Are you considering moving to Kansas?
This guide contains all the key information you'll need to know about the Sunflower State before making up your mind about moving.
If you've ever thought about living in the Midwest, in a state with a stable job market, affordable housing, and a low cost of living, moving to Kansas could be a great idea.
Kansas' booming industries like aerospace, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and bioscience amongst several others makes it one of the most coveted places to live in the midwest.
Famous for being the breadbasket of the nation, moving to Kansas means you'll always have a long list of food to choose from.
More so, you'll get the chance to visit tons of museums, watch the Jayhawkers play, and if you aren't sca#fff of tornadoes, moving to Kansas could be perfect for you.
Here's a quick summary of what we're going to cover in this Kansas state guide:
A quick look at the population and other demographics of Kansas.
Here's a summary of why moving to Kansas could be a great idea
If you've always wanted to be a homeowner, moving to Kansas is one of the easiest ways to get your own house. Homes are very affordable in the state and more than 70% of Kansas residents are homeowners.
The Midwest state has some of the most assorted foods in the country. Kansas is the largest producer of wheat in the country.
The state also produces a lot of corn and several other foods. Moving to Kansas means the chance to eat as many different foods as you want.
Living in Kansas won't put a hole in your pocket. The Sunflower State is known for its low cost of living including healthcare, utilities, transportation, and food.
In fact, Kansas cost of living is ranked lower than the national average. This is one more reason why moving to Kansas is a great idea.
How soon can you get a job after moving to Kansas? It's easy to assume that everyone in Kansas is in the agriculture industry. That's not true. There are several other thriving industries across the state.
From healthcare to aerospace and advanced manufacturing, Kansas offers more job opportunities than many people realize. The state's unemployment rate is 3.8.
Have you ever visited a farmer's market? Whether you've visited one or not, moving to Kansas gives you the chance to visit as many farmers markets as you want.
There are plenty of them across the state on mid-week and weekends you just have to make your pick.
If you like history and art collections, you'll find tons of museums in Kansas. Collections range from American Indian, ancient, American contemporary, to Asian and Modern. Moving to Kansas gives you the chance to learn a lot about history and arts.
How would you like to always experience all four seasons? Moving to Kansas gives you that perfect chance for that. From warm summers to lush and #fbfbfb springs, to perfect falls and unp#fffictable winters, Kansas has everything that makes up a climate.
So, how long are you likely to be in transit if you move to Kansas? The state's average commute time of 19.2 minutes is less than the national average of 26.4 minutes, according to Best Places.
You'll have to deal with long distances though. For example, if you live in a rural part of the state, you may drive for about 30 to 60 minutes just to get to the next town.
Tip: When you�ve got a home to move in Kansas, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.
If you love delicious barbecue and you'd like to taste some of the world's best barbecue, then moving to Kansas should be a great idea. The state's barbecue is some of the best anywhere across the world.
Once you move to Kansas, never miss the chance to visit Arthur Bryant's on Brooklyn Avenue. Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton have all visited this historic spot.
There's no better way to taste the Midwest's beer, liquor, and whiskey except you join the local country club in Kansas. Some of these clubs boast of hund#fffs of years of history and moving to Kansas gives you the chance to enjoy everything they are offering.
This will help you make a thoughtful checklist as part of what you'll consider if moving to Kansas is right for you or not?
The Pros | The Cons |
---|---|
Kansas is known for its low cost of living (about 21% below the United States average). | Kansas is rated second across the U.S. in average number of tornadoes annually (60). The state also ranks third in number of tornadoes per 1000 square miles. |
Buying a home in Kansas is relatively cheaper. | Kansas is ranked 14th-highest state for taxes with two income tax brackets |
You don't have to bother about getting stuck in traffic in Kansas. | Moving to Kansas means you'll have to deal with high income taxes |
You'll experience all 4 seasons every year. | You'll have to pay excise taxes too (for example, you'll pay this tax for buying or bringing your vehicle to Kansas when you move) |
Get the chance to visit as many museums as you want in Kansas | You'll likely travel for about 2 - 3 hours just to get an expert service or even attend an event (except you're living close to Wichita or Kansas City). |
Enjoy great tasty foods in Kansas | Kansas has very limited air travel options. Residents often go to Tulsa, Denver, or Missouri just to take a flight to anywhere they want. |
Do you really know Kansas inside out?
To help you make the right choice about where in Kansas to move, here's a breakdown of the 10 best places to live in the state (listed in no particular order). We crunched data from Area Vibes, Livability, and HomeSnacks:
Population: 34,570
Median Home Value: $447,100 (1st best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4% (6th best)
Leawood is rated as one of the best places for families in Kansas. The city is located in Johnson County and is well known for its low crime rate, transportation, and utilities. Leawood could be the best place for you if you decide to move to Kansas.
If you're moving to Kansas, living in Leawood could be the best place for you.
Here's a breakdown of key metrics about living in Leawood:
Population: 7,671
Median Home Value: $157,900
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%
Bel Aire is one of the cities in Sedgwick County, just northeast of Wichita. The city is well known for its top-rated median home price to income ratio. More so, Bel Aire's low cost of living and low crime rate makes it one of the most sought-after places in Kansas.
