Best overall
Nemaha County
Overall score 79.7
Economy 74.4 / Affordability 70
State rankings
Compare counties in Kansas by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 105 Kansas counties
Put Kansas counties side by side.
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open the full Kansas ranking table with filters.
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best overall
Overall score 79.7
Economy 74.4 / Affordability 70
Best for families
Family score 87.6
Schools 99.2 / Safety 91.6
Best value
Value score 75.4
Affordability 82.9 / Taxes 55.9
Most affordable
Affordability 93.6
Typical home $109,476
Best schools
Schools 99.2
Safety 91.6 / Economy 74.4
Safest
Safety 100
Schools 71.1 / Peace 94.3
Low taxes
Taxes 55.9
Affordability 82.9 / Typical home $165,154
Peace & quiet
Peace & Quiet 99.6
Density and built-environment signals
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Typical home $241,966
79.7
Overall
Typical home $160,390
78.7
Overall
Typical home $157,809
78.4
Overall
Typical home $116,694
77.9
Overall
Typical home $113,992
77.5
Overall
Typical home $241,966
87.6
Family
Typical home $156,076
86.7
Family
Typical home $120,830
86.4
Family
Typical home $135,931
86.4
Family
Typical home $157,809
86.0
Family
Typical home $165,154
75.4
Value
Typical home $168,345
75.2
Value
Typical home $156,076
74.6
Value
Typical home $113,992
74.3
Value
Typical home $162,841
74.0
Value
Typical home $109,476
93.6
Afford.
Typical home $105,640
93.1
Afford.
Typical home $108,188
92.8
Afford.
Typical home $110,245
92.2
Afford.
Typical home $116,450
91.6
Afford.
Typical home $241,966
99.2
Schools
Typical home $459,391
98.9
Schools
Typical home $135,931
97.1
Schools
Typical home $268,302
95.9
Schools
Typical home $110,245
95.5
Schools
Typical home $165,154
55.9
Taxes
Typical home $193,850
52.5
Taxes
Typical home $241,966
52.3
Taxes
Typical home $146,653
50.4
Taxes
Typical home $324,482
50.4
Taxes
Typical home $184,068
99.6
Quiet
Typical home $168,345
97.4
Quiet
Typical home $209,376
96.8
Quiet
Typical home $234,022
96.7
Quiet
Typical home $241,966
96.5
Quiet
Typical home $150,841
100
Safety
Typical home $165,154
98
Safety
Typical home $181,317
97.5
Safety
Typical home $97,012
96.6
Safety
Typical home $188,877
96.5
Safety
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
The best county in Kansas depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
For best overall counties in Kansas, Nemaha County, Hodgeman County, and Logan County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingFor families, Nemaha County, Marshall County, and Norton County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingFor affordability-focused movers, Lane County, Morton County, and Neosho County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingFor school-first households, Nemaha County, Johnson County, and Mitchell County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingFor lower tax-pressure searches, Doniphan County, Coffey County, and Nemaha County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingFor quieter-living searches, Scott County, Wichita County, and Ford County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingCompare county scale carefully in Kansas; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Nemaha County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Nemaha County stands out in this model.
