VarroExplore other towns

McPherson, KS

A town of about 13,995 people in McPherson County.

Thinking about McPherson?
Compare saved towns
How McPherson fits your quiz
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

More towns near McPherson
Ranks the towns around it by your budget and what you love doing.
McPherson hasn't been added yet

Sign in (free) to add it. It takes about a minute, and then anyone can read it.

Around McPherson

Where it is, what's close by, and trails.
Where it is
McPherson
McPherson in Kansas
Kansas in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of McPherson's center.

2
grocery stores
9
restaurants
2
coffee shops
16
parks
14
playgrounds
4
libraries
1
movie theater
4
live theaters
1
museum
6
bookstores
1
comic shop
3
gyms
1
bar
1
hospital

None found within 5 miles: pharmacies.

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of McPherson.

Bike lanes and bike paths
8.8 miles
more than most U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
9.1 miles
about typical for a U.S. town

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Of about 1,753 rented homes in McPherson, 97% rent for under $2,000 a month and 97% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 57%
$1,000 to $1,499: 37%
$1,500 to $1,999: 3%
$2,000 to $2,499: 0%
$2,500 to $2,999: 0%
$3,000 or more: 3%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in McPherson rents for under $1,000 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about under $2,000 for first month plus a deposit, or up to under $3,000 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For rent under $1,000, that's a yearly income of about under $36,000.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to Kansas: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Kansas DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Kansas voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

5 public school districts in this county, with about 4,696 students in all. The county also has 1 public charter school and 2 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

Soderstrom ElemSmoky Valley Middle SchoolSmoky Valley HighSmoky Valley Virtual Charter SchoolCanton-Galva Jr./Sr. HighCanton-Galva ElementaryInman ElemInman Jr/Sr High SchoolWindom ElemLincoln ElemRoosevelt ElemWashington ElemMcpherson Middle SchoolMcpherson HighEisenhower ElementaryMoundridge ElemMoundridge HighMoundridge MiddleSt Joseph Elementary School (private)Elyria Christian School (private)MARION COUNTYELLSWORTH COUNTYRICE COUNTYMCPHERSON COUNTYMcpherson
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Mcpherson: McPherson Unified School District 418
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of Mcpherson

Elementary
Washington Elem0.5 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 265 students · 13.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 45 to 49%, math 40 to 44% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Lincoln Elem0.6 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 245 students · 12.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 35 to 39%, math 25 to 29% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Roosevelt Elem0.7 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 262 students · 11.9 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 30 to 34%, math 15 to 19% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Middle
Mcpherson Middle School0.5 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 470 students · 13.1 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 25%, math 18% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Inman Elem11.1 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 6 · 265 students · 13.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 45 to 49%, math 45 to 49% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Inman Jr/Sr High School11.5 mi
Public
grades 7 to 12 · 186 students · 12.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 20 to 24%, math 25 to 29% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
High school
Mcpherson High0.8 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 692 students · 13.1 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 15 to 19%, math 15 to 19% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Inman Jr/Sr High School11.5 mi
Public
grades 7 to 12 · 186 students · 12.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 20 to 24%, math 25 to 29% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Canton-Galva Jr./Sr. High12.6 mi
Public
grades 6 to 12 · 177 students · 14.8 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 6 to 9%, math 10 to 14% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Private
St Joseph Elementary School1.4 mi
Private
grades K to 6 · 108 students · 14.2 per teacher
Elyria Christian School5.9 mi
Private
grades K to 12 · 193 students · 9.4 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Mcpherson, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on Kansas's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

Mcpherson · Mcpherson
2,311 students · 12.7 students per teacher · 6 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Smoky Valley · Lindsborg
1,110 students · 19.5 students per teacher · 4 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Moundridge · Moundridge
499 students · 13.9 students per teacher · 3 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Inman · Inman
435 students · 12.8 students per teacher · 2 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Canton-Galva · Canton
341 students · 12.6 students per teacher · 2 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

School choice and pre-K in Kansas

Going to school in another district
State law lets each district decide whether to take students from other districts. Some do, some don't; ask the district you'd like.
Picking a different school in your district
State law doesn't set a rule for switching schools within a district; it's up to each district.
Free state pre-K
45% of 4-year-olds and 22% of 3-year-olds in Kansas attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Kansas keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
AgeDaycare centerHome daycare
Infant (under 2)$96/week
about $5,000 a year
$98/week
about $5,100 a year
Toddler (2)$98/week
about $5,100 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)$98/week
about $5,100 a year
$83/week
about $4,300 a year
School-age$82/week
about $4,300 a year

For an infant at a center: $96/week here, $157 across KS, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 6% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.

U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Search licensed childcare in Kansas →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

3 colleges in the county around McPherson. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

McPherson College · McPherson
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 788 students · $35,162 a year
Bethany College · Lindsborg
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 637 students · $31,946 a year
Central Christian College of Kansas · McPherson
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 455 students · $21,000 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Data centers nearby
None within 15 miles
No mapped data center buildings near the town center.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Homeowners insurance
About $5,260 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in KS. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Very Low
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
1 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
Fewer than 10 a year
The CDC doesn't publish exact counts under 10. KS average: 16.1 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 5.4 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 883 people without housing in the Kansas Balance of State area (102 counties): 588 in shelters and 295 outside, down from 1,089 in 2024. KS: 8.9 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$77,701
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.4% of home value a year
About $1,400 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 5.58%
KS's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

More towns in Kansas →

Did this page help you decide whether to visit McPherson, KS or cross it off?