You won’t have to be a Walmart greeter for long if you choose one of Kansas’ best places to retire.
You’ll be able to play pinochle and gin rummy all day with your retirement buddies if you choose one of the top ten places to retire in Kansas for 2024. Before we tell you Kansas’ best place to retire, we need to tell you how we calculated this list of Kansas stunners.
We looked at the latest FBI and Census reports on crime, demographics, and affordable housing for 28 cities with over 10,000 residents.
We learned that the entire state’s living costs come in close to 14% below the national average. Some of Kansas’ biggest cities like Witchita and Topeka, retirees are currently enjoying particularly affordable housing costs.
Where can you live out your best years in The Free State? Keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Kansas For 2024
What city is the best place to retire in Kansas for 2024? According to the US Census and FBI data we crunched, Lansing is the best place to retire in Kansas.
Read below to see how your favorite place and other amazing Kansas cities ranked. If you live in the greater Kansas City area, consider yourself one lucky Jayhawker retiree.
Why did Lansing take the top spot? And where are Wichita and Overland Park?
For more Kansas state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Kansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Kansas
- Richest Cities In Kansas
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Kansas For 2024
/10
Population: 11,254
Median Income: $100,863
Median Home Price: $286,136
Median Rent: $1,173
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Lansing: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 24,118
Median Income: $49,661
Median Home Price: $149,266
Median Rent: $758
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Emporia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,615
Median Income: $61,927
Median Home Price: $196,371
Median Rent: $870
Distance to Closest Airport: 56 miles
More on Ottawa: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,834
Median Income: $50,344
Median Home Price: $136,676
Median Rent: $763
Distance to Closest Airport: 29 miles
More on Atchison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 14,725
Median Income: $53,885
Median Home Price: $109,069
Median Rent: $739
Distance to Closest Airport: 218 miles
More on Great Bend: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,804
Median Income: $55,850
Median Home Price: $120,353
Median Rent: $800
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Winfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 37,193
Median Income: $67,360
Median Home Price: $225,494
Median Rent: $1,087
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Leavenworth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 67,671
Median Income: $100,649
Median Home Price: $374,543
Median Rent: $1,168
Distance to Closest Airport: 19 miles
More on Shawnee: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,882
Median Income: $52,921
Median Home Price: $145,347
Median Rent: $852
Distance to Closest Airport: 124 miles
More on El Dorado: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 19,099
Median Income: $55,602
Median Home Price: $134,994
Median Rent: $825
Distance to Closest Airport: 133 miles
More on Liberal: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Sunflower State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Kansas to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Sunflower State — 664 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 28 places from across the state.
For these 28, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 28, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Lansing, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Kansas.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Kansas Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Kansas goes to Lansing.
The best places to retire in Kansas are Lansing, Emporia, Ottawa, Atchison, Great Bend, Winfield, Leavenworth, Shawnee, El Dorado, and Liberal.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Wichita
- Derby
- Lawrence
For more Kansas reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Kansas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lansing | 11,254 | $100,863 | $286,136 | $1,173 |
| 2 | Emporia | 24,118 | $49,661 | $149,266 | $758 |
| 3 | Ottawa | 12,615 | $61,927 | $196,371 | $870 |
| 4 | Atchison | 10,834 | $50,344 | $136,676 | $763 |
| 5 | Great Bend | 14,725 | $53,885 | $109,069 | $739 |
| 6 | Winfield | 11,804 | $55,850 | $120,353 | $800 |
| 7 | Leavenworth | 37,193 | $67,360 | $225,494 | $1,087 |
| 8 | Shawnee | 67,671 | $100,649 | $374,543 | $1,168 |
| 9 | El Dorado | 12,882 | $52,921 | $145,347 | $852 |
| 10 | Liberal | 19,099 | $55,602 | $134,994 | $825 |