Best places to live in Kansas (2026)

All 6 ranked places in Kansas, by all-round score. 4 other places without FBI crime data are on the places list.

Ranked by an all-round score: the average of all 14 quality scores (housing costs, taxes, jobs, healthcare, education, family life, safety, natural disasters, climate and more), weighted equally. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out, since their safety is unknown. Scores are out of 100.

1. 1Shawnee, KSSuburb · 3-bed $358k · very safe67
2. 2Olathe, KSSuburb · 3-bed $356k · very safe63
3. 3Lenexa, KSSuburb · 3-bed $369k · very safe62
4. 4Topeka, KSMid-size city · 3-bed $205k · higher crime45
5. 5Wichita, KSMid-size city · 3-bed $208k · higher crime43
6. 6Salina, KSSmall city · 3-bed $191k · moderate crime34

Cheapest places to live in Kansas

Ranked by the typical value of a 3-bedroom home (Zillow), lowest first.

1. 1Salina, KSSmall city · rent $1,220/mo · cost of living 90$191k
2. 2Topeka, KSMid-size city · rent $1,390/mo · cost of living 89$205k
3. 3Wichita, KSMid-size city · rent $1,440/mo · cost of living 89$208k
4. 4Kansas City, KSSuburb · rent $1,770/mo · cost of living 93$217k
5. 5Manhattan, KSCollege town · rent $1,490/mo · cost of living 90$265k

Safest places to live in Kansas

Ranked by violent crimes per resident in FBI 2019 data, lowest first. Places missing from the FBI table are left out.

1. 1Lenexa, KSSuburb · violent crime 0.4× the US rate155 per 100k
2. 2Olathe, KSSuburb · violent crime 0.5× the US rate205 per 100k
3. 3Shawnee, KSSuburb · violent crime 0.6× the US rate213 per 100k
4. 4Salina, KSSmall city · violent crime 1.2× the US rate457 per 100k
5. 5Topeka, KSMid-size city · violent crime 1.9× the US rate712 per 100k

Safest places from natural disasters in Kansas

Ranked by our natural disaster score: FEMA's expected deaths, injuries and home damage from 18 hazards, plus federally declared disasters in the county since 2000.

1. 1Lenexa, KS3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes78
2. 2Shawnee, KS3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes77
3. 3Overland Park, KS3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes76
4. 4Olathe, KS3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes76
5. 5Lawrence, KS8 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes71

Best places to live for families in Kansas

Ranked by a family score: the average of our Kids & family, Safety, Education and Affordable housing scores. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out.

1. 1Shawnee, KSSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $358k86
2. 2Olathe, KSSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $356k85
3. 3Lenexa, KSSuburb · kids good · safety excellent · 3-bed $369k82
4. 4Salina, KSSmall city · kids poor · safety average · 3-bed $191k46
5. 5Topeka, KSMid-size city · kids below average · safety below average · 3-bed $205k44

Best places to live · Cheapest places to live · Safest places to live · Safest places from natural disasters · Best places to live for families

Data: US Census, Zillow, HUD, BEA, FBI 2019, FEMA, NOAA, NASA, CMS, NCES and others. How scores work.