Some of you might be asking yourself, at this very moment, is Kansas a good place?
The answer is unequivocally yes… if you know where to locate the best counties to live in Kansas.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you identify the best counties to live in the Sunflower State based on the most recently available data from the Census. And this isn’t our first rodeo — we’ve been using Saturday Night Science to rank places for years.
The question becomes if you wanted to relocate to the best part of Kansas, where would you go? To answer that, we looked at crime, cost of living, and demographic data for all 105 counties in the state.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 Best Counties To Live In Kansas For 2026
Pottawatomie County is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Kansas. And you should avoid Edwards County if you can — at least according to the data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Kansas. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Kansas and the cheapest places to live in Kansas.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Counties To Live In Kansas For 2026
1. Pottawatomie County
Biggest Place: Manhattan
Population: 26,204
Median Income: $92,325 (2nd best)
Median Home Price: $324,482 (5th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1% (4best)
More on Pottawatomie County: Data
2. Johnson County
Biggest Place: Overland Park
Population: 620,631
Median Income: $109,208 (best)
Median Home Price: $459,391 (best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2% (63rd best)
More on Johnson County: Data
3. Trego County
Biggest Place: WaKeeney
Population: 2,777
Median Income: $81,528 (7th best)
Median Home Price: $143,347 (6best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0% (13th best)
More on Trego County: Data
4. Jefferson County
Biggest Place: Valley Falls
Population: 18,349
Median Income: $81,278 (8th best)
Median Home Price: $281,948 (6th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4% (45th best)
More on Jefferson County: Data
5. Nemaha County
Biggest Place: Sabetha
Population: 10,160
Median Income: $77,348 (13th best)
Median Home Price: $241,965 (13th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5% (2best)
More on Nemaha County: Data
6. Sheridan County
Biggest Place: Hoxie
Population: 2,426
Median Income: $73,750 (23rd best)
Median Home Price: $234,560 (15th best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7% (9th best)
More on Sheridan County: Data
7. Hodgeman County
Biggest Place: Jetmore
Population: 1,652
Median Income: $59,955 (76th best)
Median Home Price: $160,390 (47th best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.6% (7th best)
More on Hodgeman County: Data
8. Jackson County
Biggest Place: Holton
Population: 13,341
Median Income: $75,215 (18th best)
Median Home Price: $250,556 (10th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8% (30th best)
More on Jackson County: Data
9. Miami County
Biggest Place: Spring Hill
Population: 34,938
Median Income: $89,000 (5th best)
Median Home Price: $371,974 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7% (75th best)
More on Miami County: Data
10. Thomas County
Biggest Place: Colby
Population: 7,885
Median Income: $71,325 (27th best)
Median Home Price: $175,114 (36th best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.6% (4th best)
More on Thomas County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Kansas county is the best?
To give you the best county in Kansas, we have to look at a handful of metrics that signal the quality of a place. To do that, we made assumptions about what’s in a “best county” and what isn’t. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to two of the best data sources on the internet. Namely, the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent period.
We paid particular attention to:
- Violent Crime Rates
- Property Crime Rates
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Unemployment Rates
- Adult Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We then ranked each county in Kansas across each of the criteria from one to 105, with one being the best.
Taking the average rank across all criteria, we created a quality of life score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Best County To Live In Kansas.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and best counties to raise a family in the Sunflower State.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best counties to live in Kansas.
Read on to see why Pottawatomie County is the best county, while Edwards County is probably in contention for being the worst county in Kansas.
Summary: The Best Counties In Kansas To Call Home For 2026
Living in Kansas can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?
The best counties in Kansas are Pottawatomie County, Johnson County, Trego County, Jefferson County, Nemaha County, Sheridan County, Hodgeman County, Jackson County, Miami County, and Thomas County.
