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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Kansas, 2026

Ulysses is the most affordable ranked town in Kansas. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

64
Towns ranked in Kansas.
Ulysses
Number 1 in Kansas. Rent is 13.5% of income. National rank 256.
17.4%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Kansas.
0
Ranked Kansas towns in the national top 100.
Louisburg
Least affordable ranked town in Kansas. Rent is 25.1% of income. National rank 3340.

Gasoline

$4.237

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Kansas price. This is the Midwest (PADD 2) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,033.76 a year for every ranked town in Kansas.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Kansas." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/kansas

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Benefits and taxes in Kansas

Top 25

  1. #1 in Kansas · National #256

    Ulysses

    Rent share 13.5% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.225

    Median rent is $717 a month and median income is $63,857, so rent is 13.5% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  2. #2 in Kansas · National #356

    Pratt

    Rent share 15.0% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.240

    Median rent is $798 a month and median income is $63,819, so rent is 15.0% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  3. #3 in Kansas · National #446

    Colby

    Rent share 14.2% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.251

    Median rent is $750 a month and median income is $63,494, so rent is 14.2% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  4. #4 in Kansas · National #476

    Chanute

    Rent share 16.9% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.254

    Median rent is $717 a month and median income is $50,882, so rent is 16.9% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  5. #5 in Kansas · National #495

    Iola

    Rent share 17.0% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.256

    Median rent is $767 a month and median income is $54,221, so rent is 17.0% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  6. #6 in Kansas · National #501

    Newton

    Rent share 15.7% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.257

    Median rent is $903 a month and median income is $68,885, so rent is 15.7% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Wichita, KS metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  7. #7 in Kansas · National #506

    Eudora

    Rent share 12.4% · Price level 90.2 · Score 0.258

    Median rent is $1,222 a month and median income is $118,184, so rent is 12.4% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Lawrence, KS metro price level is 90.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  8. #8 in Kansas · National #517

    Valley Center

    Rent share 13.8% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.259

    Median rent is $883 a month and median income is $77,020, so rent is 13.8% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Wichita, KS metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  9. #9 in Kansas · National #548

    Atchison

    Rent share 16.2% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.264

    Median rent is $737 a month and median income is $54,474, so rent is 16.2% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  10. #10 in Kansas · National #549

    McPherson

    Rent share 14.3% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.264

    Median rent is $925 a month and median income is $77,529, so rent is 14.3% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  11. #11 in Kansas · National #564

    Wellington

    Rent share 17.5% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.266

    Median rent is $733 a month and median income is $50,333, so rent is 17.5% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Wichita, KS metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  12. #12 in Kansas · National #575

    Parsons

    Rent share 17.7% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.267

    Median rent is $774 a month and median income is $52,428, so rent is 17.7% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  13. #13 in Kansas · National #584

    El Dorado

    Rent share 17.1% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.268

    Median rent is $844 a month and median income is $59,180, so rent is 17.1% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Wichita, KS metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  14. #14 in Kansas · National #594

    Augusta

    Rent share 16.0% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.268

    Median rent is $865 a month and median income is $64,919, so rent is 16.0% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Wichita, KS metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  15. #15 in Kansas · National #618

    Winfield

    Rent share 16.6% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.271

    Median rent is $786 a month and median income is $56,656, so rent is 16.6% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  16. #16 in Kansas · National #625

    Fort Scott

    Rent share 17.4% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.271

    Median rent is $755 a month and median income is $52,159, so rent is 17.4% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  17. #17 in Kansas · National #642

    Mulvane

    Rent share 16.5% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.273

    Median rent is $1,015 a month and median income is $74,039, so rent is 16.5% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Wichita, KS metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  18. #18 in Kansas · National #670

    Great Bend

    Rent share 16.8% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.275

    Median rent is $759 a month and median income is $54,139, so rent is 16.8% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  19. #19 in Kansas · National #676

