024
131
81
50
$21.3M
Permit volume increased 138% from 2019 to 2024.
Commute Patterns
Commute source
How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023
Average Commute Time
11.8 minutes
Drive Alone
81.8%
Carpool
15.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
1.1%
Other
1.1%
Based on 13,315 workers 16 and over.
Monthly Utility Costs
Kansas statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $217
EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Kansas at $217 (electricity about $110 , water and sewer about $42 ).
These are Kansas statewide averages, not a meter reading for Dodge City. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.
Living Costs & Risk
Kansas's BEA cost-of-living index is 90.1 (Well Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Dodge City is $947/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Kansas statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 29.9 / 100 (Very Low).
Cost/risk geography note
Cost of living is a Kansas statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Dodge City sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.
How Dodge City compares to similar-size Kansas cities
Same-state peer method
Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.