Bel Aire could be the right city for you if you're moving to Kansas.
Here's a simple breakdown of the key metrics of living in Bel Aire:
Population: 23,768
Median Home Value: $159,200
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%
Derby is one of the biggest suburbs in Wichita. The cost of living in Derby is slightly higher than the state of Kansas average.
However, the city's low crime rate, available amenities, and high median household income makes it one of the best places in Kansas. Living in Derby could be the right place for you if you're moving to Kansas.
Here are key performance indicators of how Derby compare to the rest places in Kansas:
Population: 188,687
Median Home Value: $261,200 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate:3.4% (20th best)
Overland Park, in Johnson County is not only rated as one of the best places in Kansas, it is also rated as one of such in the entire United States. Overland Park is also one of the biggest cities in the state.
The city's crime rate is rated below the state and national average making it a perfect spot for many families. Overland Park could be the best place for you if you're movinto Kansas.
Here's a breakdown of how Overland Park compare to other cities in Kansas:
Population: 53,051
Median Home Value: $248,800
Unemployment Rate:2.7%
If you're interested in living in one of the safest places in Kansas, you'd like Lenexa. Lenexa is one of the cities in Johnson County and is fast becoming a hotspot in Kansas.
The city's high median household income, great job market, and shorter commute times makes it one of the state's favorites. If you're moving to Kansas, living in Lenexa could be the best place for you.
Here are key metrics of how Lenexa compares to other parts of the state:
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START MY QUOTEPopulation: 13,041
Median Home Value: $140,400
Unemployment Rate:2.6%
McPherson is the county seat of McPherson County and is one of the state's most centrally located spots. McPherson's amazing crime rate is almost unbelievable - rated 89% below the state's average.
McPherson is also rated as one of the best places to retire in Kansas. Living in McPherson could be the right place for you if you're moving to Kansas.
Here's breakdown of key metrics of how McPherson compare to the rest of the state:
Population: 135,986
Median Home Value: $224,000
Unemployment Rate:3.1%
Olathe is the county seat of Johnson County and is ranked as the 4th most populous city in Kansas City metro. More so, Olathe is also ranked as one of the fastest growing cities in the United States.
With a low crime rate and a good job market coupled with a high median income, Olathe could be the best place for you if you're moving to Kansas.
Here's how Olathe compare to other cities in the state:
Population: 6,747
Median Home Value: $139,300
Unemployment Rate:1.5%
Valley Center is a relatively small city in San Diego County. However, its livability score, education and jobs makes it one of the best places to live in the state.
Valley Center's extremely low unemployment rate is rated the second best in the entire state. This city could be the right place for you if you're moving to Kansas.
Here's how Valley City compare to other places in the state:
Population:21,351
Median Home Value: $178,700
Unemployment Rate:3.6%
Gardner is one of the cities in Johnson County and is known for having the youngest population (age 32) in Kansas.
Gardner is also rated as one of the best places for singles in the state. More so, the city boasts of one of the highest high school graduation rates. If you're moving to Kansas, Gardner could be the right place for you.
Here's a simple breakdown of how Gardner compare to other cities in Kansas:
Tip: Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.
Population:9,437
Median Home Value: $169,500
Unemployment Rate:2.0%
Mission city located in Johnson County is one of the suburbs of Kansas City and one of the safest cities in Kansas.
Mission's unemployment rate is extremely low, median home prices are relatively low too, as well as crime rates. This city could be the best place for you if you're moving to Kansas.
Here's how Mission compare to other cities in Kansas:
The average cost of moving to Kansas depends on the distance you're moving from, the size of your move, and how long it will take to complete the move.
To help you come up with an estimate of the cost of moving to Kansas, we've compiled a summary of various moving and truck rental costs.
You'll have to hire a full-service moving company if you want the most convenient moving option in Kansas. It's the most expensive though.
The valued hourly rate for hiring a local moving company in Kansas ranges anywhere within $25 to $50. For anyone moving within the state, the estimated cost is often $800 and upward for moving a 4-bedroom home.
Hiring a moving truck for a one-way move means you aren't requi#fff to drop off the truck in the same spot you got it. The typical cost for this is anywhere within $150 to $2000.
The estimated cost of moving out of state in Kansas is typically based on the range of $12 to $16 per square foot and the total cost could be up to $4000 or more.
If you're moving to Kansas from other states, the total cost of your move will be based on your precise location
If you're moving from a Midwest state like Missouri, Wisconsin, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, etc. your moving cost will be less, compa#fff to moving from a southern state like South Carolina or Virginia.
The average estimated moving cost to Kansas over a distance of 1,225 miles is $4,300. You may end up paying more or less, based on the exact place you're moving from.
Your truck rental cost will be based on the number of bedrooms you're moving, the size of the truck you want, and the distance your move will cover. The typical truck rental cost is anywhere within $20 - $100 per day.