    Liberal

    Rent share 17.0% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.276

    Median rent is $900 a month and median income is $63,706, so rent is 17.0% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  20. #20 in Kansas · National #723

    Coffeyville

    Rent share 18.8% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.281

    Median rent is $716 a month and median income is $45,670, so rent is 18.8% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  21. #21 in Kansas · National #748

    Derby

    Rent share 16.2% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.283

    Median rent is $1,136 a month and median income is $84,112, so rent is 16.2% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Wichita, KS metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  22. #22 in Kansas · National #806

    Independence

    Rent share 18.5% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.288

    Median rent is $789 a month and median income is $51,069, so rent is 18.5% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  23. #23 in Kansas · National #815

    Spring Hill

    Rent share 11.8% · Price level 92.5 · Score 0.289

    Median rent is $1,108 a month and median income is $112,428, so rent is 11.8% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas City, MO-KS metro price level is 92.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  24. #24 in Kansas · National #823

    Basehor

    Rent share 12.9% · Price level 92.5 · Score 0.289

    Median rent is $1,257 a month and median income is $116,769, so rent is 12.9% of income, under the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas City, MO-KS metro price level is 92.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  25. #25 in Kansas · National #824

    Park City

    Rent share 17.4% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.289

    Median rent is $1,077 a month and median income is $74,301, so rent is 17.4% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Wichita, KS metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

Least affordable 10

  1. #64 in Kansas · National #3340

    Louisburg

    Rent share 25.1% · Price level 92.5 · Score 0.465

    Median rent is $1,439 a month and median income is $68,824, so rent is 25.1% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas City, MO-KS metro price level is 92.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #63 in Kansas · National #2741

    Maize

    Rent share 23.3% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.421

    Median rent is $1,399 a month and median income is $72,024, so rent is 23.3% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Wichita, KS metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #62 in Kansas · National #2528

    Roeland Park

    Rent share 21.4% · Price level 92.5 · Score 0.406

    Median rent is $1,582 a month and median income is $88,774, so rent is 21.4% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas City, MO-KS metro price level is 92.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  4. #61 in Kansas · National #2317

    Pittsburg

    Rent share 23.6% · Price level 90.1 · Score 0.391

    Median rent is $854 a month and median income is $43,419, so rent is 23.6% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas state price level is 90.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #60 in Kansas · National #2265

    Goddard

    Rent share 22.4% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.389

    Median rent is $1,758 a month and median income is $94,004, so rent is 22.4% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Wichita, KS metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #59 in Kansas · National #2242

    Kansas City

    Rent share 21.6% · Price level 92.5 · Score 0.388

    Median rent is $1,123 a month and median income is $62,401, so rent is 21.6% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas City, MO-KS metro price level is 92.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #58 in Kansas · National #2164

    Prairie Village

    Rent share 19.0% · Price level 92.5 · Score 0.382

    Median rent is $1,794 a month and median income is $113,530, so rent is 19.0% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas City, MO-KS metro price level is 92.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  8. #57 in Kansas · National #2111

    Lawrence

    Rent share 20.1% · Price level 90.2 · Score 0.379

    Median rent is $1,091 a month and median income is $65,009, so rent is 20.1% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Lawrence, KS metro price level is 90.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  9. #56 in Kansas · National #2025

    Merriam

    Rent share 19.3% · Price level 92.5 · Score 0.372

    Median rent is $1,181 a month and median income is $73,600, so rent is 19.3% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas City, MO-KS metro price level is 92.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  10. #55 in Kansas · National #2010

    Mission

    Rent share 19.0% · Price level 92.5 · Score 0.372

    Median rent is $1,194 a month and median income is $75,534, so rent is 19.0% of income, over the 17.4% median for ranked towns in Kansas. The Kansas City, MO-KS metro price level is 92.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.27 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Kansas in this index?

Ulysses is number 1 of 64 ranked towns in Kansas. Median rent is 13.5% of median income. Its national rank is 256.

How many towns in Kansas were ranked?

64 towns in Kansas have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Kansas?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.