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Russell

Russell

$139,576 Average Value
$112 Average Price per Sq Ft
36 Homes For Sale
Russell has a historic downtown district.
Russell has a historic downtown district.

What life is like in the small town of Russell

Russell is a small town in north-central Kansas that grew during the early 20th-century oil boom. Today, it's the seat of Russell County and home to about 4,000 residents who enjoy the quiet, close-knit vibe. The historic downtown district gives neighbors a place to meet up for coffee, see art exhibits or catch a movie. People also come together to cheer for local sports, whether it’s a Little League game at Russell Memorial Park or the high school’s baseball team. While all of this contributes to a slower-paced lifestyle, major highways make it simple to reach larger communities throughout the region.

Housing styles, lot sizes and prices

Most of Russell’s housing stock is made up of 1920s bungalows and mid-20th-century ranch styles. Homes near the center of town tend to sit on smaller lots, while those on the outskirts often come with a little more land. Prices usually range from about $20,000 to the lower $300,000s, depending on the house’s age, size and condition. The median sale price is around $130,000, which is lower than what you’ll find in larger nearby towns like Hays and Great Bend.

Ranch-style homes are common across Russell.
Ranch-style homes are common across Russell.
Bungalows in Russell date to the early 1900s.
Bungalows in Russell date to the early 1900s.
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Waudby’s is a sports bar downtown.
Waudby’s is a sports bar downtown.

What you’ll find in Historic Downtown Russell

Historic Downtown Russell sits along Main Street with Italianate-style storefronts that date back to the town’s early days. As you walk around the district, you can pop into:

  • Espresso ETC., a cozy coffee shop also serving pastries and sandwiches
  • Russell Public Library, which regularly hosts story times and craft workshops
  • Waudby’s, a sports bar that started as a pool hall back in the 1920s
  • Deines Cultural Center, where rotating exhibits showcase regional artists
  • Dream Theater, an Art Deco-style theater that shows new releases and classics
When you need to run errands, stop by Klema Apple Market for groceries and Bomgaars for farm supplies. You'll also find several fast-food options around town, including Sonic and McDonald's.

Sports and dual enrollment at Russell Junior-Senior High School

Russell County USD 407 serves the area. Kids can attend Simpson Elementary School for prekindergarten through first grade and Bickerdyke Elementary School for second through sixth grade. They may continue to Russell Junior-Senior High School, which has strong athletic programs in baseball and wrestling. It also offers dual enrollment classes in partnership with Barton Community College, giving students the chance to earn college credit alongside their diploma.

Simpson Elementary School serves kindergarten and first grade.
Simpson Elementary School serves kindergarten and first grade.
Russell High School is in town.
Russell High School is in town.
Bickerdyke Elementary School serves second through sixth grade.
Bickerdyke Elementary School serves second through sixth grade.
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Things to do at Russell Memorial Park

Russell has a handful of small green spaces with playgrounds, including Water Tower Park and Aimes Park. The biggest one is Russell Memorial Park, where you can:

  • Go swimming at the pool
  • Play a round at the public nine-hole Russell Municipal Golf Course
  • Practice your serve on the tennis courts
  • Let your kids run around the castle-themed playground
Russell is also about 30 miles west of Wilson State Park on Wilson Lake, a popular spot for swimming, boating and hiking through red rock canyons.

Russell Memorial Park features a nine-hole public golf course.
Russell Memorial Park features a nine-hole public golf course.
Tennis courts are available at Russell Memorial Park.
Tennis courts are available at Russell Memorial Park.
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Annual events in Russell

For a few days each July, the Russell County Free Fair brings a crowd to town. The event includes a wide variety of livestock competitions and bake-offs, along with tractor pulls and turtle and frog races. After all that’s done, a lot of people stick around to enjoy carnival rides and catch a concert on the main stage. Several other annual events take place here, including the Christmas parade, the Ad Astra Music Festival every summer and Freedom Fest on the Fourth of July.

Major employers and commuting to other towns

A lot of the local economy is supported by Russell Regional Hospital and the oil, gas and agriculture industries. If you work outside of town, major highways make it easy to get to larger job centers. Interstate 70 leads to Hays, about 30 miles west, while U.S. Route 281 is a straight shot to Great Bend, about 40 miles south.

Meghan Baker
Written By
Meghan Baker
Becky Gaskill
Photography Contributed By
Becky Gaskill
Luke Basinger
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Luke Basinger

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to A.J. Preisner, an experienced agent in this area.

Agents Specializing in Russell, KS

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Parks in this Area

Area Facts

Number of Homes
2,019
Number of Homes for Sale
36
Median Year Built
1945
Months of Supply
6.90
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,350
Significantly below the national average
1,934
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,942
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
8,712

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

Rental Home Trends

Number of Homes for Rent
1
Median Rent
$875
Median Condo Rent
$875
Median 2 Bedroom Condo Rent
$875

Weather

Annual Precipitation
25''
Average Winter Low Temperature
19°F
Average Summer High Temperature
92°F
Annual Snowfall
14''

Area Factors

Somewhat bikeable

Bikeability®

30 / 100

Fairly walkable

Walkability®

40 / 100
Source: Local Logic
Sources: Local Logic

Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
Russell
A.J. Preisner Real Estate Agent - Platinum Group
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