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Best Places To Live in Kansas

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Best Places To Live in Kansas

Plant roots and bloom in the Sunflower State. From booming "it" cities to small, artsy towns, discover the best places to live in Kansas.

By Livability on February 14, 2024

Kansas is located in the country’s geographic center and is known as the Sunflower State because the beautiful blooms are found in all 105 counties. It’s also been called America’s Breadbasket because it leads the nation in wheat production. In addition, the state has numerous cattle ranches, making it one of the most productive agricultural states in the U.S.

In addition to agriculture, significant industries include aerospace, aviation, energy, food processing and animal health. The state’s three top universities include Kansas, Kansas State and Wichita State, among many other public and private institutions. Kansas offers a relatively low cost of living compared to many other states, making it an ideal place to call home.

Kansas is this country’s 35th most populous state, with a population of nearly 3 million and interesting geographic features, including plains, prairies, gentle hills and forests. Wichita is the state’s largest city, and its capital is Topeka. In between are cities and towns with friendly faces, excellent schools and plenty of places to play. Here’s a list of the best places to live in Kansas. 

Kansas City

A beautiful sunset shot of Buck O'Neil Bridge in Kansas City, Kansas. kansas City is a best place to live in Kansas.
iStock/Cheri Alguire
Buck O’Neil Bridge in Kansas City, Kansas, at sunset.

Kansas City is a best place to live in Kansas.

Kansas City, Kansas, and its sister city, Kansas City, Missouri, are divided by the Missouri River. As the third most populous city with nearly 155,000 people, the Kansas city is the smaller of the two, with a lower cost of living than its next-door neighbor. The community has a Midwestern sensibility with an abundance of family-friendly attractions and fun sporting events. The largest employers include the University of Kansas Hospital and Medical Center and General Motors’ Fairfax Assembly & Stamping facility. Other industry sectors include technology, financial services, eCommerce and transportation and distribution. Residents can enjoy the auto racing at the Kansas Speedway and watch the Sporting Kansas City soccer team. The downtown area of Kansas City is a destination for shopping and dining and remains the heart of the city. Legends Outlets also offers shoppers a little retail therapy with a slew of brand-name stores, restaurants and entertainment options.

What are sports like in Kansas City?

Whether moving to Kansas City or just visiting for the weekend, there are endless things to do in Kansas City. Sports is a big part of life in this Midwestern city, with NASCAR racing at the Kansas Speedway and the Sporting Kansas City Major League Soccer team playing at Children’s Mercy Park. The Kansas City Monarchs round the bases at Legends Field.

Read more about living in Kansas City, KS.

Lawrence

An image of the Dyche Hall Museum of Natural History located in Lawrence, Kansas.
iStock/BergmannD
The are plenty of cultural attractions in Lawrence, Kansas, including the Dyche Hall Museum of Natural History.

What makes Lawrence a great place to live in Kansas.

It’s easy to see why Lawrence was named one of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. for 2023 by Livability.com. Situated along the Kansas River, the city is the epitome of a college town (let’s go, Jayhawks!). The University of Kansas — the city’s largest employer — and all that it offers trickles down into the city, creating a hub of activity that adds to the robust economy. Massachusetts Street is the center of the action, with shops, restaurants and galleries. The city of 95,000-plus is home to 50 parks, and an effort is underway to make it more bike-friendly, which is happy news for the university’s nearly 24,000 students. Major industries include education, health care and technology. There are several reasons to move to Lawrence, and the arts thrive in Kansas.

What are some free things to do in Lawrence?

As in most college towns, there are a lot of amazing free activities on campus. For starters, there are two art museums, in addition to the Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. The city comes alive for Final Friday art walks, with performances, gallery openings and other art events. Other happenings include the Lawrence Christmas Parade, the Lawrence Busker Festival and Art Tougeau.

Read more about living in Lawrence, KS.

Manhattan

Manhattan, Kansas, a city in northeastern part of the state at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River, is known as The Little Apple.

Manhattan is one of the best places to live in Kansas.

Manhattan — known in this state as The Little Apple — is a dynamic Midwestern city and home to Kansas State University and its nearly 20,000 students. The sizeable academic population and spirited environment make Manhattan a great place to raise a family or retire. The walkable downtown district is full of tasty eateries, breweries and retail shops. Fort Riley Military Base, home of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division and an important military training facility, adds to the city’s economy. Manhattan is also affordable, with exceptional education and high-quality health care services. Manhattan is part of Kansas Flint Hills, a tallgrass prairie. In fact, the National Parks Service’s 8,400-acre Tall Grass Prairie National Wildlife Preserve protects the last of this remaining ecosystem. Finally, Manhattan is known for having one of the world’s most significant concentrations of agricultural and bioscience expertise.

What does the university add to life in Manhattan?

K-State provides a vibrant college atmosphere in this community of 56,000 people. Educational excellence is apparent in the city’s public schools and other area colleges. Cultural offerings include museums, concerts, plays and art events. And then there are the sporting events — with fans rooting for the Wildcats and painting the town purple! 

Read more about living in Manhattan, KS.

Olathe

The new Johnson County Administration building in Olathe, Kansas, features a bronze statue of children playing.

Olathe is a best city in Kansas.

