City profile · Kansas · Census ACS 2023

Medicine Lodge, KS

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Medicine Lodge - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,518
Residents
$54,663
Median income
$80,200
Median home
$877
Median rent (state)

Medicine Lodge - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Medicine Lodge lands in the 27th percentile for household income and the 61st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

27th
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
2nd
percentile, median rent
61st
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: Medicine Lodge, KS

Medicine Lodge is a small town in Kansas, home to 1,518 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Medicine Lodge households earn a median of $54,663 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.9%. Home values in Medicine Lodge run a median of $80,200, and the median resident age is 46.5 years. Educational attainment runs 23.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 61.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). Medicine Lodge reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1065.7 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 57.9°F with 27.8 inches of precipitation per year and 9.4 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Kansas run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Kansas at 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $877 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Kansas's average monthly utility costs around $217 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 40.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

1,518 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kansas

Median Household Income

$54,663 /yr

Poverty 8.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kansas average

How does Medicine Lodge compare to other US cities?

Here's how Medicine Lodge stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% pricier than other cities
Safety 61% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Kansas, Medicine Lodge ranks #36 of 109 Kansas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Medicine Lodge 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 Medicine Lodge near the bottom of Kansas's cities

Among the 552 Kansas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Medicine Lodge ranks #264 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Medicine Lodge only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#342 of 527
35th percentile in Kansas
Median Gross Rent
#264 of 552
0th percentile in Kansas
Median Home Value
#346 of 527
34th percentile in Kansas
Poverty Rate
#220 of 552
60th percentile in Kansas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#188 of 552
66th percentile in Kansas

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.

27thIncome percentile
61stSafety percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income · 61st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Medicine Lodge's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Medicine Lodge'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. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 62 Avg. percentile National median
Medicine Lodge'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 Medicine Lodge's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$80,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Medicine Lodge $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

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

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Medicine Lodge, KS Medicine Lodge, KS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Medicine Lodge, KS-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Medicine Lodge, KS median $54,663/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Medicine Lodge, KS's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Medicine Lodge, KS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,518
Median Income
$54,663
Median Home Value
$80,200
Median Age
46.5
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Labor force participation
61.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1065.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1065.7
per 100,000 residents

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
57.9°F
Annual Precipitation
27.8"
Annual Snowfall
9.4"

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,700 residents1,720 residents1,740 residents1,760 residents1,780 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,765 residents 1,707 residents ▼ -3.3%
Medicine Lodge's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.2%
Carpool
6.6%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
2.8%

Based on 756 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kansas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$217
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kansas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kansas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Medicine Lodge sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$877/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
40.3 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kansas

Stockton
1,521 people
Douglass
1,523 people
Hill City
1,536 people
Osborne
1,496 people
Silver Lake
1,549 people
Belle Plaine
1,486 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Medicine Lodge's 1,518 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Arnaudville, LA
1,518 people
West Brookfield, MA
1,518 people
Dunsmuir, CA
1,519 people
Williamsville, IL
1,519 people
Cecilia, LA
1,517 people
Glendale, MS
1,519 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Medicine Lodge's $54,663 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Montevallo, AL
$54,665 median income
Onawa, IA
$54,659 median income
Katie, OK
$54,667 median income
Dudley, PA
$54,659 median income
Reedsport, OR
$54,655 median income
Cheviot, OH
$54,654 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Medicine Lodge, KS Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Medicine Lodge, KS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.3% White 91.8% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.4% American Indian 1.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.2% Two or more races 4.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Medicine Lodge compares to nearby Kansas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Medicine Lodge (this city) 1,518 $54,663
Stockton 1,521 $60,964
Douglass 1,523 $70,735
Hill City 1,536 $49,899
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KS FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Medicine Lodge, KS?

What is the population of Medicine Lodge, KS? +

1,518 people live in Medicine Lodge, KS according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Medicine Lodge, KS? +

The median household income in Medicine Lodge is $54,663 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Medicine Lodge? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Medicine Lodge; the closest available measure is the Kansas state average, a cost of living index of 90.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kansas vary by metro area.

Is Medicine Lodge, KS safe? +

Medicine Lodge has a total crime rate of 1065.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Medicine Lodge, KS? +

A typical home in Medicine Lodge is worth $80,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Medicine Lodge? +

Medicine Lodge has an average annual temperature of 57.9°F, 27.8 inches of precipitation, and 9.4 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.