Rolla, Kansas panorama 1935, 2012
Rolla’s story
119 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2012.
- 1907Rolla is settled
RollaKS
A town of 353, settled in 1907.
Population
353
2025 Census estimate · −8.3% since 2020
Typical home
$102K
+0.1% in a year
Household income
$59K
median
Median age
41.2
years
Jobs based here
107
Balanced
Is Rolla a good place to live?
Only 2 of the 152 Kansas towns we compare have a higher typical July afternoon high than Rolla. Rolla has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
353 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 Rolla: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Rolla, and how to reach them.
PowerPioneer Electric Coop11.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Rolla water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Rolla’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 hereMorton County ClerkMorton County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code6795467954 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 Rolla.
Housing
Rolla stands out in Kansas and nationally, with the median rent lower than most
The typical home value in Rolla is about $102,000, about the same as a year ago, 58% below the Kansas typical home. 76% of households own their home locally, against 72% in Kansas’ towns and 73% across U.S. towns.
$102KZillow home value
| Rolla | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $619 a month | $975 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 76% | 72% | 73% |
Typical home value
Rolla$102K
Kansas$246K
+0.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Schools
The schools Rolla’s kids attend
The Rolla school district runs its public schools. Its two schools are below. Public school enrollment locally: 108 students across 2 schools.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rolla Elem (PreK-5)Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 58 | A |
| Rolla JH/HS (6-12)Largest public high schoolGrades 1–12 | Grades 1–12 | 50 | D |
NCES · EDFacts
Natural hazards
The biggest natural risk in Rolla is drought, at a low overall level
In Rolla, the risk rating from FEMA is 24 of 100, below both the Kansas town median (49 of 100) and the median of U.S. towns (44 of 100). Federal aid has come to Rolla households in 2 declared disasters; the latest was in 2017. Just over three fifths of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from drought, followed by tornadoes at 8%.
24risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtTornadoesInland flooding
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
The climate in Rolla brings four seasons and hot summers
The range runs from 21° on a January night to 94° on a July afternoon, with about 18 inches of snow a winter.
18″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter22–50°
Spring40–70°
Summer62–91°
Fall42–71°
Oct 23
typical first frost
Apr 19
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
With 0.8 jobs for every working resident, most of Rolla’s workers commute out
Half of commuters travel less than 17 miles. For residents in Rolla, the share who live below the poverty line is 15%. Just 5% of the town’s working residents have a job in town. The mean commuting time for Rolla comes to 24 minutes.
5%work in town
| Rolla | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.7% | 15% | 8% |
| Median household income | $59,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Rolla5%
Elkhart28%
Guymon7%
Liberal6%
Hugoton5%
17 mi
median commute distance
107
jobs based in Rolla
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
How healthy Rolla is
The share of adults in Rolla who get no exercise outside work: 32%. Only 9 of the 151 Kansas towns we compare have a higher share of adults 18 to 64 who have no health insurance than Rolla. Among adults locally, 14% have diabetes and 23% say their health is fair or poor.
| Rolla | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 11% | 12% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 18% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Kansas
0 better22 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Rolla | KS |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 16.2% | 9.9% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 18.2% | 13% |
| More adults facing housing insecurity | 15% | 11.2% |
Stevens County Hospital
16 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Rolla
16pages on Rolla
The big questions
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Rolla; the nearest are
Oklahoma Panhandle State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Goodwell, OK36.2 mi$8,092 in-state tuitionSeward County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Liberal39.6 mi$4,032 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Rolla residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
About Rolla
City in Morton County, Kansas
Rolla is a city in Morton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 384.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3,320 ft
- ZIP code
- 67954
- Area code
- 620
Questions about Rolla
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Rolla, KS a good place to live?
Rolla has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.