Beautiful Brick c.1906 Kansas Home Filled With History and Original Elements $195K

OHU50K Notes $195,000

Beautiful Brick c.1906 Kansas Home Filled With History and Original Elements. Incredible historic home with timeless design.

Yard featured at 402 E Kansas Ave, Smith Center, KS, 66967

Realtor Comments

Queen Anne Victorian style brick home for sale located in the rural north central Kansas town of Smith Center, KS. This beautiful and unique home is special find for architecture lovers and fans of original woodwork and old-world charm. Wooden “gingerbread” trim in scrolled and rounded “fish-scale” patterns graces the home’s gables and porches with massive cut-stone foundation. These are all classic features of the Queen Anne Victorian style which are prominent in this home. The home boasts a large, private yard with gazebo; a great place for entertaining or enjoying the temperate Kansas climate. The home is littered with original charm from the hardwood floors, unpainted trim-work, Victorian fireplace and the original hardware. Living Area: 3, 261 (total) – 2, 200 (above grade) + 1, 061 (finished basement) | Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 1.5 | Property Amenities & Features: Appliances included | whole-house vacuum system | Private Fenced Yard | Full Finished Basement | Outdoor Security Camera System.

5 bed
1.5 bath
Build date 1906

Porch featured at 402 E Kansas Ave, Smith Center, KS, 66967

If interested in a property, pleases contact the realtor whose link is provided in the post below, or contact an agent of your own choosing. Independent verification of details and status is recommended.

402 E Kansas Ave, Smith Center, KS 66967. $195,000

Contact Realtor: Nick Rhodes
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Incomplete featured at 402 E Kansas Ave, Smith Center, KS, 66967

History

This was the home of John Henry Hill (1855-1926), his wife Ada Virginia Venables, and their three children, Mac, Vera and Joel. Two other children, Richard and a twin of Vera, died before the house was built.

Back Side featured at 402 E Kansas Ave, Smith Center, KS, 66967

Interesting fact: John Hill’s grandmother, Elizabeth Adams, was carried as a child by Nancy Adams, wife of John Adams, from Virginia to Kentucky, seven hundred miles, on a bread mixing board. This was in 1810 when the family moved from Virginia to Kentucky.

Before relocating to Smith Center, Mr. Hill lived for a while in Colorado, where he and his father engaged in gold and silver mining.

In 1886 Mr. Hill was elected clerk of the district court of Smith County, Kansas. He served two years as mayor of Smith Center, and six years as treasurer of the board of education. Later he became a successful merchant and cashier of the First National Bank. John Hill’s son, Mac, eventually became president of the Bank. The c.1889 Bank building survives a short walk away and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Patio featured at 402 E Kansas Ave, Smith Center, KS, 66967

Garage featured at 402 E Kansas Ave, Smith Center, KS, 66967

Road featured at 402 E Kansas Ave, Smith Center, KS, 66967

Pros

Low Cost of Housing & High Homeownership
- The median property value is around $84,600 (2023) which is well below national averages.
- Homeownership rate is high (~79.3%), which suggests stability and that many people own rather than rent.
Short Commutes & Less Traffic
- Average one‑way commute is ~10 minutes. Very low compared to many places, meaning less time spent traveling.
- Most people drive; little congestion, less pollution (often a feature of smaller towns).
Small Town / Community Feeling
- Tight‑knit community, where neighbors tend to know each other. People often say there’s a strong sense of local identity. (From resident reviews, etc.)
- Local events, local shops, preservation of historical and cultural heritage are emphasized by the city.
Lower Cost of Living
- Overall cost of living is significantly lower than many urban areas. Housing, in particular, is affordable.
- Median household income is modest (~$53,963), but given low costs, many essentials are cheaper.
Good Schools in Some Measures
- Smith Center Elementary School ranks above the bottom half of schools in Kansas in some metrics. Reading proficiency is relatively stronger there.
- The school district has a fairly low student‑teacher ratio (≈13‑14:1), which can mean smaller classes.

Cons / Challenges

Aging / Skewed Population
- Median age is ~46.8 years, which is significantly older than many places in Kansas.
- A fairly large share of households are individuals, people over 65, etc. This can mean fewer young‑family dynamics, and possibly less growth.
Limited Amenities / Entertainment
- Very few options for shopping, nightlife, cultural events compared to towns/cities. It’s the classic rural trade‑off: quieter, but less variety. Resident reviews mention that.
- Many things are not walkable. You’ll likely need a car for most errands.
Relatively High Crime Compared to Town Size
- Smith Center ranks in the 21st percentile for safety (i.e. safer than only 21% of cities) in one crime‑ranking source. That means it has more crime relative to similar towns.
- Total crime rate is about 37.33 per 1,000 residents in a typical year in some reports.
Income / Poverty / Economic Limitations
- Median household income (~$53,963) is below Kansas’s statewide median.
- Poverty rate is moderately high (~11.2%). Some people may face economic hardship, especially as rural wage growth tends to lag.
Distance from Major Airports and Big‑City Conveniences
- Being relatively remote, you may have to travel quite a ways for major air travel, specialized medical care, or cultural institutions.
Taxes / Sales & Property Tax Issues
- Some sources mention that property tax and sales tax burdens are relatively high for what you get in terms of services, possibly reducing some of the advantage of low housing costs.