You won’t have to be a Walmart greeter for long if you choose one of Kansas’ best places to retire.
You’ll be able to play pinochle and gin rummy all day with your retirement buddies if you choose one of the top ten places to retire in Kansas for 2025. Before we tell you Kansas’ best place to retire, we need to tell you how we calculated this list of Kansas stunners.
We looked at the latest FBI and Census reports on crime, demographics, and affordable housing for 27 cities with over 10,000 residents.
We learned that the entire state’s living costs come in close to 14% below the national average. Some of Kansas’ biggest cities like Witchita and Topeka, retirees are currently enjoying particularly affordable housing costs.
Where can you live out your best years in The Free State? Keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Kansas For 2025
What city is the best place to retire in Kansas for 2025? According to the US Census and FBI data we crunched, Lansing is the best place to retire in Kansas.
Read below to see how your favorite place and other amazing Kansas cities ranked. If you live in the greater Kansas City area, consider yourself one lucky Jayhawker retiree.
Why did Lansing take the top spot? And where are Wichita and Overland Park?
For more Kansas state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Kansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Kansas
- Richest Cities In Kansas
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Kansas For 2025
/10
Population: 11,229
Median Income: $100,871
Median Home Price: $247,500
Median Rent: $1,163
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Lansing: Data
/10
Population: 10,795
Median Income: $54,695
Median Home Price: $130,200
Median Rent: $736
Distance to Closest Airport: 29 miles
More on Atchison: Data
/10
Population: 12,632
Median Income: $64,655
Median Home Price: $165,700
Median Rent: $949
Distance to Closest Airport: 56 miles
More on Ottawa: Data
/10
Population: 14,596
Median Income: $53,323
Median Home Price: $118,700
Median Rent: $744
Distance to Closest Airport: 218 miles
More on Great Bend: Data
/10
Population: 11,731
Median Income: $58,140
Median Home Price: $121,200
Median Rent: $770
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Winfield: Data
/10
Population: 12,882
Median Income: $54,828
Median Home Price: $113,800
Median Rent: $877
Distance to Closest Airport: 124 miles
More on El Dorado: Data
/10
Population: 18,443
Median Income: $67,015
Median Home Price: $151,800
Median Rent: $903
Distance to Closest Airport: 150 miles
More on Newton: Data
/10
Population: 24,098
Median Income: $52,787
Median Home Price: $127,500
Median Rent: $793
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Emporia: Data
/10
Population: 39,837
Median Income: $58,801
Median Home Price: $122,600
Median Rent: $883
Distance to Closest Airport: 170 miles
More on Hutchinson: Data
/10
Population: 37,176
Median Income: $71,239
Median Home Price: $176,000
Median Rent: $1,135
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Leavenworth: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Sunflower State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Kansas to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Sunflower State — 664 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 27 places from across the state.
For these 27, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 27, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Lansing, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Kansas.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Kansas Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Kansas goes to Lansing.
The best places to retire in Kansas are Lansing, Atchison, Ottawa, Great Bend, Winfield, El Dorado, Newton, Emporia, Hutchinson, and Leavenworth.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Wichita
- Lawrence
- Merriam
For more Kansas reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Kansas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lansing | 11,229 | $100,871 | $247,500 | $1,163 |
| 2 | Atchison | 10,795 | $54,695 | $130,200 | $736 |
| 3 | Ottawa | 12,632 | $64,655 | $165,700 | $949 |
| 4 | Great Bend | 14,596 | $53,323 | $118,700 | $744 |
| 5 | Winfield | 11,731 | $58,140 | $121,200 | $770 |
| 6 | El Dorado | 12,882 | $54,828 | $113,800 | $877 |
| 7 | Newton | 18,443 | $67,015 | $151,800 | $903 |
| 8 | Emporia | 24,098 | $52,787 | $127,500 | $793 |
| 9 | Hutchinson | 39,837 | $58,801 | $122,600 | $883 |
| 10 | Leavenworth | 37,176 | $71,239 | $176,000 | $1,135 |