11 Best Towns In Kansas To Retire Comfortably
One of the many outstanding reasons to choose a town in Kansas for retirement is its low housing costs. According to Zillow, the state average for a single-family home is $249,382, and it's considerably lower in some towns, making the cost of living at least 10% below the national average. As well, social security is not taxed by the state. Affordability is not the only attraction for retirees, though. Kansas is generally sunny for 230 days a year and has a more varied terrain than most people assume.
If advanced healthcare is your primary focus, Salina and Atchison are home to excellent regional hospitals. If nature feeds your soul, Ottawa features multiple parks and hiking trails. If you love a quirky vibe, Lindsborg exudes it. History and railroad buffs are in luck because most towns in this state were founded during the westward expansion of the US and the rise of the railroad. These 11 towns in Kansas are golden opportunities for retirement.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the only town in Kansas where two major state parks intersect: the Prairie Spirit Trail and the Flint Hills Trail. There are over 170 miles of hiking trails, including some well-suited for cycling. Bisected by the meandering Marais des Cygnes River, Ottawa’s downtown is packed with boutiques and restaurants, such as Smoked Creations BBQ, located close to one of the town’s most iconic historical spots.
The spectacular Plaza Cinema has been showing films since 1907 and is also a movie museum (John Wayne’s jacket from The Alamo is a feature). The average home value is $240,438, making it an affordable option for retirees considering Kansas.
Fort Scott
Fort Scott’s average home value of $130,471 make it the second most affordable on this list. If you long for a small town with a close-knit community, its population of 7,500 may suit you well. This isn’t to say there isn’t plenty to do. As is the case with many rural Kansas towns, the story of westward expansion is well documented all over this town. The Fort Scott National Historic Site is a carefully reconstructed 1840s fort designated as one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas History.
A walkable downtown that’s lined with brick buildings from the 1800s evokes the town’s early history, including The Green Lantern, where you can catch the vibe of a prohibition-era speakeasy. Freeman Fort Scott Hospital offers 24/7 emergency services and acute care. The largest full-service hospital near Fort Scott is Mercy Hospital Pittsburg in Pittsburg, Kansas, located about 30 miles south.
Salina
Salina will appeal to those who want the energy of a small city without living in a desolate place. Foodies will enjoy the updated Midwestern diner culture at the Cozy Inn, which is over 100 years old and home to their famous ultra-onion sliders. The historic Stiefel Theatre (built in 1931) hosts a broad range of concerts and other performances. Golf courses, the Sip & Stroll Downtown Wine Walk, First Friday Concerts, and a farm/art market offer fun diversions.
The town is served by Salina Regional Airport and has an average house value of $177,624. One of the best major hospitals in Kansas is Salina Regional Health, which offers most of the services retirees need, including eye care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and more.
Emporia
Emporia State University gives this town the amenities a college town offers, including breweries like Radius Brewing Company and several eateries with international flavors, such as Hagaya Sushi & Ramen Shop and Mi Chavelita Mexican Grill. Downtown is highly walkable, with just 9 blocks.
You can enjoy all kinds of concerts, ballet, and comedy shows at one of downtown’s most historic buildings, the Emporia Granada Theatre. This historic Spanish Colonial Revival theater was built in 1929 and recently renovated. It also houses a gallery and holds art classes for all ages. The average home value is $174,250, and day trips to the state’s capital in Topeka are an hour away.
Hutchinson
Hutchinson’s world-renowned aerospace museum, The Cosmosphere, is affiliated with the Smithsonian. It is one of the few such museums to display spaceships from the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions, and also houses the largest collection of Russian space artifacts outside of Moscow. The massive Hutchinson Salt Company is the only one still operating in the US, and its Strataca Museum is informative and interesting. But even better (for those with an adventurous spirit) are the underground tours that take you 650 feet below the surface.
But despite all of these unusual things to do, the annual Kansas State Fair, the largest event in the state of Kansas, is what everyone looks forward to the most. The Hutchinson Regional Medical Center provides some of the very best healthcare in the state. Needless to say, there’s a lot of excitement here, and yet, housing values are well below the state average at $151,435.
Newton
This town was founded in 1871 when the Santa Fe Railroad was forged through the tiny settlement that predated it. The town was also once the terminus of the Chisholm Trail, and it is still steeped in the history of the western expansion, boasting not one, but three National Historic Districts. A popular attraction is the Warkentin House, a Victorian home built in 1886 for Bernhard Warkentin and Wilhelmina Eisenmayer. Warkentin was instrumental in bringing wheat to Kansas, which led to it being known as the Breadbasket of the World.
