Best places to live in Kansas
CityLedger tracks 2 Kansas metros, led by Topeka. Cost of living runs from about 89 to 89 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 2 metros in Kansas, the largest being the Wichita, KS Metro Area (around 661,217 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $71,810 in Wichita to $74,389 in Topeka, and typical rent from $990 a month in Topeka upward — a reminder that "Kansas" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Topeka is the standout for affordability: it carries Kansas's lowest overall price level (about 89 against a U.S. average of 100) and, because pay holds up against those low costs, also the state's highest cost-adjusted income — about $83,753, the clearest sign of where a paycheck stretches furthest.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Kansas levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 8.8% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Kansas state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Topeka earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 56/100; Wichita is the fastest-growing, up 3.3% over the latest population estimate; Wichita carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $13 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | 56 | 89 | $74,389 | $990/mo |
| Wichita, KS | 52 | 89 | $71,810 | $1,010/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Kansas — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Kansas?
- By overall price level, Topeka is the most affordable metro in Kansas, at about 89 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Kansas?
- Topeka has the highest cost-adjusted income in Kansas — a median of about $83,753 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Kansas have a state income tax?
- Yes. Kansas levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 8.8%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Kansas metro has the highest livability score?
- Topeka, at 56/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.