The 10 Best Counties To Live In Kansas For 2022


Using science and data, we can tell you which counties in Kansas have the most for people looking to make the move to Kansas.

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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 places 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 helping people find the best places to live in America for years.

So, 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.

After the analytic dust settled, we identified the 10 best counties to live in Sunflower State for 2022.

Wabaunsee County is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Kansas. And you might want to avoid Chautauqua County if you can — at least according to the data.

So if you’re thinking of making the move Kansas, we’ve got you covered. Keep on reading for a detailed methodology.

Or, check out the best places to live in Kansas and the cheapest places to live in Kansas.

The Best Counties To Live In Kansas For 2022

1. Wabaunsee County

St. Marys, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Kswx29 | CC BY 3.0

Biggest Place: Wamego

Population: 6,877
Median Income: $65,742.0 (9th best)
Median Home Price: $153,700.0 (11th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0% (24th best)
More on Wabaunsee County: Photos | Data

2. Pottawatomie County

Manhattan, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Kevin Zollman Kzollman 22 | GFDL

Biggest Place: Manhattan

Population: 24,203
Median Income: $70,064.0 (5th best)
Median Home Price: $176,700.0 (6th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2% (29th best)
More on Pottawatomie County: Photos | Data

3. Miami County

Louisburg, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Mced1102 | CC BY 3.0

Biggest Place: Spring Hill

Population: 33,740
Median Income: $75,635.0 (3rd best)
Median Home Price: $212,500.0 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8% (20th best)
More on Miami County: Photos | Data

4. Nemaha County

Sabetha, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Richard Bauer | CC BY 2.0

Biggest Place: Sabetha

Population: 10,109
Median Income: $61,382.0 (11th best)
Median Home Price: $150,400.0 (12th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0% (23rd best)
More on Nemaha County: Photos | Data

5. Jefferson County

Biggest Place: Oskaloosa

Population: 18,974
Median Income: $67,429.0 (7th best)
Median Home Price: $163,400.0 (8th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.5% (60th best)
More on Jefferson County: Data

6. Sheridan County

Biggest Place: Hoxie

Population: 2,515
Median Income: $62,105.0 (10th best)
Median Home Price: $119,000.0 (28th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4% (35th best)
More on Sheridan County: Data

7. Johnson County

Bonner Springs, KS

Source: Flickr User bonnerlibrary | CC BY 2.0

Biggest Place: Overland Park

Population: 597,574
Median Income: $91,650.0 (best)
Median Home Price: $277,500.0 (best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2% (5best)
More on Johnson County: Photos | Data

8. Thomas County

Colby, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Richard Bauer | CC BY 2.0

Biggest Place: Colby

Population: 7,748
Median Income: $68,313.0 (6th best)
Median Home Price: $129,600.0 (25th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3% (9th best)
More on Thomas County: Photos | Data

9. Mcpherson County

Lindsborg, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Swampyank | CC BY-SA 3.0

Biggest Place: McPherson

Population: 28,557
Median Income: $59,928.0 (16th best)
Median Home Price: $154,700.0 (10th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3% (11th best)
More on Mcpherson County: Photos | Data

10. Rawlins County

Atwood, KS

Source: Flickr User US Department of State | Public Doamin

Biggest Place: Atwood

Population: 2,490
Median Income: $57,281.0 (29th best)
Median Home Price: $101,000.0 (49th best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8% (5th best)
More on Rawlins County: Photos | 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 need to make some assumptions about what’s a “best county” and what isn’t. And, for reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, don’t take this analysis to court.

With that in mind, we went to two of the best sources of data on the internet; the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent time 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
Best Places To Retire In Kansas

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, quiet, and best counties to raise a family in the Sunflower State.

Read on to see why Wabaunsee County is the best county, while Chautauqua County is probably in contention for being the worst county in Kansas.

Summary: The Best Counties In Kansas To Call Home For 2018

It turns out living in Kansas can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?

But now you the know the really good parts and the parts to avoid and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day. And for that, you are welcome.

Here’s a look at the worst counties in Kansas according to the data:

  1. Chautauqua County
  2. Elk County
  3. Woodson County

For more Kansas reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Kansas

County Rank Population Median Income Median Home Price
Wabaunsee County 1 6,877 $65,742.0 $153,700.0
Pottawatomie County 2 24,203 $70,064.0 $176,700.0
Miami County 3 33,740 $75,635.0 $212,500.0
Nemaha County 4 10,109 $61,382.0 $150,400.0
Jefferson County 5 18,974 $67,429.0 $163,400.0
Sheridan County 6 2,515 $62,105.0 $119,000.0
Johnson County 7 597,574 $91,650.0 $277,500.0
Thomas County 8 7,748 $68,313.0 $129,600.0
Mcpherson County 9 28,557 $59,928.0 $154,700.0
Rawlins County 10 2,490 $57,281.0 $101,000.0
Ottawa County 11 5,776 $59,607.0 $117,300.0
Trego County 12 2,802 $59,420.0 $103,600.0
Kingman County 13 7,173 $57,304.0 $92,500.0
Ellsworth County 14 6,176 $56,306.0 $110,100.0
Gray County 15 6,020 $70,457.0 $142,600.0
Jackson County 16 13,249 $59,686.0 $139,400.0
Franklin County 17 25,643 $55,873.0 $138,500.0
Douglas County 18 121,304 $61,020.0 $212,400.0
Scott County 19 4,893 $55,625.0 $134,000.0
Republic County 20 4,607 $50,411.0 $67,100.0
Leavenworth County 21 81,499 $76,307.0 $195,000.0
Ellis County 22 28,747 $57,053.0 $172,700.0
Morris County 23 5,551 $52,792.0 $94,400.0
Butler County 24 66,890 $66,405.0 $150,300.0
Washington County 25 5,474 $52,172.0 $84,100.0
Rooks County 26 4,985 $51,362.0 $77,300.0
Marshall County 27 9,713 $52,293.0 $101,600.0
Clay County 28 8,030 $47,880.0 $105,500.0
Clark County 29 2,006 $52,500.0 $74,300.0
Wallace County 30 1,583 $49,632.0 $84,500.0
Ness County 31 2,838 $57,222.0 $74,100.0
Saline County 32 54,384 $51,830.0 $141,300.0
Kiowa County 33 2,483 $53,107.0 $132,500.0
Greeley County 34 1,156 $53,750.0 $112,100.0
Shawnee County 35 177,293 $58,652.0 $135,100.0
Wichita County 36 2,112 $58,299.0 $101,500.0
Coffey County 37 8,218 $59,405.0 $124,300.0
Harvey County 38 34,434 $58,782.0 $131,000.0
Marion County 39 11,865 $50,816.0 $96,600.0
Dickinson County 40 18,614 $53,864.0 $116,400.0
Geary County 41 33,309 $52,019.0 $143,100.0
Phillips County 42 5,297 $51,820.0 $82,700.0
Logan County 43 2,789 $51,136.0 $89,600.0
Mitchell County 44 6,053 $47,375.0 $92,100.0
Russell County 45 6,896 $50,630.0 $99,900.0
Riley County 46 74,059 $51,098.0 $205,900.0
Gove County 47 2,650 $53,906.0 $99,800.0
Doniphan County 48 7,616 $51,953.0 $100,000.0
Comanche County 49 1,759 $48,125.0 $72,500.0
Sherman County 50 5,904 $57,005.0 $107,500.0
Lincoln County 51 3,013 $46,523.0 $75,400.0
Pratt County 52 9,324 $54,644.0 $107,500.0
Atchison County 53 16,210 $50,683.0 $108,700.0
Chase County 54 2,604 $48,906.0 $102,500.0
Cloud County 55 8,831 $48,295.0 $77,800.0
Rush County 56 2,953 $46,333.0 $70,100.0
Rice County 57 9,532 $49,688.0 $79,500.0
Ford County 58 33,718 $53,743.0 $109,800.0
Osage County 59 15,855 $58,927.0 $123,600.0
Sumner County 60 22,928 $53,578.0 $94,800.0
Wilson County 61 8,600 $49,682.0 $82,200.0
Sedgwick County 62 515,416 $57,540.0 $146,300.0
Osborne County 63 3,494 $50,774.0 $66,100.0
Meade County 64 4,120 $56,817.0 $101,800.0
Smith County 65 3,594 $42,098.0 $75,300.0
Grant County 66 7,324 $60,625.0 $137,000.0
Norton County 67 5,416 $48,486.0 $79,100.0
Hodgeman County 68 1,872 $60,703.0 $93,400.0
Pawnee County 69 6,539 $46,559.0 $78,800.0
Linn County 70 9,687 $48,325.0 $112,000.0
Greenwood County 71 6,010 $43,320.0 $64,500.0
Finney County 72 36,451 $60,498.0 $159,300.0
Brown County 73 9,575 $50,649.0 $87,000.0
Anderson County 74 7,877 $52,995.0 $100,300.0
Edwards County 75 2,822 $50,028.0 $60,700.0
Stevens County 76 5,498 $59,044.0 $104,200.0
Cowley County 77 35,090 $50,786.0 $88,600.0
Cheyenne County 78 2,639 $42,802.0 $84,200.0
Allen County 79 12,503 $47,983.0 $80,300.0
Jewell County 80 2,854 $38,188.0 $56,300.0
Lane County 81 1,523 $41,318.0 $75,100.0
Haskell County 82 3,990 $54,638.0 $96,300.0
Barton County 83 26,209 $48,863.0 $97,100.0
Morton County 84 2,656 $41,866.0 $90,300.0
Cherokee County 85 20,017 $41,936.0 $80,700.0
Lyon County 86 33,237 $50,141.0 $113,700.0
Reno County 87 62,421 $51,520.0 $106,100.0
Stafford County 88 4,125 $51,857.0 $73,900.0
Hamilton County 89 2,552 $44,894.0 $75,000.0
Harper County 90 5,506 $49,283.0 $75,200.0
Bourbon County 91 14,539 $46,369.0 $83,900.0
Barber County 92 4,493 $49,668.0 $74,400.0
Crawford County 93 38,874 $42,615.0 $96,900.0
Decatur County 94 2,826 $44,125.0 $68,400.0
Neosho County 95 16,008 $49,493.0 $83,800.0
Labette County 96 19,938 $47,922.0 $76,500.0
Seward County 97 21,902 $49,395.0 $111,200.0
Stanton County 98 2,030 $57,741.0 $63,200.0
Graham County 99 2,464 $40,890.0 $77,500.0
Kearny County 100 3,863 $46,464.0 $91,200.0
Download The Entire Kansas Ranking Data
Editor’s Note: We updated this article for 2022. This is our ninth time ranking the best counties to live in Kansas.

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

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