Trying to find the cheapest places to live in Kansas is a whirlwind.
With so many affordable options, finding the places where your money goes the furthest can be like trying to find the Wizard of Oz.
Lucky for you, we’re here to dispel the magic behind Kansas’s most affordable places for 2024 using Saturday Night Science. Our methodology is simple. We rank all the places in Kansas based on median home prices, average incomes, and cost of living.
Living in Kansas’s cheapest places frees up cash to catch a Kansas City Royals game or Louisburg’s Dancefestopia Music Festival instead of paying more rent. Or a stroll down the yellow brick road.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Kansas
According to the most recent census data, what is Kansas’s cheapest place to live? The cheapest place in Kansas for 2024 is Fort Scott.
If you care about home values and affordability, look at the list below to see where your Kansas dollar will go the furthest. And if you are still looking for your favorite town, head to the bottom for a complete list of the most affordable places in Kansas.
Check out some more reading about Kansas and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Kansas For 2024
/10
Population: 7,569
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 75
Median Income: $45,206
Median Home Price: $108,652
Median Rent: $798
At one point, Fort Scott was an actual fort. Named for Mexican War hero General Winfield Scott, the community first took root in the 1840s. Nowadays, it houses more than soldiers. In fact, the town represents the number 1 most affordable places to live in Kansas.
Looking for a good value on a housing purchase? Check out Fort Scott. The median home value sits at $108,652. That equates to the tenth cheapest price in the state. If you’re not ready for that kind of commitment, you can still get a good deal on an apartment as well. The median rent in town stands at $798 per month.
Bolstered by these reasonable housing expenses, the cost of living in Fort Scott comes in at just 70% of the national average. Along with the break on your living space, you can also find inexpensive services and transportation.
Fort Scott is located in the far eastern part of the state, about an hour and a half south of Kansas City, the largest urban area in the region. The median income in town is $45,206 and the unemployment rate is 4.52%.
More on Fort Scott: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 5,080
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 75
Median Income: $45,000
Median Home Price: $101,201
Median Rent: $711
Located in the Smoky Hills region of North Central Kansas, Concordia ranks as the second cheapest place to live in Kansas. The city home to Camp Concordia, a WWII German POW camp that’s a definite must-see for any history buff in the area. Homes in Concordia go for about $101,201, the ninth lowest in Kansas. And with residents earning a median income of $45,000, Concordia has the 12th best home price to income ratio in the state.
More on Concordia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 8,842
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 76
Median Income: $41,220
Median Home Price: $49,965
Median Rent: $732
Coffeyville, located in southeastern Montgomery County, is an affordable place to live in Kansas. With a median home value of $49,965 and median rent of $732, the overall cost of living in Coffeyville is about 25% lower than the national average.
Coffeyville, situated along the Verdigris River, boasts scenic parks and trails, making it perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Its small-town charm also extends to its community events and festivals, such as the Inter-State Fair and Rodeo.
More on Coffeyville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
I live in Coffeyville, Ks We have a refinery that pays over$70,000.- $125,000 a year salary, We have John Deere MFG plant that Pays $60,000 plus, Our City is still union and pays in the $40,000 range,
Most jobs in the area are low to med income. However our housing was washed away with a flood in 2007. We are within 35 minutes from Bartlesville, 45 minutes from Owasso, OK and Tulsa, OK or one hour from Joplin, MO.
We have our highways lined with the US Flags and a highly ranked Community College in all sports.
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Population: 126,431
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 77
Median Income: $54,052
Median Home Price: $174,701
Median Rent: $926
Topeka, the fourth most affordable city in Kansas, is located in the central region of Kansas along the Kansas River. Typically, housing costs differentiate places on this list, but Topeka earned its spot because of cheaper groceries, services, and utilities. According to the data, the cost of living is 13.5% lower than the Kansan average.
Topeka is chalk full of cheap things to do, like visiting the Kansas State Capitol Building, attending a First Friday ArtWalk, or strolling through the Ted Ensley Gardens at Lake Shawnee.
More on Topeka: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The crime is really bad. There is always a murder, break in, or carjacking here in Topeka. The school system is terrible and the majority of the teachers dont truly care about the students.
There is not much to do here but we do have a pretty nice zoo and mall.
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Population: 24,118
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 77
Median Income: $49,661
Median Home Price: $149,266
Median Rent: $758
Between Topeka and Wichita, Emporia ranks as Kansas’s fifth least expensive city. As the county seat of Lyon County, Emporia’s cost of living index at 77 falls well below the state average. Housing is affordable with a $149,266 average home price and $758 average rent.
Home to Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College, Emporia has plenty to do on the weekends that’s free or low cost — college kids are broke, after all.
More on Emporia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
lived in Emporia all of 2002-2003. Extremely safe. Huge and friendly police presence. I often walked all night in the summers and never felt even uneasy. Read a paper there sometime and you’ll see how little and minor crime is there. It’s a nice university town. What about all those poor falling apart towns in western Kansas.
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Population: 11,997
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 77
Median Income: $49,177
Median Home Price: $83,337
Median Rent: $755
The first thing to know when you show up in Arkansas City — pronounce the “s” at the end of Arkansas, or you’ll surely be put down as a carpetbagger. Once you’ve got that down and you’re ready to buy a home, you’re in luck, because Arkansas City has the fourth least expensive homes for sale in Kansas at a median price of $83,337. Even more importantly, residents of Arkansas City pay the sixth lowest proportion of their income on homes statewide. With all these awesome statistics, why isn’t Arkansas City ranked higher? Unfortunately, it’s the least affordable place for renters on this list. Regardless of your housing situation, everyone will appreciate the gorgeous trails and excellent fishing opportunities at Cowley Lake Waterfall.
More on Arkansas City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 9,564
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 77
Median Income: $48,990
Median Home Price: $67,778
Median Rent: $740
There’s good news and bad news when it comes to Parsons, our seventh most affordable city in Kansas. The good news is that Parsons has the second cheapest homes for sale statewide at a median price of $67,778 and residents have the second easiest time paying off their mortgage. The bad news is that Parsons population has been steadily dwindling in recent years, and not without reason. Parsons ranks as one of the worst places to live in Kansas, due to a 20%+ poverty rate and a crime rate 75% over the national average.
Parsons is the second most populous city in southeastern Kansas.
More on Parsons: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 12,615
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 78
Median Income: $61,927
Median Home Price: $196,371
Median Rent: $870
For 2024, Ottawa took the eighth spot for most affordable city in Kansas due to its low $196,371 real estate costs and $870 median rent. The cost of living index at 78 is under the state average.
We have found in intra-state rankings, home prices and rent will be the most significant factors in comparing costs of living. Kansas is no different and Ottawa is proof.
More on Ottawa: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 8,713
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 78
Median Income: $52,608
Median Home Price: $86,204
Median Rent: $636
Chanute, located in the heart of Kansas, is an affordable place to live. The median home value is $86,204, while the median rent is $636, both of which are significantly lower than the state average.
Chanute offers plenty to do, with a strong sense of community and ample amenities. The city is home to Neosho County Community College and boasts several parks and recreational facilities. With a population of 8,713, Chanute provides residents with a small-town feel while still offering access to nearby larger cities.
More on Chanute: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 8,556
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 79
Median Income: $48,514
Median Home Price: $95,797
Median Rent: $743
In the heart of Montgomery County, Independence will offer your wallet independence as it is the tenth cheapest place in Kansas. A manageable 79 overall cost of living index is 10 points lower than the state average.
While you’re a solid trek to any major city, the savings on everyday costs will put some extra money in your pocket for a long weekend in Kansas City or Wichita.
More on Independence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Cheapest places to live in Kansas FAQs
The county in Kansas with the lowest cost of living is Woodson County. The average living wage in Woodson County is $80,268 according to MIT data. Woodson County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Kansas as a whole. Childcare costs $8,896 a year in Woodson County for two children compared to the Kansas average of $15,029. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,616 per year in Woodson County compared to $10,455 on average in Kansas.
The cost of living in Kansas is 0.4% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Kansas is $89,353 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Kansas household is $61,091.
The cheapest housing market in Kansas is Coffeyville. The average home value in Coffeyville is $53,100, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Kansas is $157,600, almost 3.0 times higher than Coffeyville.
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Sunflower State for 2024
Determining affordability for places in Kansas boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for Kansas using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Kansas to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 62 places in Kansas that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Kansas with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Fort Scott.
We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Kansas.
Kansas Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Kansas for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Kansas.
