The 10 Best Small Towns In Kansas For 2024


The best small towns in Kansas are Mission Hills and Fairway for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: January 12, 2024

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Kansas. Best sururbs in Kansas. Best counties in Kansas.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Sunflower State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Kansas based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Kansas ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Kansas For 2024

  1. Mission Hills
  2. Fairway
  3. Westwood
  4. Galva
  5. North Newton
  6. Lindsborg
  7. Victoria
  8. Hoxie
  9. Cimarron
  10. Silver Lake
  11. Plainville
  12. Baldwin City
  13. Seneca
  14. Spearville
  15. Kechi

Best Small Towns To Live In Kansas Map

What’s the best small town in Kansas? Mission Hills is the best small town in Kansas based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Mission Hills, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Sunflower State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Kansas For 2024

1. Mission Hills

Mission Hills, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Iknowthegoods | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 3,567
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,385,651 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.5%

2. Fairway

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,162
Median Income: $154,981 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $545,051 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%

3. Westwood

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 1,829
Median Income: $91,477 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $386,511 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.6%

4. Galva

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,072
Median Income: $88,393 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $252,650 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%

5. North Newton

North Newton, KS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 2,105
Median Income: $95,221 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $219,248 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.8%

6. Lindsborg

Lindsborg, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Swampyank | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 3,762
Median Income: $67,059 (41st Best)
Median Home Value: $212,965 (36th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

7. Victoria

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,027
Median Income: $73,851 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $190,704 (41st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

8. Hoxie

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,287
Median Income: $68,438 (36th Best)
Median Home Value: $144,490 (60th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

9. Cimarron

Cimarron, KS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,830
Median Income: $90,461 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $206,521 (39th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

10. Silver Lake

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,446
Median Income: $54,799 (85th Best)
Median Home Value: $258,395 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

11. Plainville

Plainville, KS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 1,889
Median Income: $68,182 (39th Best)
Median Home Value: $96,630 (99th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%

12. Baldwin City

Baldwin City, KS

Source: Wikipedia User | CC-BY-SA-3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,845
Median Income: $87,133 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $326,264 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%

13. Seneca

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,045
Median Income: $72,670 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $213,666 (35th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

14. Spearville

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,008
Median Income: $68,710 (35th Best)
Median Home Value: $200,329 (40th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%

15. Kechi

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 2,949
Median Income: $103,625 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $276,467 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Kansas

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Kansas possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 139 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 139, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Kansas. Top of that list — Mission Hills.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Kansas.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Kansas are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Kansas are Mission Hills, Fairway, Westwood, Galva, North Newton, Lindsborg, Victoria, Hoxie, Cimarron, and Silver Lake.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Kansas:

  1. Chetopa
  2. Oswego
  3. Horton

For more Kansas reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Kansas

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Mission Hills, KS 3,567 $250,001 0.5%
2 Fairway, KS 4,162 $154,981 0.7%
3 Westwood, KS 1,829 $91,477 0.6%
4 Galva, KS 1,072 $88,393 1.0%
5 North Newton, KS 2,105 $95,221 7.8%
6 Lindsborg, KS 3,762 $67,059 2.0%
7 Victoria, KS 1,027 $73,851 1.7%
8 Hoxie, KS 1,287 $68,438 0.0%
9 Cimarron, KS 1,830 $90,461 2.4%
10 Silver Lake, KS 1,446 $54,799 2.4%
11 Plainville, KS 1,889 $68,182 1.1%
12 Baldwin City, KS 4,845 $87,133 4.9%
13 Seneca, KS 2,045 $72,670 1.2%
14 Spearville, KS 1,008 $68,710 1.5%
15 Kechi, KS 2,949 $103,625 1.3%
16 St. Marys, KS 2,661 $69,183 3.1%
17 Wamego, KS 4,190 $88,942 4.0%
18 Meade, KS 1,348 $71,827 0.0%
19 Andale, KS 1,169 $87,625 3.5%
20 Moundridge, KS 1,854 $59,048 2.2%
21 Rose Hill, KS 4,357 $90,962 4.1%
22 Ness City, KS 1,243 $77,917 0.4%
23 St. George, KS 1,190 $85,469 0.0%
24 Holcomb, KS 2,395 $81,111 1.2%
25 Sedgwick, KS 1,465 $78,846 1.0%
26 Hillsboro, KS 2,744 $55,000 2.4%
27 Sabetha, KS 2,349 $63,000 0.0%
28 Buhler, KS 1,343 $62,614 1.6%
29 Hesston, KS 3,703 $67,333 4.3%
30 Conway Springs, KS 1,560 $66,635 1.8%
31 Inman, KS 1,417 $58,125 3.1%
32 Colwich, KS 1,513 $84,403 8.4%
33 Garden Plain, KS 1,059 $95,625 4.9%
34 Chapman, KS 1,140 $66,964 1.6%
35 Towanda, KS 1,673 $71,477 2.9%
36 Solomon, KS 1,079 $72,750 2.6%
37 Louisburg, KS 4,940 $68,438 2.9%
38 Ellsworth, KS 3,081 $61,524 2.0%
39 Atwood, KS 1,238 $65,714 0.3%
40 Norton, KS 2,729 $52,822 0.0%
41 Clay Center, KS 4,154 $53,208 1.5%
42 Mcconnell Afb, KS 2,032 $70,625 6.1%
43 Lyndon, KS 1,276 $65,250 0.0%
44 Ellis, KS 2,117 $65,682 3.5%
45 Sterling, KS 2,507 $49,323 2.0%
46 La Crosse, KS 1,162 $48,136 0.3%
47 Oakley, KS 2,063 $65,568 0.3%
48 Scott City, KS 4,121 $47,217 3.0%
49 Edwardsville, KS 4,744 $78,526 1.3%
50 Wathena, KS 1,499 $75,819 0.0%
51 Edgerton, KS 1,894 $78,656 1.6%
52 Clearwater, KS 2,544 $78,472 2.9%
53 Altamont, KS 1,105 $58,542 0.5%
54 Highland, KS 1,106 $65,000 4.9%
55 Frontenac, KS 3,384 $54,905 1.6%
56 Haven, KS 1,421 $56,953 2.4%
57 Wellsville, KS 2,022 $68,750 1.7%
58 Washington, KS 1,017 $53,250 1.7%
59 Marion, KS 1,837 $55,542 0.0%
60 Cheney, KS 2,380 $70,598 2.5%
61 Ogden, KS 1,529 $57,392 10.7%
62 Perry, KS 1,169 $71,477 2.3%
63 Marysville, KS 3,414 $53,424 3.1%
64 Wakeeney, KS 1,801 $64,890 2.9%
65 Minneapolis, KS 2,065 $68,333 4.5%
66 Carbondale, KS 1,396 $65,764 1.7%
67 Auburn, KS 1,210 $62,391 3.9%
68 Plains, KS 1,266 $72,222 1.8%
69 Douglass, KS 1,587 $66,667 4.2%
70 Phillipsburg, KS 2,204 $58,112 3.2%
71 Leoti, KS 1,536 $66,845 2.1%
72 Halstead, KS 2,243 $54,394 0.4%
73 Hiawatha, KS 3,246 $56,050 4.5%
74 Belleville, KS 2,096 $49,777 1.2%
75 St. Francis, KS 1,230 $37,143 1.5%
76 Beloit, KS 3,083 $59,909 1.3%
77 Rossville, KS 1,083 $52,500 6.3%
78 Valley Falls, KS 1,192 $43,611 2.8%
79 Oskaloosa, KS 1,138 $76,250 8.2%
80 Smith Center, KS 1,539 $49,444 2.6%
81 Council Grove, KS 2,452 $52,326 3.7%
82 Mclouth, KS 1,023 $58,304 1.6%
83 Fredonia, KS 2,121 $54,375 0.4%
84 Goodland, KS 3,813 $54,228 3.4%
85 Sublette, KS 1,385 $66,354 0.0%
86 Columbus, KS 2,922 $39,777 1.4%
87 Lyons, KS 3,596 $60,938 6.6%
88 Hoisington, KS 2,675 $48,110 4.2%
89 Larned, KS 3,167 $45,198 2.3%
90 Hugoton, KS 4,134 $63,896 1.7%
91 Americus, KS 1,028 $78,417 2.3%
92 Medicine Lodge, KS 1,377 $53,156 2.9%
93 Oberlin, KS 1,629 $40,735 5.5%
94 Neodesha, KS 2,236 $48,542 4.2%
95 Lincoln Center, KS 1,063 $49,875 0.8%
96 Johnson City, KS 1,318 $65,308 3.4%
97 Belle Plaine, KS 1,445 $58,750 4.1%
98 Stockton, KS 1,567 $56,923 2.3%
99 Holton, KS 3,386 $47,188 2.8%
100 Herington, KS 2,074 $63,591 0.6%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings