The 10 Best Small Towns In Kansas For 2022


We used science and data to determine which small towns in Kansas are the best of the best.

HomeSnacks is reader-supported. When you click through real estate links on our site, we earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

You've seen these lists before: Best places to live in Kansas, Most Beautiful Downtowns, etc., etc. But all of them focus on major cities and towns in the Sunflower State and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that's all about to change as we put together a list of the best small towns in Kansas based on numbers--not opinions or hearsay.

We'll dive right into our methodology in the next section; but first, we thought you might just want to know which places in Kansas ranked the based--you know, based on science.

Before we get to the top 15, here's a look at the 10 Best Small Towns To Live in Kansas for 2022.

The 10 Best Small Towns To Live In Kansas For 2022

  1. Fairway
  2. Mission Hills
  3. Westwood
  4. Silver Lake
  5. Hoxie
  6. Lindsborg
  7. North Newton
  8. Victoria
  9. Galva
  10. St. Marys

What's the best small town in Kansas? Fairway is the best small town in Kansas based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Fairway, chances are, you're not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you--keep reading and we'll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Sunflower State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Kansas For 2022

1. Fairway

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 3,975
Median Income: $120,162 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $426,900 (3rd Best)
More on Fairway: Data | Homes For Sale

2. Mission Hills

Mission Hills, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Iknowthegoods | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,563
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $966,200 (1st Best)
More on Mission Hills: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

3. Westwood

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 1,746
Median Income: $77,361 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $281,900 (4th Best)
More on Westwood: Data | Homes For Sale

4. Silver Lake

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,453
Median Income: $59,375 (34th Best)
Median Home Value: $149,300 (22nd Best)
More on Silver Lake: Data | Homes For Sale

5. Hoxie

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,285
Median Income: $65,435 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $119,400 (39th Best)
More on Hoxie: Data | Homes For Sale

6. Lindsborg

Lindsborg, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Swampyank | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 3,294
Median Income: $54,500 (55th Best)
Median Home Value: $147,700 (23rd Best)
More on Lindsborg: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

7. North Newton

North Newton, KS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 1,981
Median Income: $71,298 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $162,900 (11th Best)
More on North Newton: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

8. Victoria

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,077
Median Income: $66,833 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $158,200 (14th Best)
More on Victoria: Data | Homes For Sale

9. Galva

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,087
Median Income: $84,583 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $169,300 (9th Best)
More on Galva: Data | Homes For Sale

10. St. Marys

St. Marys, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Kswx29 | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,715
Median Income: $62,031 (30th Best)
Median Home Value: $155,100 (18th Best)
More on St. Marys: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

11. Riley

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,265
Median Income: $59,297 (35th Best)
Median Home Value: $133,600 (34th Best)
More on Riley: Data | Homes For Sale

12. Cimarron

Cimarron, KS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,376
Median Income: $93,125 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $147,700 (23rd Best)
More on Cimarron: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

13. Seneca

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,900
Median Income: $55,078 (49th Best)
Median Home Value: $157,300 (16th Best)
More on Seneca: Data | Homes For Sale

14. Lake Quivira

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,081
Median Income: $153,750 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $623,000 (2nd Best)
More on Lake Quivira: Data | Homes For Sale

15. Goddard

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 4,797
Median Income: $82,270 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $149,500 (21st Best)
More on Goddard: Data | Homes For Sale

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Kansas

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the most recent data from the Census's 2016-2020 American Community Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)
Best States In America

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which, there were a lot - 138 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 138, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Kansas. Top of that list -- Fairway. You can download the data here.

Keep reading to find out more about our top 15 best small towns in Kansas.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once and we'll say it again -- this list: it's just science. We did the research, we crunched the numbers, and it turns out, these 15 small towns in Kansas are the best, in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

If you're curious, here are the worst small towns in Kansas:

  1. La Cygne
  2. Chetopa
  3. Yates Center

For more Kansas reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Best Small Towns In Kansas