The cheapest cities in Kansas are Fort Scott, Concordia, Coffeyville, Topeka, Emporia, Arkansas City, Parsons, Ottawa, Chanute, and Independence.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Kansas according to the data:
- Leawood
- Prairie Village
- Lenexa
For more Kansas reading, check out:
Cheapest Places To Live In Kansas
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Scott | 7,569 | 75 | $45,206 | $108,652 | $798 |
| 2 | Concordia | 5,080 | 75 | $45,000 | $101,201 | $711 |
| 3 | Coffeyville | 8,842 | 76 | $41,220 | $49,965 | $732 |
| 4 | Topeka | 126,431 | 77 | $54,052 | $174,701 | $926 |
| 5 | Emporia | 24,118 | 77 | $49,661 | $149,266 | $758 |
| 6 | Arkansas City | 11,997 | 77 | $49,177 | $83,337 | $755 |
| 7 | Parsons | 9,564 | 77 | $48,990 | $67,778 | $740 |
| 8 | Ottawa | 12,615 | 78 | $61,927 | $196,371 | $870 |
| 9 | Chanute | 8,713 | 78 | $52,608 | $86,204 | $636 |
| 10 | Independence | 8,556 | 79 | $48,514 | $95,797 | $743 |
| 11 | Iola | 5,395 | 79 | $46,351 | $72,294 | $737 |
| 12 | Pittsburg | 20,610 | 80 | $42,371 | $119,185 | $825 |
| 13 | Atchison | 10,834 | 81 | $50,344 | $136,676 | $763 |
| 14 | Abilene | 6,489 | 82 | $54,948 | $133,296 | $735 |
| 15 | Kansas City | 155,438 | 83 | $56,120 | $177,140 | $1,044 |
| 16 | Salina | 46,734 | 83 | $56,945 | $164,317 | $863 |
| 17 | Great Bend | 14,725 | 83 | $53,885 | $109,069 | $739 |
| 18 | Winfield | 11,804 | 83 | $55,850 | $120,353 | $800 |
| 19 | Wellington | 7,710 | 83 | $48,333 | $96,412 | $807 |
| 20 | Dodge City | 27,721 | 84 | $66,932 | $191,789 | $972 |
| 21 | Liberal | 19,099 | 84 | $55,602 | $134,994 | $825 |
| 22 | El Dorado | 12,882 | 84 | $52,921 | $145,347 | $852 |
| 23 | Pratt | 6,588 | 85 | $61,117 | $93,082 | $766 |
| 24 | Ulysses | 5,834 | 85 | $62,138 | $139,251 | $674 |
| 25 | Paola | 5,742 | 85 | $69,420 | $334,271 | $935 |
| 26 | Lawrence | 95,103 | 86 | $59,834 | $292,989 | $1,038 |
| 27 | Hutchinson | 39,995 | 86 | $55,265 | $129,629 | $852 |
| 28 | Colby | 5,403 | 86 | $62,937 | $164,226 | $736 |
| 29 | Leavenworth | 37,193 | 87 | $67,360 | $225,494 | $1,087 |
| 30 | Newton | 18,527 | 88 | $66,528 | $152,576 | $876 |
| 31 | Park City | 7,703 | 88 | $70,583 | $200,922 | $1,085 |
| 32 | McPherson | 13,955 | 89 | $69,807 | $196,232 | $903 |
| 33 | Mission | 9,894 | 89 | $78,915 | $290,183 | $1,141 |
| 34 | Augusta | 9,253 | 89 | $59,536 | $195,681 | $869 |
| 35 | Spring Hill | 8,279 | 89 | $105,194 | $400,863 | $1,001 |
| 36 | Tonganoxie | 5,484 | 89 | $71,333 | $344,779 | $1,163 |
| 37 | Wichita | 395,951 | 90 | $60,712 | $183,706 | $915 |
| 38 | Garden City | 27,933 | 90 | $67,500 | $226,734 | $968 |
| 39 | Eudora | 6,025 | 90 | $111,840 | $290,892 | $1,356 |
| 40 | Mulvane | 6,003 | 90 | $67,766 | $215,120 | $1,148 |
| 41 | Merriam | 11,070 | 91 | $69,414 | $290,519 | $1,117 |
| 42 | Haysville | 10,891 | 91 | $66,382 | $189,870 | $939 |
| 43 | Bonner Springs | 7,770 | 91 | $82,208 | $271,621 | $1,084 |
| 44 | Bel Aire | 8,341 | 92 | $91,979 | $258,410 | $1,418 |
| 45 | Gardner | 23,488 | 93 | $91,232 | $320,799 | $1,234 |
| 46 | Olathe | 142,114 | 94 | $108,077 | $384,085 | $1,229 |
| 47 | Junction City | 22,738 | 94 | $60,709 | $170,280 | $1,016 |
| 48 | Hays | 21,111 | 94 | $55,349 | $233,644 | $852 |
| 49 | Valley Center | 8,448 | 94 | $70,531 | $235,417 | $885 |
| 50 | Roeland Park | 6,848 | 94 | $84,848 | $294,697 | $1,393 |
| 51 | De Soto | 6,248 | 94 | $102,685 | $375,929 | $1,003 |
| 52 | Maize | 6,071 | 94 | $88,075 | $277,240 | $1,232 |
| 53 | Lansing | 11,254 | 95 | $100,863 | $286,136 | $1,173 |
| 54 | Basehor | 7,004 | 95 | $100,608 | $401,427 | $1,045 |
| 55 | Derby | 25,551 | 96 | $79,581 | $258,532 | $1,073 |
| 56 | Shawnee | 67,671 | 97 | $100,649 | $374,543 | $1,168 |
| 57 | Manhattan | 54,287 | 98 | $55,316 | $252,470 | $977 |
| 58 | Andover | 15,460 | 100 | $113,538 | $302,362 | $1,565 |
| 59 | Overland Park | 196,676 | 102 | $100,876 | $423,348 | $1,378 |
| 60 | Lenexa | 57,497 | 102 | $101,074 | $421,663 | $1,373 |
| 61 | Prairie Village | 22,922 | 103 | $99,691 | $422,365 | $1,564 |
| 62 | Leawood | 33,784 | 124 | $174,779 | $681,534 | $1,872 |
