First National Bank · National Register of Historic Places
Mankato’s story
146 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1887.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1880Mankato is settled
MankatoKS
Home to 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Jewell County Courthouse · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0
Population
803
2025 Census estimate · −3.7% since 2020
Typical home
$97K
+11.9% in a year
Household income
$51K
median
Median age
51.5
years
Jobs based here
382
Balanced
Is Mankato a good place to live?
Its National Register listings include Jewell County Courthouse and First National Bank. Mankato has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Mankato stand out
Where Mankato beats most towns.
Small town
803 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 Mankato: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mankato, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of MankatoEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Mankato water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Mankato’s trash rules yet
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 hereJewell County ClerkJewell County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2024
ZIP code6695666956 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 Mankato.
Housing
Compared with most of Kansas and the rest of the country, the median rent in Mankato is lower
Among households in Mankato, 67% are owner-occupiers, against 72% in Kansas’ towns and 73% across U.S. towns. Typical home values rose 12% in the year to September 2026. The typical Mankato home is worth about $97,000, up 11.9% in a year, 61% below the Kansas typical home.
$97KZillow home value
| Mankato | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $639 a month | $975 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 67% | 72% | 73% |
Typical home value
Mankato$97K
Kansas$246K
+11.9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Top of a high hazard risk in Mankato: hail
The FEMA risk score in Mankato is 71 of 100. Expected losses in Mankato break down as 43% from hail and 19% from inland flooding. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Mankato after 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2017.
71risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HailInland floodingStrong wind
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
24″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter19–40°
Spring39–64°
Summer63–88°
Fall42–67°
Oct 14
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
With 1.3 jobs for every working resident, Mankato draws in 317 commuters
One in 5 of Mankato’s working residents works locally. In Mankato, the mean commuting time is 14 minutes. Since 2013, Mankato has lost 128 jobs, to 382 in 2023. The town’s median household income stands at $51,000, where Kansas’ towns sit at $73,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000.
22%work in town
| Mankato | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 14 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 22% | 15% | 8% |
| Median household income | $51,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Mankato22%
Beloit14%
Wichita5%
Topeka3%
Concordia3%
24 mi
median commute distance
382
jobs based in Mankato
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
A larger share of adults in Mankato have diabetes than in the typical Kansas or U.S. town
Among adults in Mankato, 23% say their health is fair or poor. No town among the 151 in Kansas we compare has a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Mankato. CDC measures, 32 in all: Mankato beats Kansas on 3 and trails on 14.
| Mankato | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 34% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 11% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Kansas
3 better15 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Mankato | KS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 83.6% | 77.6% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 19.2% | 11.3% |
Jewell County Hospital
0.4 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Outdoors
0% of Mankato is conserved land
0.4 miles of trail wind through 1 park or preserve. Parks and preserves in Mankato: one, of 7 acres.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 620 acres
0.4 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mankato City Park | — | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mankato
17pages on Mankato
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mankato; the nearest are
Fort Hays Tech North CentralCommunity college · Public · Beloit21.7 mi$7,350 in-state tuitionUniversity of Nebraska at KearneyUniversity or college · Public · Kearney, NE78.7 mi$8,676 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Mankato residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
Landmarks
3 places in Mankato on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Mankato
6 notable people were born in Mankato.
Questions about Mankato
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mankato, KS a good place to live?
Mankato has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real. Home to 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
What is Mankato, KS known for?
6 notable people were born here, including Thelma Wood and Wint Smith.