Plains is a city in Meade County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,037. It is located along U.S. Route 54 highway. Plains is notable for the width of its main street, which is the widest in the United States at 155 feet 5 inches (47.37 m) across.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code67869

Area code620

Living in Plains

Housing in Plains

$140K▲ 0.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Plains home is worth about $140,000, up 0.5% in a year, 44% below the Kansas typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Plains

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Plains for work: only 9% work in town. The top destinations are Meade (11%), Liberal (8%) and Fowler (7%). Half commute less than 24 miles.

Meade

11%

Liberal

Fowler

Mertilla

9%Work in townlive and work in Plains 24 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 221Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Plains →

Health in Plains

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 44% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Kansas

1better than KS·6worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 25 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 11 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.9%Fewer adults who have had cancerKS 8.1% · better 17%More uninsured adultsKS 9.9% · worse

Care nearby

Meade District HospitalMeade · 14.1 mi · ER · rural critical access

Liberal Health CenterLiberal · 22.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Plains · CMS · HRSAHealth in Plains →

Natural hazards in Plains

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 73% of U.S. communities.

🌵 Drought🔥 Wildfire🧊 Hail

0Does Plains flood?no paid flood claims on record 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Plains

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Plains →

Climate in Plains

Full climate →

Plains has chilly winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 20°, and about 17 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

48° / 22°Winter

70° / 41°Spring

91° / 64°Summer

71° / 43°Fall