Midland Hotel · National Register of Historic Places
Wilson’s story
153 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1880.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1873Wilson is settled
WilsonKS
Home to 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Midland Hotel · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0
Population
826
2025 Census estimate · −3.1% since 2020
Typical home
$126K
+16.9% in a year
Household income
$59K
median
Median age
43.7
years
Jobs based here
133
A commuter town
Is Wilson a good place to live?
Its National Register listings include Midland Hotel. Wilson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Wilson stand out
Where Wilson beats most towns.
Small town
826 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 Wilson: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Wilson, and how to reach them.
PowerMidwest Energy12.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Wilson 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 Wilson’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 hereEllsworth County ClerkEllsworth County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code6749067490 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 Wilson.
Housing
A typical Wilson home is worth about $126K
In the year to September 2026, typical home values climbed 17%. Wilson’s median rent stands at $739 a month, below both Kansas’ towns ($975 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). Nearly four fifths of Wilson households own their home.
$126KZillow home value
| Wilson | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $739 a month | $975 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 79% | 72% | 73% |
Typical home value
Wilson$126K
Kansas$246K
+16.9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commute
Wilson has 0.5 jobs per working resident, so most workers leave town for work
In Wilson, 17% of residents live below the poverty line, above both the Kansas town median (9.1%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). For most workers, Wilson is a place to come home to: only 3% work in town. The middle household income in the town is $59,000. Half the trips to work are shorter than 21 miles.
3%work in town
| Wilson | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 17% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.9% | 15% | 8% |
| Median household income | $59,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Wilson3%
Ellsworth38%
Salina13%
Wichita4%
Topeka3%
21 mi
median commute distance
133
jobs based in Wilson
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
The climate in Wilson brings four seasons and hot summers
Wilson’s typical July afternoon high stands at 93°F.
10″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–44°
Spring41–67°
Summer65–90°
Fall43–69°
Oct 17
typical first frost
Apr 21
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A larger share of adults have high blood pressure in Wilson than in most of Kansas or the rest of the country
Only 8 of the 151 Kansas towns we compare have a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Wilson. 14% of adults have diabetes in the town. Also worth knowing: the town beats the Kansas average on 9 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 10. Two figures for adults in the town: 12% binge drink, 14% report frequent mental distress.
| Wilson | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 34% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 16% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 22% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Kansas
9 better13 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Wilson | KS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.8% | 11.2% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 5.8% | 8.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 13.4% | 8.1% |
Ellsworth County Medical Center
14.9 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Moderate risk in Wilson, with inland flooding at the top
FEMA expects more storm and flood damage in Wilson than in 56% of U.S. communities. Expected losses in Wilson break down as 30% from inland flooding and 25% from tornadoes. Federal aid has come to Wilson households in 4 declared disasters; the latest was in 2021.
56risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 381 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lions Club Park | — | 1 |
| 2. Ed & LaVange Shiroky Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Wilson
18pages on Wilson
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Wilson; the nearest are
Barton County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Great Bend32.3 mi$3,680 in-state tuitionFort Hays State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Hays46.8 mi$5,923 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Wilson residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Wilson for work
Where Wilson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
133jobs based in Wilson
3%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
3 places in Wilson on the National Register of Historic Places.
Questions about Wilson
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Wilson, KS a good place to live?
Wilson 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 Wilson, KS known for?
2 notable people were born here, including John Kuck and Neva Egan.