The downtown urban culinary culture has an international flair. If you love golf, the well-regarded Pine Edge Golf Course is 20 minutes outside the town center. Despite all of this activity, quiet neighborhoods abound. and the average home value is $175,652 as of June 2026.
Dodge City
Once upon a time, Dodge City was nicknamed “The Wickedest Little City in America.” Today, it's famous for all the true story gun-slinging and lawless saloon history the Old West is known for. Shootouts and cattle driving are no more, and Wyatt Earp is long gone, but the original Boot Hill Cemetery, where many an outlaw was buried, is still a popular tourist attraction. The cemetery is now shared with Boot Hill Distillery, a "soil-to-sip" craft distillery that uses local western Kansas grains.
Restaurants such as Cowboy Capital Saloon & Grill, Firesides Grill, and the I Don’t Care Family Restaurant & Sports Bar capitalize on Cowtown's history, and locals enjoy them too; there are many other eateries offering a variety of cuisines. Houses have an average value of $212,541.
Garden City
Can you see yourself swimming in a massive municipal swimming pool that is roughly the size of a full city block every day? This, along with the world-renowned Buffalo Dunes Golf Course, a municipal, reasonably priced course, is just one of the reasons Garden City is a go-to spot for retirees. Right outside of town is the Sandsage Bison Range, where one of the country’s largest herds roams the prairie.
To buy a house in Garden City, you can expect to pay an average of $238,986. Garden City is another town with excellent healthcare services, especially given its remote location in the high plains region of southwestern Kansas. CommonSpirit St. Catherine Hospital is the main medical facility in the area and is home to well-regarded breast and stroke centers. It sits just north of the Arkansas River and is about an hour from the Colorado border. If you like a semi-arid climate, Garden City is for you.
Lindsborg
“Little Sweden USA” has the smallest population of the towns listed here, just 3,800, but given its popularity with tourists, Lindsborg can seem larger at times. Settled by Swedish immigrants in 1869, the preserved heritage is everywhere, from the arts to housing styles to shopping. Hemslojd Swedish Gifts sells the emblematic Swedish Dala Horse in all sizes, along with Nordic knitwear and craft kits. The famed prairie painter, Birger Sandzen, who was born in Blidberg, Västergötland, Sweden, in 1871, emigrated to Lindsborg as a child. His studio has been transformed into a museum and art gallery.
Houses cost $237,651 on average, making it one of the more expensive on this list, but still below the state average. Lindsborg has its own community hospital and is located a short drive from the larger Salina Regional Health Center, mentioned earlier in this article.
Atchison
Amelia Earhart was born and raised in Atchison, and a ode to her life and fame is everywhere. You can visit museums that honor her achievements as a pioneering aviator, including the Amelia Earhart Birthplace and Museum, the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, and attend the annual Amelia Earhart Festival in July. Atchison is famous for another, much quirkier reason, as well. This town is considered the center of a wealth of paranormal activity, and enthusiasts from all over the world come to visit the Sallie House and the McInteer Villa, both believed to be haunted. If this isn’t your thing, no worries, because this town’s historic Victorian architecture and railroad history provide plenty of other diversions.
The Santa Fe Railroad’s original eastern terminus was here. Amberwell Atchison is the region's primary hospital and medical campus, featuring a 24/7 ER with trauma rooms and 24-hour CT, radiology, and lab services. The University of Kansas Health System provides specialized heart care services on the same campus. Advanced healthcare is available in Kansas City as well, just under an hour away. Atchison has an average home value of $171,306.
Parsons
Lying between the Ozark Forest and miles of rolling prairies, nature lovers will love Parsons' proximity to natural habitats and outdoor recreation. Fishing and boating enthusiasts will find what they’re looking for at Lake Parsons and Big Hill Lake. Visiting grandchildren will enjoy the Curious Minds Discovery Zone, the Parsons Municipal Swimming Pool, and the annual Katy Days Festival.
Parsons has the lowest average home value on this list, around $82,463 in June 2026. Labette Health serves as the region's primary medical center and offers comprehensive, award-winning care. It’s ranked among the top 100 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics and has a reputation for short wait times and efficiency.
The state of Kansas offers golden opportunities for a comfortable retirement, with a wide variety of town sizes that cater to many different interests. From college-town energy to Swedish heritage to Old West landmarks, there's plenty on offer from each of these towns. So whatever your preferred retirement pace is, you will likely find it here.