If you intend to rent a moving truck for a day in Kansas, the average cost for that ranges from $20- $35 for a small moving truck size. If you choose a mid-size moving truck, (with the capacity to accommodate a 2 to 3-bedroom apartment) you'll have to pay $40 to $80 and that's for a day.
But if you prefer a truck size that can contain all the belongings in a 3 to 5-bedroom apartment, you'll most likely pay $80 - $100 per day.
Nonetheless, you'll have to pay more than the daily rental rates of the truck. Other fees that are added to the standard daily truck rental rates parking permit (if needed), include, mileage fee, taxes, truck coverage, insurance, and fuel cost etc.
The cost of living in Kansas is 83.1.
Kansas cost of living is calculated using a United States average of 100. Any score less than 100 shows that the cost of living in Kansas is less expensive than the United States average. Figures above 100 means the state is more expensive than the national average.
If you'll be looking at the rental market after moving to Kansas, we've compiled the key metrics you need to make a quick decision.
Here's a simple summary of the state of Kansas rental market:
Here's a quick summary of the average costs of rent by number of bedrooms in Kansas compa#fff to the national average:
Chances are you'll be interested in the housing market if you're mulling over moving to Kansas. We've compiled the key data you'll need to make the right decision.
Here are significant metrics by Zillow about Kansas real estate market:
Getting a job after moving to Kansas is relatively easy considering the state's unemployment rate.
The following is a significant summary of the state of Kansas job market using data from Best Places:
Will you be earning more or less if you move to Kansas? We've compiled relevant data to help you find out.
Moving to Kansas probably means getting a new job, a change of career, or an opportunity for a new business. The top industries in the state will give you a clear idea of where you're more likely to get a job or even invest after moving to Kansas.
Below are the top industries in Kansas:
These are the 10 biggest employees in Kansas according to Zippia:
These are the 10 highest paying jobs in Kansas:
Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. Know the top-rated moving companies in Kansas.
Will you end up paying higher tax rates or lower if you move to Kansas? Smart Asset has some relevant data. We've crunched the numbers for you!
Kansas is known for many reasons from Sunflowers to Aerospace. Here we've listed the key things Kansas is mostly known for
Just how big is agriculture in Kansas? The state is ranked 7th for total agricultural production in the US. Even more, farmlands stretch across more than 88 percent of the entire land in Kansas.
The state's top 5 agricultural exports are hogs, livestock, soybeans, wheat, and corn for grain. Wheat is the state's largest crop making Kansas the highest wheat producer in America.
Have you ever witnessed tornadoes? Kansas is rated second across the United States for the average number of tornadoes (60) in a year. The state is also rated third in tornadoes (44) per 1000 square miles.
Kansas has seen more meteorites than any other state located west of the Mississippi river aside Texas.
If you love sunflowers, you'll see a whole lot of them here. Kansas is called the Sunflower State for a reason. Sunflower is the official Floral Emblem of Kansas. Sunflowers grow everywhere in Kansas.
Kansas is the geographic midpoint of the continental U.S. giving the state one of its famous nicknames known as �Midway U.S.A.
Chances are when you meet someone from Kansas you'd probably ask if they knew where Dorothy lives. The Wizard of OZ is one of the many things Kansas is known for.
You've probably heard this once or twice before. As funny as it seems, scientists have proven that the state is actually flatter than a pancake. They had to compare the states topography with that of a pancake from IHOP.
Kansas is home to the tallest waterslide in the world (taller than the Niagara Falls). This waterslide is located at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City.
The windiest city in the entire United States is Dodge City in Kansas. The city boasts of an average wind speed of 14 mph.
Chopper was invented in 1909 by Williams Purvis and Charles Wilson of Goodland, Kansas.
Below is a simple summary of the best schools in Kansas as ranked by Great Schools, School Digger, Best Colleges from elementary to universities and colleges.
Bradley Elementary School
Ft Leavenworth School District,Public, PK-6 | 510 students
Eisenhower Elementary School
Ft Leavenworth School District, Public, PK-6 | 535 students
Macarthur Elementary School
Ft Leavenworth School District, Public, PK-6 | 565 students
Edgerton Elementary School
Gardner Edgerton School District,Public, PK-4 | 181 students
Riley County Grade School
Riley County School District, Public, PK-8 | 471 student
Patton Junior High School
Ft Leavenworth School District, Public, 7-9 | 303 students
Hamilton High School
Hamilton School District, Public, 7-12 | 36 students
Sumner Academy of Arts & Science
Kansas City School District, Public, 8-12 | 1000 students
Riley County Grade School
Riley County School District, Public, PK-8 | 471 students
Shawnee Mission East High School
Shawnee Mission Public School, Public, 7-12 | 1805 students
Maize Virtual Preparatory School
Olathe Northwest High School
Kiowa County High School
Shawnee Mission East High
Sumner Academy of Arts & Science
Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS
University of Kansas - Lawrence, KS
Newman University - Wichita, KS
Cleveland University-Kansas City - Overland Park, KS
Pittsburg State University - Pittsburg, KS
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