Olathe, the Shawnee word for “beautiful,” is a fitting name for this city in northeast Kansas. Full of Midwestern charm, Olathe has top-notch schools, a robust job market and friendly neighborhoods, not to mention easy access to Kansas City (just 21 miles). So, it’s no wonder Livability.com named it one of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. for 2023. Olathe, population 146,000-plus and the fourth-largest city in Kansas, has a highly educated workforce, low crime rate, plenty of places to play and more. The city’s most prominent industries include advanced manufacturing, information technology, and logistics and distribution. Higher ed institutions, including Kansas State-Olathe, MidAmerica Nazarene University and Johnson County Community College’s Health Education Center, are well-regarded. Olathe is the home of Kansas State School for the Deaf, too, which opened in 1866. 

What is the economy like in Olathe?

Olathe is a place that helps entrepreneurs get a jump-start on their business plans. Programs like GrowOlathe provide technical support to help young companies flourish. The city also promotes “economic gardening,” a concept that focuses on creating jobs by supporting existing companies in the community rather than just recruitment. The city’s thriving economic environment is just one of the reasons Olathe is one of the best places to live in the Midwest.

Read more about living in Olathe, KS.

Overland Park

An image of the clock tower in Overland Park, Kansas. Overland Park is a best place to live in Kansas.
iStock/TriggerPhoto
Overland Park, Kansas, is known a gateway to Kansas City, but also boasts its own selection of barbecue, breweries and boutiques.

Overland Park is a best place to live in Kansas.

This city of nearly 200,000 people — with a slogan of “Above and Beyond. By Design.” — was named one of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. for 2023 by Livability.com, and rightly so. Overland Park offers a dense, suburban feel, full of delicious restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and plenty of green space. Known as a gateway to Kansas City, Overland Park is also where you’ll find tasty barbecue, breweries, arts and culture and youth sports. The community is also known for nationally ranked schools and first-rate health care options. Overland Park is home to several large companies, such as T-Mobile and UnitedHealth Group, and is a hub for finance, health care and professional and technical services.

What is Overland Park best known for?

Youth sports reign supreme in Overland Park, with numerous playing fields and facilities to accommodate any sport a youngster could imagine. Add to that some great restaurants (yep, you can get some fantastic ‘cue here), fabulous shopping, live music, art galleries, theater, a wide range of festivals and some beautiful botanical gardens and area parks, and you’ll be sure to stay busy with everything there is to do in this community.

Read more about living in Overland Park, KS.

Topeka

A view of the state capitol building with its copper dome in downtown Topeka, Kansas.
iStock/ChrisBoswell
The state capitol building in Topeka, Kansas, is topped with a copper dome.

What makes Topeka a great city to live in Kansas.

Topeka, a city of more than 125,000, is Kansas’s state capital and the state’s government hub. Industry sectors besides government include agriculture, food processing, printing and financial services. Topeka, situated on the Kansas River in the eastern part of the state, has a lively downtown area with a mix of shops, restaurants and offices. Multiple art galleries, museums and art events are all a part of the city’s pulsing arts scene. Outdoor lovers can explore 100-plus parks and green spaces and more than 260 flower gardens. Motorsports fans won’t want to miss the exhilaration at Heartland Park Topeka or cheering for the home team at Washburn University. The city was made famous for the landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954, saying state-sanctioned segregation was unconstitutional.

What attractions are in Topeka?

Topeka has numerous attractions to appeal to the whole family. A few of the more notable places include the Topeka Zoo, the State Capitol, Heartland Park Topeka, Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, Kansas Museum of History and the Evel Knievel Museum, to name just a few.

Read more about living in Topeka, KS.

Wichita

Wichita’s vibrant downtown is situated along the Arkansas River. Wichita is the largest city in Kansas.

Why Wichita is a best city in Kansas.

Wichita, located in south-central Kansas, is known as a place for entrepreneurs, and that’s undoubtedly true of Fred Koch, founder of Koch Industries, and Dan and Frank Carney, who started Pizza Hut. Furthermore, this city of almost 400,000 — the largest city in the state — is known as the Air Capital of the World due to its airplane-building history. It continues to have a pro-aviation environment today. Wichita’s vibrant downtown is full of inviting restaurants, live music clubs and fun art galleries. Among the city’s many colleges and universities is Wichita State University, which has 19,000 students. Food lovers will want to explore the many diverse eateries across the city, including those specializing in chicken fried steak, bierock and chili (with a homemade cinnamon roll on the side)! On top of all of that, the economy here is stable, and Wichita is one of the most recession-proof places in the country.

Why is Wichita known as the Air Capital of the World?

Wichita’s history in the aviation industry goes back to aircraft pioneers who started making airplanes here, earning the moniker of Air Capital of the World. Notable companies such as Beechcraft/Cessna, Airbus and Bombardier still make major aircraft components and business jets. The former Wichita Municipal Airport terminal is now home to the Kansas Aviation Museum, where you can learn more about the city’s famed industry.

Read more about living in Wichita, KS.

Best Places to Live in Kansas Map

Thinking of Moving to Kansas?

Finding a great place to live in Kansas doesn’t have to be a chore. We have more resources for moving to Kansas as well as other best places to live in the Midwest. No matter where you want to live, we can help you decide where to move and discover the best places to live in the U.S.

Other great places to live near Kansas

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