Kansas moving guide

Where should I move in Kansas?

We ranked 22 Kansas cities with 20,000+ residents on home affordability (income vs. home value), unemployment, education and population growth. Here are the top 15.

1. 1

   Olathe

   Home $340,600 · Rent $1,314 · Income $112,232 · Unemployment 2.8%
   75/100
2. 2

   Leawood

   Home $620,400 · Rent $1,753 · Income $184,976 · Unemployment 1.5%
   73/100
3. 3

   Lenexa

   Home $368,800 · Rent $1,429 · Income $102,344 · Unemployment 2.7%
   73/100
4. 4

   Shawnee

   Home $332,900 · Rent $1,233 · Income $106,312 · Unemployment 3.1%
   69/100
5. 5

   Derby

   Home $221,600 · Rent $1,082 · Income $82,089 · Unemployment 4.2%
   64/100
6. 6

   Overland Park

   Home $384,400 · Rent $1,455 · Income $103,838 · Unemployment 3.4%
   64/100
7. 7

   Gardner

   Home $276,000 · Rent $1,296 · Income $92,579 · Unemployment 4.0%
   62/100
8. 8

   Prairie Village

   Home $402,600 · Rent $1,655 · Income $107,664 · Unemployment 3.4%
   61/100
9. 9

   Emporia

   Home $127,500 · Rent $793 · Income $52,787 · Unemployment 2.9%
   57/100
10. 10

    Pittsburg

    Home $110,800 · Rent $840 · Income $40,220 · Unemployment 3.6%
    54/100
11. 11

    Leavenworth

    Home $176,000 · Rent $1,135 · Income $71,239 · Unemployment 4.2%
    51/100
12. 12

    Hays

    Home $220,100 · Rent $890 · Income $56,861 · Unemployment 3.5%
    44/100
13. 13

    Topeka

    Home $130,600 · Rent $947 · Income $55,902 · Unemployment 4.9%
    43/100
14. 14

    Lawrence

    Home $269,500 · Rent $1,054 · Income $62,838 · Unemployment 5.0%
    42/100
15. 15

    Dodge City

    Home $122,800 · Rent $982 · Income $67,958 · Unemployment 5.1%
    40/100

Statewide, Kansas recorded 2,398 crimes per 100,000 people in 2025 — #6 highest of 50 states (FBI).

Also see: Best counties in Kansas to live

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