The 10 Best Small Towns In Kansas For 2026


The best small towns in Kansas are Mission Hills and Fairway for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Kansas. Best sururbs in Kansas. Best counties in Kansas.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all 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 superb 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 want to know which places in Kansas ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Kansas For 2026

  1. Mission Hills
  2. Fairway
  3. Westwood
  4. Galva
  5. Silver Lake
  6. Wamego
  7. Lindsborg
  8. Kechi
  9. Rose Hill
  10. North Newton
  11. Hoxie
  12. Sedgwick
  13. Andale
  14. Buhler
  15. Seneca

Best Small Towns To Live In Kansas Map

What’s the best small town in Kansas? Mission Hills is the best small town in Kansas based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Mission Hills, 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 2026

1. Mission Hills

Mission Hills, KS

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

10
/10

Population: 3,548
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,603,472 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.3%

2. Fairway

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,159
Median Income: $152,574 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $634,207 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

3. Westwood

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 2,093
Median Income: $118,250 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $438,325 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

4. Galva

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,002
Median Income: $91,167 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $272,281 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.5%

5. Silver Lake

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,553
Median Income: $56,834 (87th Best)
Median Home Value: $276,786 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

6. Wamego

Wamego, KS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,386
Median Income: $78,809 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $295,897 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

7. Lindsborg

Lindsborg, KS

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

8.5
/10

Population: 3,792
Median Income: $81,250 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $233,796 (37th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.6%

8. Kechi

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 2,901
Median Income: $113,125 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $295,015 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

9. Rose Hill

Rose Hill, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Art davis | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 4,246
Median Income: $102,389 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $269,694 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

10. North Newton

North Newton, KS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 2,155
Median Income: $87,402 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $240,010 (31st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.5%

11. Hoxie

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,042
Median Income: $67,054 (59th Best)
Median Home Value: $224,940 (40th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.6%

12. Sedgwick

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,614
Median Income: $93,125 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $244,604 (30th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.4%

13. Andale

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,062
Median Income: $98,333 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $370,081 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.8%

14. Buhler

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,525
Median Income: $72,929 (38th Best)
Median Home Value: $198,367 (50th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

15. Seneca

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,090
Median Income: $76,750 (28th Best)
Median Home Value: $265,677 (25th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Kansas

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Kansas possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, 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)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 137 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 137, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Kansas. Top of that list — Mission Hills.

This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live 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, 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?

The best small towns in Kansas are Mission Hills, Fairway, Westwood, Galva, Silver Lake, Wamego, Lindsborg, Kechi, Rose Hill, and North Newton.

