Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Horton’s subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and an A− for history; the weakest is a D− for incomes. 22% of residents live below the poverty line in Horton, above both the Kansas town median (9.1%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). No town in Kansas scores lower than Horton on incomes. Horton is more walkable than 76% of U.S. towns. Only 33 of Kansas’ 373 towns score higher on history. Horton has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Horton beats most towns.
US Post Office-Horton1,776 counted in 2010 and 1,523 in 2020; an estimated 1,460 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Kansas), ordered by how far Horton is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 3,316 in 1890, a peak of 4,049 in 1930, 1,523 in 2020. The archive holds 10 old photos and papers going back to 1880 and 5 maps from 1888 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Horton, 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 Horton.
Horton’s median rent is $642 a month, below both Kansas’ towns ($975 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). 56% of Horton households own their home. Typical home values rose 5.4% in the year to September 2026.
| Horton | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 56% | 72% | 73% |
| Median rent | $642 a month | $975 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the South Brown County school district. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horton ElemLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 226 | B |
| Horton HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 147 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within KS on state tests and graduation
42% of adults have high blood pressure in Horton. Among 151 Kansas towns, just 3 have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Horton. 41% of adults have obesity in Horton.
| Horton | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 34% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 11% | 12% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 15% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| What stands out | Horton | KS |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.8% | 77.6% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.2% | 6.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Most working residents leave Horton for work: only 16% work in town. The median household income in Horton is $41,000. Jobs based in Horton fell to 387 in 2023, 120 fewer than in 2013.
| Horton | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 16% | 15% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Horton has chilly winters and warm summers. Horton’s July high is 88°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 57% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Only 1 of the 81 Kansas towns we compare have a lower violent crime rate than Horton.
| Horton | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 2.5 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 15.9 per 1,000 residents | 11 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
0.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rock Island Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Horton; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Horton residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
6 notable people were born in Horton.
City in Brown County, Kansas
Horton is a city in Brown County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,523.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.
6 notable people were born here, including John Joseph Sullivan and Danny J. Petersen.