Lane County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Nemaha County currently leads the school-score view, while Doniphan County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
Showing all 105 Kansas counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nemaha County FIPS 20131 | 79.7 | 74.4 | 70 | 99.2 | 91.6 | 52.3 | 96.5 | $241,966 | $77,348 |
| 2 | Hodgeman County FIPS 20083 | 78.7 | 72.2 | 81.1 | 90.7 | 87.8 | 42.7 | 95.2 | $160,390 | $59,955 |
| 3 | Logan County FIPS 20109 | 78.4 | 69.9 | 82.6 | 88.2 | 95 | 36 | 95.7 | $157,809 | $75,662 |
| 4 | Rice County FIPS 20159 | 77.9 | 67.3 | 89.2 | 86.2 | 93.8 | 29.7 | 90.1 | $116,694 | $63,925 |
| 5 | Republic County FIPS 20157 | 77.5 | 70.6 | 89.9 | 77.2 | 90.5 | 38.9 | 89.1 | $113,992 | $56,833 |
| 6 | Marshall County FIPS 20117 | 77.3 | 57.3 | 86.3 | 87.8 | 95.6 | 47.6 | 95.2 | $156,076 | $68,419 |
| 7 | Wallace County FIPS 20199 | 76.8 | 66.8 | 83.2 | 93.7 | 72 | 50.4 | 94.1 | $146,653 | $63,207 |
| 8 | Phillips County FIPS 20147 | 76.5 | 62.3 | 91.6 | 88.1 | 91 | 21.9 | 90.3 | $116,450 | $62,123 |
| 9 | Gray County FIPS 20069 | 76.1 | 87 | 71.8 | 80.2 | 86.6 | 26.1 | 95.6 | $242,079 | $79,122 |
| 10 | Norton County FIPS 20137 | 75.9 | 59.5 | 86.8 | 92 | 93.5 | 22.7 | 93.5 | $120,830 | $54,050 |
| 11 | Wichita County FIPS 20203 | 75.7 | 70.3 | 87.3 | 71.1 | 83.3 | 47.4 | 97.4 | $168,345 | $79,063 |
| 12 | Washington County FIPS 20201 | 75.6 | 63.1 | 83.7 | 77.3 | 93.9 | 47.7 | 92.4 | $162,841 | $65,482 |
| 13 | Pottawatomie County FIPS 20149 | 75.4 | 75 | 64.4 | 92.7 | 82.9 | 50.4 | 90.4 | $324,482 | $92,325 |
| 14 | Butler County FIPS 20015 | 74.3 | 68.4 | 73.2 | 93.5 | 88.7 | 24.6 | 88.9 | $244,142 | $81,610 |
| 15 | Anderson County FIPS 20003 | 74 | 68.2 | 78.3 | 83.8 | 87.5 | 31.5 | 86.9 | $192,521 | $70,614 |
| 16 | Kiowa County FIPS 20097 | 73.9 | 55.3 | 85 | 86.4 | 82.1 | 44.8 | 94.2 | $160,797 | $75,539 |
| 17 | Rawlins County FIPS 20153 | 73.8 | 75.6 | 88.4 | 84.5 | 48.3 | 38.5 | 95.5 | $136,297 | $67,742 |
| 18 | Smith County FIPS 20183 | 73.4 | 54.1 | 92.2 | 95.5 | 75.3 | 17.9 | 91.9 | $110,245 | $59,135 |
| 19 | Clay County FIPS 20027 | 73.2 | 51.6 | 81.2 | 89.7 | 95.4 | 32.5 | 90 | $167,257 | $66,176 |
| 20 | Trego County FIPS 20195 | 73.1 | 53.9 | 89.4 | 73.2 | 94.5 | 38.3 | 91.9 | $143,348 | $81,528 |
| 21 | Gove County FIPS 20063 | 73 | 64.2 | 87.5 | 70.1 | 81.6 | 40.7 | 95.7 | $155,146 | $66,029 |
| 22 | Clark County FIPS 20025 | 72.9 | 64.6 | 88.5 | 77 | 86.1 | 18.7 | 88.8 | $85,923 | $63,043 |
| 23 | Jackson County FIPS 20085 | 72.9 | 64 | 66.9 | 94.1 | 83.4 | 45.8 | 86.1 | $250,557 | $75,215 |
| 24 | Meade County FIPS 20119 | 72.9 | 69 | 90.2 | 67.5 | 88.4 | 18.1 | 91 | $121,290 | $71,852 |
