Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
18% of residents are under 18 in Cottonwood Falls, below both Kansas’ towns (24%) and U.S. towns (22%). Among 152 Kansas towns, just 9 have a lower middle household income than Cottonwood Falls. Its National Register listings include Chase County Courthouse and Chase County National Bank. Cottonwood Falls has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Cottonwood Falls beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1873.
4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Cottonwood Falls, 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 Cottonwood Falls.
Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home gained 1.7% in value. The share of households in Cottonwood Falls who are owner-occupiers: 84%. Cottonwood Falls’ median rent stands at $838 a month.
| Cottonwood Falls | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 84% | 72% | 73% |
| Median rent | $838 a month | $975 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Cottonwood Falls once, in 2005. 54% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by tornadoes at 12%. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 89% of U.S. communities.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Expect July afternoons of 91° and January nights of 20°, with about 11 inches of snow a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Half the trips to work are shorter than 21 miles. Since 2013, Cottonwood Falls has added 147 jobs, to 418 in 2023. In Cottonwood Falls, about one in five working residents works in town. The top destinations are Emporia (19%), Topeka (9%) and Wichita (4%).
| Cottonwood Falls | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 21% | 15% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
16% of adults report frequent mental distress in Cottonwood Falls. Among adults in the town, 30% get no exercise outside work and 13% have diabetes.
| Cottonwood Falls | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 22% | 23% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 26% | 25% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 11% | 12% |
| What stands out | Cottonwood Falls | KS |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 13.9% | 9.9% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 15.4% | 11.3% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.1% | 6.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Cottonwood Falls. Close and well known come first.
2 mi National PreserveTallgrass Prairie National Preserve28K visitors a year
20 mi MuseumNational Teachers Hall of Fame20 mi Zoo & aquariumDavid Traylor Zoo of EmporiaTallgrass Prairie National Preserve: Samstone13, CC BY-SA 4.0 · National Teachers Hall of Fame: Corkythehornetfan, CC BY-SA 3.0
None within 15 miles of Cottonwood Falls; the nearest are
About 5 of every 100 Cottonwood Falls residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
4 places in Cottonwood Falls on the National Register of Historic Places.
City in Chase County, Kansas, U.S.
Cottonwood Falls is the largest city in and the county seat of Chase County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 851. It is located south of Strong City along the south side of the Cottonwood River.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Cottonwood Falls has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
2 notable people were born here, including Dudley Doolittle and Harold C. Case.
