Fort Riley is located in between the cities of Junction City and Manhattan, Kansas. Junction City has a population of 23,350 and is 15 minutes south of base while Manhattan, population 52,280, is about half an hour northeast of base.

Local Housing Rental Prices: The average apartment rent in the Junction City area ranges from $375 to $650 per month, with a median of about $495 per month. Manhattan ranges from $450 to $850, with a median of $620.

Local Housing Purchase Prices: The average price for a house in Junction City is about $109,400, compared to $127,300 for Kansas. The average house in Manhattan costs about $163,800.

Short Description of the Area: Junction City is the seat of Geary County and Manhattan is the seat of Riley County and also extends into Pottawatomie County. Both cities are a part of the Manhattan, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area which has a population of about 127,000 people. Topeka, KS, is the state capital and is about 70 miles directly east of Fort Riley. Manhattan is the home of Kansas State University, more commonly called K-State, and is very much a college campus town.

Climate and Weather: The climate in the Fort Riley area is mostly humid continental/subtropical meaning hot and humid summers and cold, dry winters. The average temperature in July is about 79 degrees Fahrenheit, while January is about 29 degrees. The area receives about 34 inches of precipitation annually and most falls between April and June. Thunderstorms can be severe during the hotter months and often results in hail, lightning, and even tornadoes. The risk for tornado is slightly less than Kansas as a whole, but generally much greater than the risk for the United States. March through May can also see strong wind speeds of 32 mph, on average. The average annual snowfall is about 14.5 inches.