Best counties to retire to in Kansas
Best counties to retire to in Kansas
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Kansas based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Kansas.
#25. Reno County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 61,693
- Median household income: $60,498
- Median home value: $125,000
- Top places to live: Hutchinson (B), South Hutchinson (C+), Buhler (A-)
#24. Coffey County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 8,304
- Median household income: $67,377
- Median home value: $139,500
- Top places to live: Burlington (B), Lebo (B+), Ottumwa Township (B+)
#23. Sedgwick County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 524,810
- Median household income: $67,675
- Median home value: $190,700
- Top places to live: Courtland (A+), College Hill (A+), Rockhurst (A+)
#22. Shawnee County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 178,315
- Median household income: $66,043
- Median home value: $170,400
- Top places to live: Topeka (B+), Mission Township (A), Soldier Township (A-)
#21. Bourbon County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 14,384
- Median household income: $67,555
- Median home value: $107,600
- Top places to live: Fort Scott (B), Scott Township (B+), Pawnee Township (B+)
#20. Harper County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (D+)
- Population: 5,446
- Median household income: $55,417
- Median home value: $77,300
- Top places to live: 5 Township (B), 1 Township (B), Anthony (B)
#19. Pratt County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (D+)
- Population: 9,120
- Median household income: $64,348
- Median home value: $114,500
- Top places to live: Pratt (B+), 12 Township (B+), 6 Township (B+)
#18. Thomas County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (D+)
- Population: 7,913
- Median household income: $73,575
- Median home value: $165,900
- Top places to live: Colby (B+), Smith Township (B+), Morgan Township (B)
#17. Johnson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 614,764
- Median household income: $107,261
- Median home value: $366,000
- Top places to live: Pinehurst Estates (A+), Pinehurst (A+), Leawood (A+)
#16. Wilson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 8,559
- Median household income: $57,056
- Median home value: $93,900
- Top places to live: Neodesha (B-), Center Township (B), Chetopa Township (B)
#15. Brown County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 9,415
- Median household income: $58,886
- Median home value: $111,100
- Top places to live: Hiawatha (B+), Morrill Township (A-), Morrill (A-)
#14. Linn County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 9,723
- Median household income: $59,200
- Median home value: $164,500
- Top places to live: Mound City (B), Mound City Township (B-), Liberty Township (B-)
#13. Marshall County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 10,001
- Median household income: $70,828
- Median home value: $119,500
- Top places to live: Marysville (B+), Noble Township (B+), Frankfort (B+)
#12. Morris County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 5,388
- Median household income: $56,716
- Median home value: $120,900
- Top places to live: Council Grove (B+), 2 Township (B+), Dwight Township (B)
#11. Kingman County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 7,284
- Median household income: $59,819
- Median home value: $107,400
- Top places to live: Kingman (C+), Vinita Township (A), Canton Township (B+)
#10. Mitchell County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 5,767
- Median household income: $58,233
- Median home value: $109,600
- Top places to live: Beloit (B), Pittsburg Township (B+), Glen Elder Township (B)
#9. Barton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 25,275
- Median household income: $56,733
- Median home value: $117,200
- Top places to live: Hoisington (B+), Great Bend (B), Cheyenne Township (A)
#8. Neosho County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 15,715
- Median household income: $55,704
- Median home value: $101,200
- Top places to live: Chanute (B-), Tioga Township (B), Chetopa Township (B)
#7. Harvey County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 33,823
- Median household income: $73,269
- Median home value: $173,300
- Top places to live: Hesston (A), North Newton (A), Newton (B+)
#6. McPherson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 30,130
- Median household income: $77,701
- Median home value: $198,400
- Top places to live: Lindsborg (A), McPherson (A-), King City Township (A-)
#5. Ellsworth County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 6,366
- Median household income: $66,792
- Median home value: $116,300
- Top places to live: Ellsworth (B), Holyrood (A-), Wilson (A-)
#4. Cloud County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 8,973
- Median household income: $57,333
- Median home value: $96,300
- Top places to live: Concordia (B+), Grant Township (B), Clyde (B-)
#3. Montgomery County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 31,143
- Median household income: $53,242
- Median home value: $92,100
- Top places to live: Independence (B), Coffeyville (C+), Liberty Township (B)
#2. Washington County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 5,519
- Median household income: $62,452
- Median home value: $106,100
- Top places to live: Haddam Township (A-), Sherman Township (B+), Linn Township (B+)
#1. Greenwood County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 5,956
- Median household income: $58,276
- Median home value: $82,600
- Top places to live: Eureka (B-), Janesville Township (B), Madison (B)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