| 25 | Mitchell County FIPS 20123 | 72.4 | 46.6 | 86.6 | 97.1 | 89.9 | 14.3 | 95.3 | $135,931 | $64,246 |
| 26 | Osborne County FIPS 20141 | 72.3 | 46.8 | 86.9 | 93.9 | 87.2 | 24.1 | 91.8 | $97,413 | $63,011 |
| 27 | Marion County FIPS 20115 | 72.1 | 51.3 | 86.6 | 88 | 88.8 | 22.2 | 88.8 | $138,582 | $64,695 |
| 28 | Comanche County FIPS 20033 | 72 | 53.4 | 91.1 | 84.6 | 82.8 | 18.3 | 93.5 | $93,288 | $54,545 |
| 29 | Labette County FIPS 20099 | 71.5 | 46.9 | 91.3 | 81.6 | 94.8 | 18.2 | 92.2 | $94,156 | $56,325 |
| 30 | Stafford County FIPS 20185 | 71.4 | 75 | 89.5 | 59.5 | 78.9 | 23 | 85.6 | $102,314 | $64,226 |
| 31 | Lane County FIPS 20101 | 71.3 | 53.3 | 93.6 | 84.3 | 75.1 | 18.2 | 93.3 | $109,476 | $54,526 |
| 32 | Edwards County FIPS 20047 | 71.2 | 52.2 | 89.5 | 69.3 | 94.5 | 34.3 | 87.2 | $85,454 | $52,692 |
| 33 | Miami County FIPS 20121 | 70.9 | 74.1 | 54 | 91.3 | 83.8 | 38.6 | 84.5 | $371,974 | $89,000 |
| 34 | Sheridan County FIPS 20179 | 70.8 | 78.1 | 69.7 | 59.2 | 89.2 | 38.8 | 95.2 | $234,560 | $73,750 |
| 35 | Dickinson County FIPS 20041 | 70.4 | 53.6 | 82.7 | 80.1 | 84.4 | 30.6 | 91.6 | $170,171 | $68,417 |
| 36 | Haskell County FIPS 20081 | 70.4 | 73.2 | 82 | 52 | 94.3 | 23.2 | 95.6 | $175,817 | $66,162 |
| 37 | Decatur County FIPS 20039 | 70 | 65.7 | 89.4 | 68 | 72.7 | 21.8 | 91.5 | $108,892 | $53,870 |
| 38 | McPherson County FIPS 20113 | 70 | 67.8 | 76.1 | 61.6 | 95.4 | 25.7 | 96.5 | $222,474 | $78,851 |
| 39 | Brown County FIPS 20013 | 69.9 | 46.6 | 80.4 | 72.1 | 93.8 | 50.1 | 92.6 | $154,025 | $62,233 |
| 40 | Harvey County FIPS 20079 | 69.7 | 54.8 | 79.4 | 75.9 | 96.5 | 19.5 | 90.9 | $188,877 | $74,368 |
| 41 | Jewell County FIPS 20089 | 69.6 | 40.9 | 81.5 | 87 | 84.1 | 44.7 | 89.6 | $117,434 | $52,634 |
| 42 | Neosho County FIPS 20133 | 69.6 | 49.2 | 92.8 | 66.2 | 93.5 | 20.4 | 95 | $108,188 | $56,618 |
| 43 | Scott County FIPS 20171 | 69.6 | 78.4 | 79 | 59.6 | 76.8 | 18.7 | 99.6 | $184,068 | $68,839 |
| 44 | Ottawa County FIPS 20143 | 69.4 | 58.3 | 83.8 | 86.3 | 72.1 | 12.7 | 90.5 | $175,170 | $74,018 |
| 45 | Pratt County FIPS 20151 | 69.4 | 58.3 | 88.9 | 62.9 | 91.8 | 16.8 | 92 | $123,329 | $66,022 |
| 46 | Sherman County FIPS 20181 | 69.1 | 55.4 | 77.1 | 71.1 | 100 | 20.3 | 94.3 | $150,841 | $61,750 |
| 47 | Harper County FIPS 20077 | 68.8 | 47.8 | 85.1 | 73.7 | 96.6 | 19.6 | 88.6 | $97,012 | $53,488 |
| 48 | Barber County FIPS 20007 | 68.7 | 51.3 | 89.9 | 75.5 | 79.7 | 18.9 | 89.9 | $88,344 | $61,926 |
| 49 | Ellsworth County FIPS 20053 | 68.6 | 45 | 84.9 | 82.1 | 78.3 | 35.3 | 88.8 | $137,041 | $65,560 |
| 50 | Thomas County FIPS 20193 | 68.5 | 77.7 | 81 | 37.8 | 94.6 | 23 | 96.3 | $175,114 | $71,325 |
| 51 | Ellis County FIPS 20051 | 68.4 | 54.1 | 57.4 | 92.3 | 94.3 | 31.4 | 96.5 | $241,381 | $63,084 |
