Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 1,249, settled in 1871. 2.8 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Kansas town.
The best of Osborne’s subject grades are an A+ for cost of living, an A for schools, and an A− for walkability; the weakest is a D for incomes. Only 7 of Kansas’ 373 towns score higher on cost of living. Osborne's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 99% of U.S. towns. Osborne has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Osborne Public Carnegie Library and Osborne County Courthouse. Osborne has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Osborne beats most towns.
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Osborne Elem | PK–5 | 194 |
| Osborne Junior/Senior High | 6–12 | 157 |
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Kansas), ordered by how far Osborne is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1874.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Osborne, 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 Osborne.
Osborne’s median rent is $579 a month, against $975 a month in Kansas’ towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns. Typical home values fell 5.7% in the year to September 2026.
| Osborne | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $579 a month | $975 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 72% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the Osborne County school district. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osborne ElemLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 194 | A |
| Osborne Junior/Senior HighLargest public high schoolGrades 6–12 | Grades 6–12 | 157 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within KS on state tests and graduation
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 69% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Osborne has chilly winters and hot summers. Osborne’s July high is 93°F, above both the Kansas town median (91°F) and the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Osborne beats the Kansas average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 28% of Osborne adults feel lonely. Only 4 of the 151 Kansas towns we compare have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Osborne.
| Osborne | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 34% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 35% | 36% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 11% | 12% |
| What stands out | Osborne | KS |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 83% | 77.6% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.2% | 6.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
About one in 4 of Osborne’s working residents works in town. The average trip to work in Osborne is 14 minutes. Jobs based in Osborne fell to 524 in 2023, 226 fewer than in 2013.
| Osborne | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 14 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 24% | 15% | 8% |
| Median household income | $52,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hardman Park | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Osborne; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Osborne residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
2 places in Osborne on the National Register of Historic Places.
6 notable people were born in Osborne.
City in Osborne County, Kansas
Osborne is a city in and the county seat of Osborne County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,335.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
2.8 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Kansas town.
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 Edward L. Kessel and Elsie Lincoln Benedict.