But now you know the outstanding parts and the parts to avoid, and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the worst counties in Kansas according to the data:
- Edwards County
- Montgomery County
- Chautauqua County
For more Kansas reading, check out:
- Best Places To Buy A House In Kansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Kansas
- Best Counties To Live In Kansas
- Safest Places In Kansas
Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Kansas
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pottawatomie County | 26,204 | $92,325 | $324,482 |
| 2 | Johnson County | 620,631 | $109,208 | $459,391 |
| 3 | Trego County | 2,777 | $81,528 | $143,347 |
| 4 | Jefferson County | 18,349 | $81,278 | $281,948 |
| 5 | Nemaha County | 10,160 | $77,348 | $241,965 |
| 6 | Sheridan County | 2,426 | $73,750 | $234,560 |
| 7 | Hodgeman County | 1,652 | $59,955 | $160,390 |
| 8 | Jackson County | 13,341 | $75,215 | $250,556 |
| 9 | Miami County | 34,938 | $89,000 | $371,974 |
| 10 | Thomas County | 7,885 | $71,325 | $175,114 |
| 11 | Leavenworth County | 83,123 | $89,218 | $344,041 |
| 12 | Butler County | 68,287 | $81,610 | $244,142 |
| 13 | Washington County | 5,533 | $65,482 | $162,841 |
| 14 | Rawlins County | 2,516 | $67,742 | $136,296 |
| 15 | Mcpherson County | 30,205 | $78,851 | $222,474 |
| 16 | Gove County | 2,799 | $66,029 | $155,145 |
| 17 | Osage County | 15,744 | $74,467 | $207,645 |
| 18 | Doniphan County | 7,503 | $74,028 | $165,153 |
| 19 | Ottawa County | 5,819 | $74,018 | $175,169 |
| 20 | Franklin County | 26,106 | $77,207 | $257,409 |
| 21 | Smith County | 3,552 | $59,135 | $110,245 |
| 22 | Scott County | 5,027 | $68,839 | $184,067 |
| 23 | Rooks County | 4,813 | $62,500 | $122,903 |
| 24 | Clay County | 8,048 | $66,176 | $167,257 |
| 25 | Ellsworth County | 6,360 | $65,560 | $137,040 |
| 26 | Greeley County | 1,304 | $80,565 | $149,133 |
| 27 | Marshall County | 9,993 | $68,419 | $156,076 |
| 28 | Wabaunsee County | 7,009 | $76,908 | $258,358 |
| 29 | Wallace County | 1,417 | $63,207 | $146,652 |
| 30 | Dickinson County | 18,445 | $68,417 | $170,171 |
| 31 | Kiowa County | 2,422 | $75,539 | $160,796 |
| 32 | Osborne County | 3,452 | $63,011 | $97,412 |
| 33 | Kearny County | 3,864 | $89,135 | $192,117 |
| 34 | Mitchell County | 5,779 | $64,246 | $135,931 |
| 35 | Douglas County | 120,302 | $69,746 | $333,701 |
| 36 | Chase County | 2,561 | $56,484 | $165,880 |
| 37 | Lincoln County | 2,923 | $57,500 | $128,552 |
| 38 | Harvey County | 33,756 | $74,368 | $188,877 |
| 39 | Gray County | 5,701 | $79,122 | $242,078 |
| 40 | Wichita County | 2,091 | $79,063 | $168,344 |
| 41 | Lane County | 1,461 | $54,526 | $109,476 |
| 42 | Riley County | 71,946 | $61,098 | $268,301 |
| 43 | Republic County | 4,646 | $56,833 | $113,992 |
| 44 | Barber County | 4,069 | $61,926 | $88,343 |
| 45 | Logan County | 2,707 | $75,662 | $157,808 |