| 52 | Pawnee County FIPS 20145 | 68.4 | 55.3 | 83.6 | 67.1 | 94 | 17.1 | 88.4 | $107,044 | $63,517 |
| 53 | Cloud County FIPS 20029 | 68.2 | 55.3 | 89.4 | 60.4 | 87.1 | 22 | 93.9 | $115,389 | $58,770 |
| 54 | Doniphan County FIPS 20043 | 67.8 | 59.9 | 82.9 | 37.2 | 98 | 55.9 | 87.3 | $165,154 | $74,028 |
| 55 | Greeley County FIPS 20071 | 67.6 | 87.7 | 90.2 | 32.7 | 63.6 | 23.9 | 93.9 | $149,133 | $80,565 |
| 56 | Greenwood County FIPS 20073 | 67.1 | 49.7 | 86.3 | 88.9 | 51.8 | 34.5 | 82.7 | $104,223 | $60,042 |
| 57 | Reno County FIPS 20155 | 67 | 54.4 | 79.9 | 64.1 | 92.5 | 20.7 | 92.9 | $151,597 | $60,645 |
| 58 | Elk County FIPS 20049 | 66.9 | 44.4 | 85 | 93.7 | 62.4 | 28.4 | 72.8 | $96,811 | $64,609 |
| 59 | Cheyenne County FIPS 20023 | 66.8 | 51 | 71.5 | 76.5 | 75.1 | 48.4 | 94.4 | $179,571 | $55,429 |
| 60 | Morris County FIPS 20127 | 66.8 | 52 | 71.3 | 72.4 | 85.2 | 42.2 | 89.5 | $188,209 | $58,686 |
| 61 | Wabaunsee County FIPS 20197 | 66.8 | 56.1 | 67.3 | 78.7 | 72.8 | 49.8 | 85.2 | $258,358 | $76,908 |
| 62 | Leavenworth County FIPS 20103 | 66.7 | 69.1 | 55.8 | 72.4 | 87 | 39.3 | 80.5 | $344,041 | $89,218 |
| 63 | Saline County FIPS 20169 | 66.4 | 57.7 | 77.1 | 59.4 | 90.9 | 24.9 | 93.6 | $175,858 | $65,422 |
| 64 | Kingman County FIPS 20095 | 66 | 52.6 | 73.2 | 62.8 | 92.6 | 36.3 | 89.7 | $171,002 | $59,842 |
| 65 | Osage County FIPS 20139 | 65.9 | 57.6 | 77.9 | 83.1 | 49.7 | 37.1 | 85.1 | $207,645 | $74,467 |
| 66 | Jefferson County FIPS 20087 | 65.5 | 63.3 | 67.7 | 69.7 | 68 | 43.3 | 85.1 | $281,949 | $81,278 |
| 67 | Morton County FIPS 20129 | 65.4 | 66.9 | 93.1 | 32.5 | 85.3 | 16.9 | 89.1 | $105,640 | $66,447 |
| 68 | Woodson County FIPS 20207 | 65.4 | 31.8 | 81.5 | 82.9 | 91.6 | 26.1 | 83.1 | $114,988 | $50,326 |
| 69 | Coffey County FIPS 20031 | 65.3 | 47.1 | 76.7 | 75.1 | 63.4 | 52.5 | 91.3 | $193,850 | $70,346 |
| 70 | Chase County FIPS 20017 | 65.2 | 43.6 | 74.4 | 77.3 | 71.5 | 50.4 | 90.1 | $165,881 | $56,484 |
| 71 | Barton County FIPS 20009 | 65 | 51.8 | 82.9 | 63.6 | 84.4 | 13.4 | 93 | $120,136 | $58,851 |
| 72 | Hamilton County FIPS 20075 | 64.7 | 86.9 | 86.7 | 23 | 54.8 | 39.1 | 90.5 | $148,172 | $70,250 |
| 73 | Stanton County FIPS 20187 | 64.7 | 57.2 | 84.4 | 38.6 | 82.9 | 44.1 | 94.4 | $154,679 | $71,700 |
| 74 | Cherokee County FIPS 20021 | 64.6 | 53.9 | 87.8 | 41.1 | 75.9 | 50.3 | 90.3 | $125,219 | $57,668 |
| 75 | Crawford County FIPS 20037 | 64.6 | 40.5 | 78.3 | 65.2 | 86.3 | 44.1 | 90 | $135,489 | $52,844 |
| 76 | Sumner County FIPS 20191 | 64.4 | 47.5 | 85.4 | 61 | 84.5 | 19.4 | 87.8 | $144,021 | $63,951 |
| 77 | Allen County FIPS 20001 | 64.2 | 50.1 | 89.9 | 51.8 | 84.1 | 17.1 | 90.1 | $112,160 | $60,689 |
| 78 | Russell County FIPS 20167 | 64.1 | 43.6 | 87.6 | 61.8 | 85.9 | 13.7 | 94.7 | $115,682 | $62,392 |
