Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Manhattan, KS

    Is Manhattan a good place to live?

    Watch Manhattan

    Manhattan ranks #15 of 16 Kansas cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (28/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $243,700
    +0.6% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,019
    per month
    Household income
    $58,441
    median
    Unemployment
    4.4%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Manhattan

    The median home value in Manhattan is $243,700 and median rent is $1,019 a month, against a median household income of $58,441. Homes cost about 4.2× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Manhattan crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Kansas the 2025 rate was 476 violent and 1,922 property crimes per 100,000 people — #6 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Manhattan, KS

    Manhattan has about 53,951 residents, 4.4% unemployment and 28% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Manhattan with

    Manhattan vs WichitaManhattan vs Overland ParkManhattan vs Kansas CityManhattan vs OlatheManhattan vs TopekaManhattan vs LawrenceManhattan vs ShawneeManhattan vs Lenexa

    More: Where to move in Kansas · Best counties in Kansas

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report