Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Centralia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Centralia beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 289 in 1880, a peak of 682 in 1930, 485 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 1938 and 4 maps from 1889 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Centralia, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Centralia.
Among working residents in Centralia, 5.9% work locally. The town’s average commute is 17 minutes, against 20 minutes in Kansas’ towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. The top destinations are Seneca (16%), Sabetha (8%) and Topeka (8%). Half the trips to work are shorter than 22 miles.
| Centralia | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.9% | 15% | 8% |
| Median household income | $67,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
For households in Centralia, the share who own their home is 80%.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Adults 18 to 34 are 14% of residents (23% statewide); people 65 and older are 26% of residents (17% statewide). In Centralia, 20% of residents are under 18. Its age of the median resident is 43.8 years, above both the Kansas town median (38.1 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). Nearly a third of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 36% across Kansas.
| Centralia | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 years | 38.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 20% | 24% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 32% | 29% | 29% |
47% women, 53% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±7.1 points. Across Kansas, 49.8% of residents are women. Among residents 65 to 74, 82% are men (KS 48%).
| Centralia | KS | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.8% | 12.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.6% | 11.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.6% | 10.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 6.2% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.2% | 12.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 16.2% | 11.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 7.4% | 12.2% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.4% | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 12.8% | 6.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11.9% | 8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31.9% | 25.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.8% | 21.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.8% | 22.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.6% | 13.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 500, single groups can be off by several points
A winter brings about 33 inches of snow, with January nights at 16° and July afternoons at 88°.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Centralia: nearly two in five adults have obesity. A third of Centralia adults sleep under 7 hours.
| Centralia | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 35% | 36% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 37% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 34% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 26% | 25% |
| What stands out | Centralia | KS |
|---|---|---|
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.6% | 8.1% |
| More adults with arthritis | 29.2% | 25.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Two fifths of Centralia’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by tornadoes at 20%. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 53% of U.S. communities. Paid flood insurance claims here since 1983: 3.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Centralia Ball Fields | — | 3 |
| 2. Hidden Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Centralia; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Centralia residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
Where Centralia’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in Nemaha County, Kansas, US
Centralia is a city in Nemaha County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 485.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Centralia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.