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

  1. Oswego
  2. Caney
  3. Horton

For more Kansas reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Kansas

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Mission Hills, KS 3,548 $250,001 0.3%
2 Fairway, KS 4,159 $152,574 1.7%
3 Westwood, KS 2,093 $118,250 2.4%
4 Galva, KS 1,002 $91,167 0.5%
5 Silver Lake, KS 1,553 $56,834 0.0%
6 Wamego, KS 4,386 $78,809 1.6%
7 Lindsborg, KS 3,792 $81,250 4.6%
8 Kechi, KS 2,901 $113,125 0.9%
9 Rose Hill, KS 4,246 $102,389 2.8%
10 North Newton, KS 2,155 $87,402 6.5%
11 Hoxie, KS 1,042 $67,054 0.6%
12 Sedgwick, KS 1,614 $93,125 0.4%
13 Andale, KS 1,062 $98,333 4.8%
14 Buhler, KS 1,525 $72,929 1.8%
15 Seneca, KS 2,090 $76,750 0.9%
16 St. George, KS 1,039 $100,956 1.1%
17 Victoria, KS 1,095 $77,500 1.8%
18 Overbrook, KS 1,113 $68,958 1.2%
19 Plainville, KS 1,656 $59,236 1.5%
20 Clearwater, KS 2,716 $83,879 1.8%
21 Highland, KS 1,069 $72,083 2.8%
22 Scott City, KS 3,800 $54,880 3.5%
23 Baldwin City, KS 4,911 $72,941 6.1%
24 St. Marys, KS 2,788 $76,771 4.4%
25 Meade, KS 1,341 $75,321 0.0%
26 Atwood, KS 1,320 $72,188 0.6%
27 Wakeeney, KS 1,852 $68,438 1.4%
28 Colwich, KS 1,492 $88,295 7.1%
29 Cimarron, KS 1,949 $82,422 3.4%
30 Cheney, KS 2,580 $85,313 0.6%
31 Norton, KS 2,689 $53,125 0.0%
32 Oskaloosa, KS 1,113 $83,750 2.2%
33 Moundridge, KS 1,628 $67,500 2.6%
34 Sabetha, KS 2,471 $70,464 1.6%
35 Hesston, KS 3,582 $75,225 4.1%
36 Ness City, KS 1,162 $64,583 0.2%
37 Inman, KS 1,325 $59,250 3.6%
38 Hillsboro, KS 2,700 $63,462 4.3%
39 Ellsworth, KS 3,108 $66,821 1.6%
40 Carbondale, KS 1,341 $75,750 0.7%
41 Medicine Lodge, KS 1,578 $59,392 0.6%
42 Sterling, KS 2,411 $54,922 2.4%
43 Conway Springs, KS 1,573 $73,320 2.2%
44 Garden Plain, KS 1,126 $85,455 6.2%
45 Lyndon, KS 1,023 $67,227 0.0%
46 Towanda, KS 1,668 $64,327 2.4%
47 La Crosse, KS 1,154 $53,750 0.5%
48 Wellsville, KS 2,216 $83,750 1.6%
49 Edgerton, KS 1,924 $84,838 2.8%
50 Halstead, KS 2,516 $76,250 2.0%
51 Ellis, KS 2,189 $73,000 2.5%
52 Ogden, KS 1,696 $68,421 6.0%
53 Clay Center, KS 4,132 $62,695 1.1%
54 Holcomb, KS 2,577 $78,571 3.2%
55 Washington, KS 1,155 $58,438 1.8%
56 Mcconnell Afb, KS 1,907 $72,639 4.2%
57 Lakin, KS 2,243 $89,514 4.1%
58 Wathena, KS 1,554 $87,222 2.7%
59 Rossville, KS 1,106 $54,318 8.8%
60 Alma, KS 1,063 $71,875 3.3%
61 Perry, KS 1,069 $82,375 4.3%
62 Leoti, KS 1,360 $73,594 0.6%
63 Wakefield, KS 1,031 $68,594 3.0%
64 Marysville, KS 3,422 $55,386 2.2%
65 Oberlin, KS 1,734 $52,284 2.5%
66 Chapman, KS 1,454 $72,344 4.2%
67 Marion, KS 1,746 $58,387 0.0%
68 Oakley, KS 2,009 $77,065 2.5%
69 Johnson City, KS 1,549 $71,105 1.3%
70 Smith Center, KS 1,680 $56,007 0.5%
71 Cottonwood Falls, KS 1,041 $50,750 1.6%
72 Council Grove, KS 2,265 $57,962 2.4%
73 Douglass, KS 1,603 $72,589 5.5%
74 Auburn, KS 1,144 $57,875 4.8%
75 St. Francis, KS 1,229 $49,643 3.3%
76 Valley Falls, KS 1,382 $46,681 1.8%
77 Russell, KS 4,217 $56,832 0.4%
78 Hugoton, KS 3,974 $62,773 3.5%
79 Ellinwood, KS 2,192 $56,379 2.0%
80 Beloit, KS 3,029 $52,114 0.2%
81 Haven, KS 1,313 $59,091 4.5%
82 Belleville, KS 2,086 $56,218 3.4%
83 Phillipsburg, KS 2,130 $60,750 4.5%
84 Frontenac, KS 3,392 $58,733 4.5%
85 Stockton, KS 1,656 $62,621 1.2%
86 Herington, KS 2,164 $70,574 0.5%
87 Fredonia, KS 1,945 $59,125 0.4%
88 St. John, KS 1,172 $73,929 1.9%
89 Sublette, KS 1,500 $66,331 3.7%
90 Osborne, KS 1,358 $51,776 1.1%
91 Goodland, KS 4,121 $52,258 0.8%
92 Osage City, KS 2,828 $71,191 1.3%
93 Minneapolis, KS 2,043 $57,702 5.3%
94 Hill City, KS 1,511 $48,512 6.7%
95 Belle Plaine, KS 1,449 $63,214 3.7%
96 Hoisington, KS 2,643 $52,277 8.8%
97 Larned, KS 3,423 $55,648 1.8%
98 Erie, KS 1,216 $36,667 0.0%
99 Holton, KS 3,387 $52,532 1.3%
100 Hiawatha, KS 3,197 $68,750 6.2%
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