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Pittsburg, KS

Pittsburg, KS

Aerial view of Downtown Pittsburg, Kansas · Photo: Skrunyon, CC BY-SA 4.0

A town of about 20,637 people in Crawford County.

Pittsburg at a glance

Each grade compares this area with all 813 U.S. metro and small-town areas: A is the top 20%, F the bottom 20%. Cost compares everyday prices with the U.S. average. Varro doesn't grade safety; crime facts are further down.

A
Cost
Everyday prices about 14% below the U.S. average (state rural average)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index, 2024
A
Housing
Typical home value is about 2.5 times the typical household's yearly income ($132,600 vs $52,844)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
B
Getting around
Average commute 18 minutes; 3% walk, bike or take transit to work
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
C
Things to do
50 restaurants, museums, theaters, music, game and book shops and historic places in the area (about 129 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023, National Register of Historic Places
F
Outdoors
0 hiking trails, 11 campgrounds and 22 paddling spots nearby
Public land: About 33,000 acres within 25 miles (3% of the area)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
OpenStreetMap contributors and federal recreation data; public land: USGS Protected Areas Database
B
Jobs
Unemployment 4.1% (U.S.: 5.2%)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
D
Social life
18 bars, cafes, gyms, breweries and game shops in the area (about 46 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023
C
Healthcare
0.7 primary care doctors per 1,000 people in the main county; nearest emergency room about 2 miles from the center
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
County Health Rankings 2025; Medicare Care Compare
C
Schools
Public school test pass rates about 1 points below the state average (16 schools)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Department of Education, 2021-22 (compared within the state only)
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What kind of place it is

Artsy

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 813 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Pittsburg scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Artsy
70 / 100
2 museums, art galleries and theater companies in the area

Less so: historic, big-city feel, outdoorsy, growing.

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.

Around Pittsburg

An updated photo of Pittsburg City Hall, taken post-renovation
An updated photo of Pittsburg City Hall, taken post-renovation · Photo: Bri.green, CC0
A photo of the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, notable for its glowing lights, on...
A photo of the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, notable for its glowing lights, on... · Photo: Addison Hinterweger, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pittsburg's Playter Lake at Lakeside Park
Pittsburg's Playter Lake at Lakeside Park · Photo: Sarah.runyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
The front sign of the Memorial Auditorium in Pittsburg, Kansas
The front sign of the Memorial Auditorium in Pittsburg, Kansas · Photo: Brigreen21, CC BY-SA 4.0
Historic Pittsburg Community Middle School (2020)
Historic Pittsburg Community Middle School (2020) · Photo: Sarah.runyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
A photo of the outside of the Pittsburg Public Library
A photo of the outside of the Pittsburg Public Library · Photo: Bri.green, CC0
Aerial view of Downtown Pittsburg, Kansas
Aerial view of Downtown Pittsburg, Kansas · Photo: Skrunyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
A crowd enjoys live music at the Little Balkans Days at Lincoln Park, Pittsburg
A crowd enjoys live music at the Little Balkans Days at Lincoln Park, Pittsburg · Photo: Skrunyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
A view of the high school on October 23, 2016
A view of the high school on October 23, 2016 · Photo: Pittsburgstealer, CC BY-SA 4.0
Aerial view of Carnie Smith Stadium
Aerial view of Carnie Smith Stadium · Photo: Brigreen21, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Around Pittsburg

Where it is, what's close by, trails, buses and trains, and health care.
Where it is
Pittsburg
Pittsburg in Kansas
Kansas in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Pittsburg's center.

5
grocery stores
16
restaurants
4
coffee shops
15
parks
3
playgrounds
2
libraries
2
bookstores
2
gyms
1
bar
1
hospital

None found within 5 miles: movie theaters, pharmacies.

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

Stores nearby

Membership warehouses and popular grocery stores, measured from the center of Pittsburg.
Sam's Club
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
Nearest about 28 miles
Target
Nearest about 26 miles
Aldi
1 within 15 miles, nearest about 2 miles
Not within 50 miles: Costco, BJ's Wholesale Club, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, Sprouts Farmers Market.
Straight-line miles, so the drive is longer. Store locations from each chain's own store finder, collected by the open-data project All the Places, October 2026.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Pittsburg.

Bike lanes and bike paths
16 miles
more than most U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
12 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.

Buses and trains

Bus stops within 1 mile
11
Bus stops within 5 miles
21
Nearest train or subway station
None within 30 miles
U.S. Department of Transportation, National Transit Map (stops from each transit agency's schedule data, Sept. 2026). Straight-line distance from the town center. Counts stops, not how often buses come; check the local transit agency for schedules.

Health care

Nearest hospital with an emergency room: Mercy Hospital Pittsburg in Pittsburg, about 2 miles away in a straight line.