| 46 | Ness County | 2,653 | $68,616 | $105,898 |
| 47 | Comanche County | 1,729 | $54,545 | $93,287 |
| 48 | Stanton County | 2,038 | $71,700 | $154,679 |
| 49 | Morris County | 5,340 | $58,686 | $188,209 |
| 50 | Jewell County | 2,916 | $52,634 | $117,434 |
| 51 | Norton County | 5,359 | $54,050 | $120,829 |
| 52 | Kingman County | 7,186 | $59,842 | $171,002 |
| 53 | Stafford County | 3,978 | $64,226 | $102,314 |
| 54 | Marion County | 11,754 | $64,695 | $138,581 |
| 55 | Ellis County | 28,920 | $63,084 | $241,381 |
| 56 | Cloud County | 8,898 | $58,770 | $115,389 |
| 57 | Sherman County | 5,858 | $61,750 | $150,841 |
| 58 | Russell County | 6,679 | $62,392 | $115,682 |
| 59 | Linn County | 9,767 | $59,069 | $169,750 |
| 60 | Shawnee County | 178,025 | $67,104 | $200,188 |
| 61 | Meade County | 3,903 | $71,852 | $121,289 |
| 62 | Grant County | 7,229 | $66,476 | $152,692 |
| 63 | Clark County | 1,974 | $63,043 | $85,923 |
| 64 | Anderson County | 7,834 | $70,614 | $192,521 |
| 65 | Sumner County | 22,353 | $63,951 | $144,021 |
| 66 | Atchison County | 16,208 | $61,112 | $181,316 |
| 67 | Elk County | 2,453 | $64,609 | $96,811 |
| 68 | Rice County | 9,350 | $63,925 | $116,693 |
| 69 | Hamilton County | 2,471 | $70,250 | $148,171 |
| 70 | Coffey County | 8,308 | $70,346 | $193,849 |
| 71 | Phillips County | 4,813 | $62,123 | $116,450 |
| 72 | Geary County | 35,815 | $59,317 | $216,269 |
| 73 | Finney County | 38,084 | $73,009 | $234,021 |
| 74 | Brown County | 9,343 | $62,233 | $154,025 |
| 75 | Saline County | 53,668 | $65,422 | $175,858 |
| 76 | Pratt County | 9,127 | $66,022 | $123,328 |
| 77 | Sedgwick County | 528,226 | $69,365 | $222,530 |
| 78 | Decatur County | 2,726 | $53,870 | $108,892 |
| 79 | Pawnee County | 6,144 | $63,517 | $107,044 |
| 80 | Lyon County | 32,186 | $59,912 | $186,020 |
| 81 | Allen County | 12,483 | $60,689 | $112,160 |
| 82 | Woodson County | 3,109 | $50,326 | $114,987 |
| 83 | Rush County | 2,947 | $59,970 | $92,823 |
| 84 | Haskell County | 3,641 | $66,162 | $175,817 |
| 85 | Graham County | 2,389 | $50,650 | $116,545 |
| 86 | Reno County | 61,553 | $60,645 | $151,596 |
| 87 | Morton County | 2,611 | $66,447 | $105,640 |
| 88 | Ford County | 34,074 | $70,781 | $209,375 |
| 89 | Neosho County | 15,656 | $56,618 | $108,187 |
| 90 | Greenwood County | 5,919 | $60,042 | $104,222 |
| 91 | Wilson County | 8,505 | $60,677 | $102,252 |
| 92 | Stevens County | 5,162 | $64,178 | $166,425 |
| 93 | Cowley County | 34,411 | $57,878 | $124,850 |
| 94 | Bourbon County | 14,394 | $59,238 | $131,362 |
| 95 | Cheyenne County | 2,628 | $55,429 | $179,571 |
| 96 | Wyandotte County | 167,654 | $63,631 | $204,978 |
| 97 | Harper County | 5,400 | $53,488 | $97,011 |
| 98 | Seward County | 21,486 | $63,827 | $145,403 |
| 99 | Cherokee County | 19,151 | $57,668 | $125,218 |
| 100 | Barton County | 25,097 | $58,851 | $120,135 |