9 Best Towns In Kansas To Retire Comfortably

If you are finally about to place work-related stress behind you so you can live a life filled with freedom, peace, and epic-level fun, you will want to look where few are looking: Kansas. The Sunflower State is loved for its wide-open spaces, beautiful views of the stars, and magical sunsets. In addition, the state boasts a lovely, rolling landscape dotted with the Flint Hills. The best part? Kansas is often ranked among the most affordable states in which to retire. Keep reading to discover the nine best towns in Kansas to retire comfortably.

McPherson

McPherson is a small, relatively quiet town that resembles a place you would see in a Hallmark movie. From the town's inner core, the commute to a bigger city, particularly Wichita and Salina, is about an hour or less in any direction. Although small and enticingly laid back, Dillon’s and Walmart Supercenter on Centennial Drive are your main go-to grocery places. McPherson College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college that gives the town a whiff of vibrancy, as does Central Christian College of Kansas, which has been a city feature since 1914. Once in a while, an empty nester can swing a driver at the well-maintained Turkey Creek Golf Course, take a quick stroll around the lake at Wall Park, or zip along the nicely maintained Meadowlark Trail. The median listing home price in McPherson was a low of $264,900 in June 2025, and the highly rated McPherson Hospital is right in town for any medical emergency. Alternatively, several options are available near Lindsborg and Hutchinson.

Great Bend

Great Bend is a small, pastoral community, about two hours west of Wichita. It boasts a charming old town square with inviting restaurants and small, family-owned shops. You have a modest Dillons for groceries, Braum's, and a Walmart. You can often lock eyes with lions at the Brit Spaugh Park, while Veterans Memorial Park is a beautiful, wide-open space surrounding a pristine, trout-rich lake. Meanwhile, Great Bend Bark Park is a lovely place to take your dog to run around and enjoy some sunshine. You will have immediate access to a nice movie theatre and Great Bend Regional Hospital, now known as the University of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus. And don't worry about cash. The median listing home price in Great Bend was just $209,900 in June 2025.

Fort Scott

Fort Scott is a charming community with a cute downtown and several historic markers. It boasts a great location, slightly over an hour from Kansas City and the Kansas City International Airport. Marmaton River meanders along the town's western rims and gives the area a mist of countryside charm. Gunn Park, a swoon-worthy space that borders the river, offers excellent fishing in two lakes, as well as lovely trails for biking and walking. Lake Fort Scott and Rock Creek Lake are within an arm’s reach. Mostly loved for its family-friendly atmosphere, Fort Scott is also incredibly affordable. In June 2025, the median listing home price in Fort Scott was a dirt-cheap $187,500. Remember, Fort Scott Family Medicine is at your doorstep, while Nevada Regional Medical Center is in nearby Nevada, Missouri.

Independence

Retirement is all about independence, and a town that bears the name should prove appealing to that demographic. Independence is a great little town with a thriving Main Street, a beautiful, two-year community college, and a stimulating annual festival billed as the Official Theatre Festival of the State of Kansas. The William Inge Theatre Festival honors playwrights and often draws national and international artists. A median listing home price of just $147,800 comes with immediate access to the CRMC Medical Group-Independence, while Wilson County Hospital is in neighbouring Neodesha. Nature lovers have the Verdigris River, nearby Elk City Lake, which offers excellent opportunities for hunting and fishing, and Riverside Park and Ralph Mitchell Zoo, a lovely place to mingle with adorable animals.

Newton

You can mistake it for a plain Jane, but Newton is a safe, calm town with a strong sense of community, just what most empty nesters want. Although small, it has several places to pick groceries, a thriving downtown, and an award-winning hospital. NMC Health, which started a new Inpatient kidney dialysis service on July 11, 2025, was recognized for the Outstanding Patient Experience Award 2025. The median listing home price in Newton was $195,000 in June 2025, a price point with 25-minute proximity to Wichita. A retiree can enjoy a game at the Sand Creek Station Golf Course, watch a reasonably priced matinee at the Chisholm Trail 8 Theatres, or spend the day with waterfowl at the R. Michael Rhoades Wetland Park.

Lansing

A comfortable retirement is the kind that gives you 20-minute access to Kansas City, so you don't have to worry about big-city amenities or conveniences. In addition, Lansing provides access to Saint John Hospital in Leavenworth, which is recognized for the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award for 2025 and 2023. Expect great schools, an enticing small-town feel, and plenty of places to eat and catch up with residents. Remember that the Missouri River flows along the town's eastern rim and provides a delightful range of outdoor recreational opportunities. If you want to fish or hit up epic trails, Kenneth W. Bernard Community Park will come in handy. Another lovely outdoor option is the swoon-worthy Angel Falls Trail, especially if you're looking for a quiet trail for exercise, walking your dog, or a relaxing, contemplative walk. In June 2025, the median listing home price in Lansing was $370,000.

Emporia

Emporia is in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas, with Topeka about an hour to the northeast, and Wichita about an hour and a half to the southwest. Emporia is small but full of life, especially as it boasts a population of about 25,000. And remember this is a college town, so expect to mingle with burbly, easy-going youths, still full of life. Emporia State University is known for its flat-rate tuition and has previously been ranked as one of Kansas's two most affordable colleges. Places like Reeble's Country Mart supply residents with groceries, while the highly rated Newman Regional Health does the same with healthcare. Peter Pan Park has a pond and nice wooded areas to rest, and there is the Neosho River, the Cottonwood River, and the Council Grove River Walk, a scenic walking and bicycle path along the Neosho River. Emporia's median listing home price was just $174,50 in June 2025.

Spring Hill

Ranked fourth-safest town in the entire state by Safewise, Spring Hill has a huge head start against its many peers. You will view life through the rose-coloured glasses of a calm, peaceful spot, with a welcoming and tight-knit community. Residents often look forward to the local farmers market and enjoy various outdoor recreational opportunities, including at Hillsdale Reservoir and the Hillsdale State Park, a fun place for camping, hunting, and horseback riding. Once in a while, you can enjoy an afternoon round of golf at the Sycamore Ridge Golf Club. Remember that the Olathe Medical Center in nearby Olathe has been recognized for the 2025 Pulmonary Care Excellence Award. In June 2025, the median listing home price in Spring Hill was $441,200, still an excellent value for money.

Augusta

Augusta is a hit with retirees for many reasons. First, the commute to Wichita, just 29 miles away, is a breeze. A retiree gets to enjoy a small hometown feel while in the environment of a big city. People often gather for fun-packed events along the town's red brick streets in a place that boasts several senior-living options, including Homestead Assisted Living & Memory Care of Augusta. If you believe that the knowledge of books is the basis upon which all other knowledge rests, then you will be a frequent guest at the Augusta Public Library, a great place to get away and relax. Add Augusta Lake, Robert Shryock Park ( especially for your grandkids), and Augusta Dog Park, and you have a solid choice. On affordability, the median listing home price in Augusta was just $240,000 in June 2025. This comes with proximity to the award-winning Kansas Medical Center in nearby Andover and the Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center in Wichita, previously recognized for America's 50 Best Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery.

While you can endure living in an average town because of bills and work, retirement allows you to live on your terms. For this reason, it makes sense to escape the crowds of Manhattan (or any other choking place) for the wide-open spaces of Kansas. Glitz and glitter have nothing on the soft haze of a magical sunset. Plus, Kansas is unbelievably affordable. Whatever your checklist, you will find a place that fits like a glove.