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value
1 Fairway, KS 3,975 $120,162.0 $426,900.0
2 Mission Hills, KS 3,563 $250,001.0 $966,200.0
3 Westwood, KS 1,746 $77,361.0 $281,900.0
4 Silver Lake, KS 1,453 $59,375.0 $149,300.0
5 Hoxie, KS 1,285 $65,435.0 $119,400.0
6 Lindsborg, KS 3,294 $54,500.0 $147,700.0
7 North Newton, KS 1,981 $71,298.0 $162,900.0
8 Victoria, KS 1,077 $66,833.0 $158,200.0
9 Galva, KS 1,087 $84,583.0 $169,300.0
10 St. Marys, KS 2,715 $62,031.0 $155,100.0
11 Riley, KS 1,265 $59,297.0 $133,600.0
12 Cimarron, KS 2,376 $93,125.0 $147,700.0
13 Seneca, KS 1,900 $55,078.0 $157,300.0
14 Lake Quivira, KS 1,081 $153,750.0 $623,000.0
15 Goddard, KS 4,797 $82,270.0 $149,500.0
16 Rose Hill, KS 4,086 $81,046.0 $151,300.0
17 Ness City, KS 1,489 $60,852.0 $89,300.0
18 Kechi, KS 2,848 $100,069.0 $190,500.0
19 Moundridge, KS 2,121 $43,750.0 $140,300.0
20 Scott City, KS 3,904 $49,453.0 $158,700.0
21 Holcomb, KS 2,367 $70,179.0 $152,800.0
22 Atwood, KS 1,158 $65,063.0 $107,100.0
23 Meade, KS 1,388 $56,121.0 $89,300.0
24 Plainville, KS 1,673 $52,946.0 $95,200.0
25 Colwich, KS 1,354 $79,250.0 $165,900.0
26 Clearwater, KS 2,437 $73,073.0 $157,500.0
27 Ellsworth, KS 2,987 $53,547.0 $136,500.0
28 Baldwin City, KS 4,684 $74,074.0 $169,500.0
29 Whitewater, KS 1,028 $64,583.0 $101,100.0
30 Inman, KS 1,271 $53,438.0 $126,500.0
31 Ellis, KS 2,226 $55,441.0 $115,200.0
32 Frontenac, KS 3,398 $51,563.0 $132,400.0
33 Conway Springs, KS 1,485 $53,646.0 $93,500.0
34 Buhler, KS 1,247 $55,859.0 $99,000.0
35 Haven, KS 1,191 $54,777.0 $102,600.0
36 Solomon, KS 1,129 $65,284.0 $113,900.0
37 Minneapolis, KS 1,786 $52,578.0 $102,800.0
38 Louisburg, KS 4,499 $77,182.0 $184,300.0
39 Hillsboro, KS 2,808 $46,579.0 $90,300.0
40 Auburn, KS 1,078 $57,639.0 $107,900.0
41 St. George, KS 1,072 $78,798.0 $197,800.0
42 Leoti, KS 1,591 $58,819.0 $110,800.0
43 Sedgwick, KS 1,514 $56,042.0 $137,200.0
44 Garden Plain, KS 1,028 $80,833.0 $156,300.0
45 La Crosse, KS 1,347 $40,069.0 $74,700.0
46 Sabetha, KS 2,550 $46,964.0 $112,800.0
47 Chapman, KS 1,209 $53,621.0 $140,000.0
48 Wamego, KS 4,465 $54,491.0 $160,700.0
49 Neodesha, KS 2,127 $48,549.0 $78,500.0
50 Lyndon, KS 1,074 $49,432.0 $95,500.0
51 Phillipsburg, KS 2,317 $48,241.0 $84,400.0
52 Cheney, KS 2,219 $64,818.0 $123,600.0
53 Edwardsville, KS 4,506 $74,063.0 $139,300.0
54 Towanda, KS 1,579 $64,773.0 $87,100.0
55 Wathena, KS 1,520 $54,943.0 $111,200.0
56 Highland, KS 1,193 $65,208.0 $91,100.0
57 Wakeeney, KS 2,031 $54,805.0 $88,200.0
58 Norton, KS 2,761 $49,069.0 $83,200.0
59 Sterling, KS 2,585 $44,907.0 $107,200.0
60 Council Grove, KS 2,307 $49,519.0 $100,800.0
61 Marysville, KS 3,275 $44,037.0 $96,300.0
62 Larned, KS 3,732 $42,378.0 $76,800.0
63 Clay Center, KS 4,007 $43,191.0 $94,300.0
64 Edgerton, KS 1,750 $70,938.0 $147,500.0
65 Wellsville, KS 1,921 $63,355.0 $137,900.0
66 Oxford, KS 1,046 $47,875.0 $83,400.0
67 Goodland, KS 3,986 $56,024.0 $87,500.0
68 Hoisington, KS 2,725 $47,566.0 $84,700.0
69 Ellinwood, KS 2,044 $48,322.0 $75,400.0
70 Satanta, KS 1,082 $55,982.0 $83,600.0
71 Oakley, KS 2,070 $46,042.0 $102,300.0
72 Hesston, KS 4,046 $50,644.0 $135,900.0
73 Halstead, KS 2,197 $51,944.0 $99,300.0
74 Carbondale, KS 1,436 $60,938.0 $83,200.0
75 Perry, KS 1,277 $59,583.0 $135,000.0
76 St. Francis, KS 1,371 $34,355.0 $80,200.0
77 Altamont, KS 1,055 $48,971.0 $69,800.0
78 Oskaloosa, KS 1,229 $54,783.0 $121,900.0
79 Beloit, KS 3,497 $46,196.0 $95,000.0
80 Smith Center, KS 1,409 $38,276.0 $66,700.0
81 Kingman, KS 2,859 $50,273.0 $75,300.0
82 Burlington, KS 2,535 $46,800.0 $109,200.0
83 Johnson City, KS 1,110 $57,851.0 $57,600.0
84 Russell, KS 4,400 $49,175.0 $103,000.0
85 Plains, KS 1,301 $64,074.0 $85,000.0
86 Hill City, KS 1,808 $36,469.0 $84,800.0
87 Sublette, KS 1,605 $49,250.0 $87,500.0
88 Stockton, KS 1,659 $47,067.0 $63,800.0
89 St. John, KS 1,377 $54,962.0 $69,300.0
90 Hugoton, KS 4,274 $56,786.0 $97,100.0
91 Marion, KS 1,829 $46,548.0 $74,800.0
92 Douglass, KS 1,774 $56,125.0 $86,800.0
93 Belleville, KS 1,889 $40,238.0 $71,100.0
94 Hiawatha, KS 3,119 $48,040.0 $82,400.0
95 Fredonia, KS 2,077 $48,320.0 $72,700.0
96 Kinsley, KS 1,467 $49,158.0 $54,400.0
97 Ogden, KS 1,475 $41,190.0 $115,900.0
98 Belle Plaine, KS 1,473 $58,977.0 $77,700.0
99 Lyons, KS 3,504 $49,448.0 $71,100.0
100 Baxter Springs, KS 3,938 $37,926.0 $71,200.0
Download The Entire Kansas Ranking Data

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. This is our ninth time ranking the best small places 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.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings