Best small towns to live in Kansas

1. 1
   La Crosse, KS Score 84/100

   1,154 people · typical home $85k · household income $54k · 102 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 26% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Belleville, KS Score 83/100

   2,086 people · typical home $82k · household income $56k · 65 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 38% of KS · 3.0% unemployment · 0 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Smith Center, KS Score 78/100

   1,680 people · typical home $90k · household income $56k · schools in the top 7% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Osborne, KS Score 77/100

   1,358 people · typical home $84k · household income $52k · schools in the top 11% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Leoti, KS Score 77/100

   1,360 people · typical home $85k · household income $74k · schools in the top 26% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Meade, KS Score 74/100

   1,341 people · typical home $122k · household income $75k · schools in the top 12% of KS · 0.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Elkhart, KS Score 73/100

   1,661 people · typical home $102k · household income $57k · schools in the top 36% of KS · 0.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Atwood, KS Score 72/100

   1,320 people · typical home $120k · household income $72k · schools in the top 16% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Sedan, KS Score 71/100

   1,050 people · typical home $41k · household income $47k · schools in the top 42% of KS · 2.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Herington, KS Score 70/100

    2,164 people · typical home $85k · household income $71k · 146 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 56% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 19 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Marion, KS Score 70/100

    1,746 people · typical home $109k · household income $58k · 199 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 20% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Hillsboro, KS Score 69/100

    2,700 people · typical home $121k · household income $63k · 123 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 19% of KS · 4.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Kingman, KS Score 69/100

    2,957 people · typical home $74k · household income $49k · 28 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 67% of KS · 4.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Lincoln Center, KS Score 69/100

    1,017 people · typical home $69k · household income $49k · schools in the top 25% of KS · 4.0% unemployment · 20 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Norton, KS Score 67/100

    2,689 people · typical home $97k · household income $53k · schools in the top 30% of KS · 0.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Osage City, KS Score 67/100

    2,828 people · typical home $156k · household income $71k · 127 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 25% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 27 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    Johnson City, KS Score 67/100

    1,549 people · typical home $65k · household income $71k · schools in the top 74% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Eureka, KS Score 66/100

    2,223 people · typical home $79k · household income $49k · 169 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 47% of KS · 4.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Yates Center, KS Score 66/100

    1,270 people · typical home $65k · household income $43k · schools in the top 23% of KS · 2.0% unemployment · 19 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Wamego, KS Score 66/100

    4,386 people · typical home $198k · household income $79k · 103 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 22% of KS · 2.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Stockton, KS Score 65/100

    1,656 people · typical home $95k · household income $63k · 83 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 69% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Girard, KS Score 63/100

    2,777 people · typical home $94k · household income $40k · 172 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 22% of KS · 3.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Plainville, KS Score 63/100

    1,656 people · typical home $83k · household income $59k · 83 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 88% of KS · 2.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Cottonwood Falls, KS Score 63/100

    1,041 people · typical home $85k · household income $51k · schools in the top 49% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 18 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Ulysses, KS Score 62/100

    5,476 people · typical home $97k · household income $64k · 126 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 95% of KS · 1.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Kansas with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Kansas on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Kansas districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Kansas →