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 2026. 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 2026
What city is the best place to retire in Kansas for 2026? According to the US Census and FBI data we crunched, Atchison 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 Atchison 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 2026
/10
Population: 10,785
Median Income: $54,474
Median Home Price: $166,545
Median Rent: $737
Distance to Closest Airport: 29 miles
More on Atchison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,246
Median Income: $102,786
Median Home Price: $321,293
Median Rent: $1,406
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Lansing: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,678
Median Income: $71,699
Median Home Price: $235,345
Median Rent: $1,032
Distance to Closest Airport: 56 miles
More on Ottawa: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,769
Median Income: $59,180
Median Home Price: $169,660
Median Rent: $844
Distance to Closest Airport: 124 miles
More on El Dorado: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,479
Median Income: $54,139
Median Home Price: $124,918
Median Rent: $759
Distance to Closest Airport: 218 miles
More on Great Bend: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,711
Median Income: $56,656
Median Home Price: $137,701
Median Rent: $786
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Winfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 18,397
Median Income: $68,885
Median Home Price: $171,182
Median Rent: $903
Distance to Closest Airport: 150 miles
More on Newton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 39,709
Median Income: $58,687
Median Home Price: $146,980
Median Rent: $881
Distance to Closest Airport: 170 miles
More on Hutchinson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 24,131
Median Income: $52,704
Median Home Price: $169,150
Median Rent: $815
Distance to Closest Airport: 100 miles
More on Emporia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 145,057
Median Income: $114,009
Median Home Price: $433,116
Median Rent: $1,314
Distance to Closest Airport: 29 miles
More on Olathe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Sunflower State for 2026
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 Atchison, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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 Atchison.
The best places to retire in Kansas are Atchison, Lansing, Ottawa, El Dorado, Great Bend, Winfield, Newton, Hutchinson, Emporia, and Olathe.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Wichita
- Lawrence
- Haysville
For more Kansas reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Kansas
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atchison | 10,785 | $54,474 | $166,545 | $737 |
| 2 | Lansing | 11,246 | $102,786 | $321,293 | $1,406 |
| 3 | Ottawa | 12,678 | $71,699 | $235,345 | $1,032 |
| 4 | El Dorado | 12,769 | $59,180 | $169,660 | $844 |
| 5 | Great Bend | 14,479 | $54,139 | $124,918 | $759 |
| 6 | Winfield | 11,711 | $56,656 | $137,701 | $786 |
| 7 | Newton | 18,397 | $68,885 | $171,182 | $903 |
| 8 | Hutchinson | 39,709 | $58,687 | $146,980 | $881 |
| 9 | Emporia | 24,131 | $52,704 | $169,150 | $815 |
| 10 | Olathe | 145,057 | $114,009 | $433,116 | $1,314 |