How did Wichita fare in ranking of the best places to live in Kansas?

Wichita has been named one of the best places to live in Kansas.

That’s according to U.S. News & World Report, which selected cities across the U.S. and in each state to find the best places to live in 2026 to 2027. Eight of those cities were from the Sunflower State.

The cities were evaluated using four main factors:

• Value, which measured “how comfortably the average resident of each city can afford to live within their means,” by looking at housing affordability and cost of living
• Quality of life, which looked at areas including education, healthcare and air quality
• Desirability, or “the important factors that contribute to overall residential satisfaction,” such as crime rates, culture and weather
• Job market, including the unemployment rate and median household income

Here’s how Wichita stacked up against other Kansas cities and metro areas across the U.S.

Where are the best places to live in Kansas?

Wichita was named the sixth best place to live in Kansas with an overall metrics score of 5.7.

“Wichita offers a lower value of living compared to similarly sized cities,” the list said, adding that the median home value is $203,877, compared to the national average $359,870.

The full list of Kansas cities and their overall scores is below:

1. Shawnee, 6.5
2. Olathe, 6.5
3. Overland Park, 6.4
4. Lawrence, 5.8
5. Topeka, 5.7
6. Wichita, 5.7
7. Kansas City, 5.5
8. Manhattan, 5.4

Where are the best places to live in the U.S.?

Wichita is the 284th best place to live in the U.S., according to the report.

Shawnee, named the best place to live in Kansas, was also named the 55th best place to live in the U.S.

Here’s how U.S. News & World Report ranked the top 5 U.S. major cities, along with their scores:

1. Carmel, Indiana, 7.2
2. Fishers, Indiana, 7.2
3. Flower Mound, Texas, 7.1
4. Ankeny, Iowa, 7.1
5. Johns Creek, Georgia, 7.1