Mercy Hospital Pittsburg
Pittsburg, KS · about 2 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 3 of 5
Girard Medical Center
Girard, KS · about 11 miles
Small rural hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 2 of 5
Mercy Hospital Columbus
Columbus, KS · about 19 miles
Small rural hospital · Emergency room
No Medicare star rating
Mercy Specialty Hospital Southeast Kansas
Galena, KS · about 20 miles
Hospital
No Medicare star rating
In the county, compared with Kansas and the U.S.
Primary care doctors
0.7
per 1,000 people · Kansas: 0.8 · U.S.: 0.8
Dentists
0.6
per 1,000 people · Kansas: 0.6 · U.S.: 0.7
Mental health providers
2.8
per 1,000 people · Kansas: 2.5 · U.S.: 3.3
People under 65 without health insurance
10.7%
Kansas: 10.2% · U.S.: 9.5%
Hospitals: Medicare Care Compare (CMS Care Compare, July 2026); distances are straight-line miles from the town center (located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder), so drive distance is longer. Doctors, dentists, providers and insurance: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025 release. In an emergency, call 911.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Typical rent by size
$735
Studio
$690
1 bedroom
$876
2 bedrooms
$1,114
3 bedrooms
Living alone: about $690 a month for a 1-bedroom
With one roommate: about $440 each for a 2-bedroom

Middle (median) rent, Census American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 (table B25031). Includes utilities the renter pays. The roommate figure splits the rent evenly. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

Of about 4,408 rented homes in Pittsburg, 100% rent for under $2,000 a month and 100% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 72%
$1,000 to $1,499: 24%
$1,500 to $1,999: 3%
$2,000 to $2,499: 0%
$2,500 to $2,999: 0%
$3,000 or more: 0%

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 Pittsburg 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

A view of the high school on October 23, 2016
A view of the high school on October 23, 2016 · Photo: Pittsburgstealer, CC BY-SA 4.0

5 public school districts in this county, with about 6,322 students in all. The county also has 2 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

Northeast ElemNorth East HighNortheast Virtual SchoolSoutheast Middle SchoolSoutheast HighFrank Layden ElemFrontenac Sr. High SchoolFrontenac Jr. HighR V Haderlein ElemGirard MiddleGirard HighGeo E Nettels ElemLakeside ElemWestside ElemPittsburg HighPittsburg Middle SchoolMeadowlark ElementarySt Marys Colgan Elementary and Jr/Sr High School (private)St Marys Elementary School (private)CRAWFORD COUNTYCHEROKEE COUNTYPittsburg
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Pittsburg: Pittsburg Unified School District 250
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 Pittsburg

Elementary
Westside Elem0.7 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 521 students · 26.1 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 25 to 29%, math 30 to 34% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Lakeside Elem1.1 mi
Public
grades K to 5 · 391 students · 14 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 35%, math 34% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Meadowlark Elementary1.4 mi
Public
grades K to 5 · 414 students · 14.8 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 25 to 29%, math 20 to 24% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Middle
Pittsburg Middle School0.5 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 707 students · 14.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 25%, math 29% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Frontenac Jr. High2.8 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 223 students · 13.1 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 37%, math 25% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Southeast Middle School8.3 mi
Public
grades 5 to 8 · 129 students · 11.7 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 25 to 29%, math 5% or less (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
High school
Pittsburg High1.4 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,044 students · 17.7 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 26%, math 26% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Frontenac Sr. High School2.8 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 288 students · 16 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 30 to 34%, math 25 to 29% (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
North East High9.0 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 124 students · 8.3 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 20% or less, math 20% or less (state: reading 33%, math 29%)
Private
St Marys Elementary School0.3 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 6 · 238 students · 11.4 per teacher
St Marys Colgan Elementary and Jr/Sr High School0.3 mi
Private
grades 7 to 12 · 200 students · 9.5 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Pittsburg, 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

Pittsburg · Pittsburg
3,390 students · 16.5 students per teacher · 6 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Girard · Girard
1,037 students · 16 students per teacher · 3 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Frontenac Public Schools · Frontenac
953 students · 14.7 students per teacher · 3 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).

Special education in Kansas

Federal rating for the state: Meets requirements
Each year the U.S. Department of Education rates every state on how well it follows the special education law (IDEA) and on results for students with disabilities. This rates Kansas as a whole, not your district or school. Each state also publishes yearly special education results for every district on its education department's website. Read Kansas's 2026 rating letter.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2026 determinations on state implementation of IDEA Part B (issued June 18, 2026).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rank single schools. The area's Schools grade at the top of the page compares its test pass rates with the rest of the state only. 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 8% 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).

One college in the county around Pittsburg. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

Pittsburg State University · Pittsburg
Public, 4-year · 5,722 students · $8,156 in-state, $19,500 out-of-state

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
Median home value
$110,800
What owners in Pittsburg say their homes are worth, middle value. A survey estimate, not sale prices.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey, town level), 2019 to 2023
Cost of living
About 14% below the U.S. average
For the parts of KS outside metro areas as a whole: everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $86 for what costs $100 nationally. No price index exists for single small towns.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 85.9 (U.S. = 100), rural KS, 2024
Average commute
15 minutes one way
How long Pittsburg residents' trips to work take on average, not counting people who work from home. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey, town level), 2019 to 2023
Unemployment
3.6%
The share of Pittsburg residents looking for work who couldn't find it, from a survey averaged over five years. U.S.: about 5% on this survey.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey, town level), 2019 to 2023
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 $1,733 a year
The 2023 statewide average for a standard homeowners policy in KS (U.S. average: $1,737). Prices have gone up since, and your own quote will depend on the home.
Natural disaster risk
Relatively 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
$50,311
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.12% of home value a year
About $1,120 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: Tax Foundation and the state's tax agency, 2026

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