Henry Tilley House · National Register of Historic Places
Ransom’s story
138 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1888Ransom is settled
RansomKS
A town of 257, settled in 1888.
Henry Tilley House · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0
Population
257
2025 Census estimate · −2.7% since 2020
Typical home
$115K
+2.8% in a year
Household income
$44K
median
Median age
58.7
years
Jobs based here
137
Balanced
Is Ransom a good place to live?
Ransom’s median age is 58.7 years, above both the Kansas town median (38.1 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). No town among the 150 in Kansas we compare has a lower median rent than Ransom. Henry Tilley House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Ransom has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
257 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 Ransom: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ransom, and how to reach them.
PowerMidwest Energy12.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Ransom water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet1 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Ransom’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 hereNess County ClerkNess County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2026
ZIP code6757267572 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 Ransom.
Housing
A typical Ransom home is worth about $115K
The typical Ransom home is worth about $115,000, up 2.8% in a year, 53% below the Kansas typical home. 86% of households own their home in Ransom, against 72% in Kansas’ towns and 73% across U.S. towns.
$115KZillow home value
Typical home value
Ransom$115K
Kansas$246K
+2.8%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Ransom has four seasons and hot summers
Ransom has chilly winters and hot summers, with very little rain. Ransom’s July high is 92°F.
19″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–45°
Spring40–67°
Summer63–90°
Fall42–69°
Oct 13
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Ransom stands out in Kansas and nationally, with the median household income lower than most
The median household income in Ransom is $44,000. Most working residents leave Ransom for work: only 10% work in town. 15% of residents live below the poverty line in Ransom.
10%work in town
| Ransom | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $44,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 9.7% | 15% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Ransom10%
Ness City34%
Bazine11%
Utica3%
Garden City3%
13 mi
median commute distance
137
jobs based in Ransom
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Ransom
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 61% of U.S. communities.
61risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesDrought
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
Compared with most of Kansas and the rest of the country, more of Ransom’s adults have high blood pressure
44% of Ransom adults have high blood pressure. Among 151 Kansas towns, just 3 have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Ransom. 20% of Ransom adults have been diagnosed with depression.
| Ransom | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 34% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 16% | 16% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 11% | 12% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Kansas
7 better16 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Ransom | KS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 8% | 11.2% |
| Fewer binge drinkers | 12.1% | 16.3% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 13.2% | 8.1% |
Grisell Memorial Hospital
0.1 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ransom
16pages on Ransom
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Ransom; the nearest are
Fort Hays State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Hays35.7 mi$5,923 in-state tuitionDodge City Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Dodge City59.7 mi$4,650 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Ransom residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
About Ransom
City in Ness County, Kansas, United States
Ransom is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 260.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,513 ft
- ZIP code
- 67572
- Area code
- 785
Questions about Ransom
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ransom, KS a good place to live?
Ransom has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.