Effingham, 2010
Effingham’s story
158 years in pictures
Census counts: 187 in 1880, a peak of 676 in 1940, 495 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 6 maps from 1885 on.
- 1868Effingham is settled
EffinghamKS
A town of 481, settled in 1868.
Photo: David de Gregorio · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
481
2025 Census estimate · −2% since 2020
Typical home
$227K
+8.8% in a year
Household income
$63K
median
Median age
54.3
years
Jobs based here
131
A commuter town
Is Effingham a good place to live?
Effingham’s median age is 54.3 years, above both Kansas’ towns (38.1 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). Among 152 Kansas towns, just 2 have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Effingham. Effingham has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
481 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Effingham: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Effingham, and how to reach them.
PowerEvergy14.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Effingham water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Effingham’s trash rules yet
SchoolsAtchison County Community Schools Unified School District 377Which school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Kansas you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereAtchison County ClerkAtchison County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code6602366023 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Effingham.
Work & commute
Effingham has 0.5 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Effingham for work: only 6% work in town. Since 2013, Effingham has lost 22 jobs, to 131 in 2023. 6.2% of residents live below the poverty line in Effingham, against 9.1% in Kansas’ towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns.
6%work in town
| Effingham | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 5.8% | 15% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $63,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Effingham6%
Atchison25%
Topeka6%
Leavenworth5%
Kansas City4%
28 mi
median commute distance
131
jobs based in Effingham
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Effingham has four seasons and hot summers
Effingham has chilly winters and warm summers. The July high in Effingham is 88°F.
16″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–40°
Spring43–65°
Summer65–86°
Fall44–66°
Oct 17
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Effingham is
Effingham beats the Kansas average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 17% of adults smoke cigarettes in Effingham.
| Effingham | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 26% | 25% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 34% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 76% | 77% | 79% |
32 measures vs. Kansas
0 better27 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Effingham | KS |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 8.2% | 6.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 7.6% | 6.4% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 3.8% | 3.2% |
Amberwell Atchison Association
13.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
Homes in Effingham are worth about $227K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Effingham home is worth about $227,000, up 8.8% in a year, 8% below the Kansas typical home. Effingham’s median rent is $813 a month.
$227KZillow home value
| Effingham | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 81% | 72% | 73% |
| Median rent | $813 a month | $975 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Effingham$227K
Kansas$246K
+8.8%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Effingham
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 52% of U.S. communities.
48risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesDrought
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Effingham
17pages on Effingham
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Effingham; the nearest are
Benedictine CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Atchison15.5 mi$36,350 tuitionHighland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Highland24.2 mi$4,080 in-state tuitionMissouri Western State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Saint Joseph, MO36.3 mi$10,306 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Effingham residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Effingham for work
Where Effingham’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
131jobs based in Effingham
6%of working residents work in town
28 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Effingham
City in Kansas, United States
Effingham is a city in Benton Township, Atchison County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 495.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,135 ft
- ZIP code
- 66023
Questions about Effingham
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Effingham, KS a good place to live?
Effingham has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.