| 79 | Johnson County FIPS 20091 | 63.7 | 76.4 | 45.6 | 98.9 | 55.4 | 39.3 | 24.5 | $459,391 | $109,208 |
| 80 | Lincoln County FIPS 20105 | 63.7 | 38.9 | 83.1 | 74.8 | 64 | 42.1 | 88.5 | $128,553 | $57,500 |
| 81 | Grant County FIPS 20067 | 63.6 | 74.1 | 82.8 | 8.8 | 96.2 | 42.3 | 79.9 | $152,693 | $66,476 |
| 82 | Kearny County FIPS 20093 | 63.3 | 66.2 | 84.2 | 41 | 57.2 | 43 | 93 | $192,118 | $89,135 |
| 83 | Lyon County FIPS 20111 | 63.3 | 54.2 | 67.3 | 58 | 93 | 26.5 | 94.9 | $186,020 | $59,912 |
| 84 | Cowley County FIPS 20035 | 63.2 | 42.7 | 84.2 | 62.2 | 87.5 | 14.3 | 89.1 | $124,850 | $57,878 |
| 85 | Shawnee County FIPS 20177 | 63.2 | 57.3 | 73.5 | 56.6 | 88.8 | 21.4 | 74.1 | $200,189 | $67,104 |
| 86 | Rush County FIPS 20165 | 63.1 | 52.3 | 91 | 64.8 | 53 | 19.2 | 88.7 | $92,824 | $59,970 |
| 87 | Chautauqua County FIPS 20019 | 63 | 41 | 90.5 | 39.6 | 89.2 | 47.6 | 82.2 | $92,225 | $56,438 |
| 88 | Rooks County FIPS 20163 | 62.5 | 51.7 | 86.7 | 49 | 72.1 | 26.6 | 93.3 | $122,904 | $62,500 |
| 89 | Franklin County FIPS 20059 | 62.1 | 58.6 | 65 | 58.8 | 75.6 | 35.9 | 89.3 | $257,410 | $77,207 |
| 90 | Stevens County FIPS 20189 | 61.9 | 63.8 | 78.8 | 28.1 | 94.7 | 17.6 | 93.6 | $166,426 | $64,178 |
| 91 | Wilson County FIPS 20205 | 61.5 | 40.2 | 91.6 | 42.6 | 83.3 | 31.3 | 87.4 | $102,252 | $60,677 |
| 92 | Riley County FIPS 20161 | 60.6 | 56.8 | 46.3 | 95.9 | 64 | 16.2 | 88.6 | $268,302 | $61,098 |
| 93 | Ford County FIPS 20057 | 60.4 | 63.7 | 71.9 | 17.8 | 95.3 | 37.8 | 96.8 | $209,376 | $70,781 |
| 94 | Douglas County FIPS 20045 | 60.3 | 61.9 | 40.1 | 90.3 | 69.9 | 23.8 | 76.5 | $333,701 | $69,746 |
| 95 | Atchison County FIPS 20005 | 60.1 | 51.1 | 70.5 | 33.3 | 97.5 | 40.1 | 87.9 | $181,317 | $61,112 |
| 96 | Finney County FIPS 20055 | 59.2 | 70.9 | 67.7 | 22.5 | 83.6 | 27.1 | 96.7 | $234,022 | $73,009 |
| 97 | Bourbon County FIPS 20011 | 58.7 | 32.8 | 86.4 | 39.4 | 92.1 | 26.7 | 91.3 | $131,363 | $59,238 |
| 98 | Geary County FIPS 20061 | 57.5 | 43.2 | 57.4 | 56.4 | 90.9 | 29.7 | 89 | $216,269 | $59,317 |
| 99 | Linn County FIPS 20107 | 57.3 | 38.7 | 75.4 | 61.3 | 61.4 | 33.1 | 79.2 | $169,750 | $59,069 |
| 100 | Seward County FIPS 20175 | 57.1 | 62.4 | 80.4 | 9.7 | 89.1 | 13.7 | 94.2 | $145,403 | $63,827 |
| 101 | Graham County FIPS 20065 | 56.9 | 42.8 | 86.3 | 39.7 | 64.1 | 23.3 | 94.8 | $116,545 | $50,650 |
| 102 | Ness County FIPS 20135 | 56.5 | 57.9 | 89.2 | 12.8 | 70.7 | 19.5 | 93 | $105,898 | $68,616 |
| 103 | Sedgwick County FIPS 20173 | 53.2 | 55 | 66.5 | 36.5 | 60.4 | 35.8 | 57.1 | $222,530 | $69,365 |
| 104 | Montgomery County FIPS 20125 | 52.3 | 54.1 | 88.9 | 50.5 | 3.1 | 16 | 88.4 | $97,438 | $55,697 |
| 105 | Wyandotte County FIPS 20209 | 40.6 | 49.3 | 66.7 | 6.5 | 43 | 27.9 | 20.7 | $204,979 | $63,631 |