Best counties to live in Kansas

- Overall Rank: 1,081
- Population: 34,661
- Median household income: $55,726
- Median home value: $104,000 (71% own)
- Median rent: $776 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Dexter Elementary School (grade B+), Dexter High School (grade B+), Udall Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Ark City Christian Academy (grade C+), Sacred Heart Catholic School (grade unavailable), Trinity Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Winfield (grade B+), Arkansas City (grade B), Walnut Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 1,052
- Population: 5,529
- Median household income: $59,432
- Median home value: $106,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $540 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Hanover Elementary School (grade B+), Linn Elementary School (grade B+), Washington County High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. John's Catholic School (grade unavailable), Linn Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Haddam Township (grade A), Linn Township (grade A minus), Sherman Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 1,039
- Population: 25,477
- Median household income: $54,634
- Median home value: $113,200 (67% own)
- Median rent: $738 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Central Plains High School - Claflin (grade B+), Lincoln Elementary School (grade B+), Hoisington High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Holy Family School (grade unavailable), St. Joseph Elementary School (grade unavailable), Central Kansas Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Hoisington (grade B), Great Bend (grade B), Cheyenne Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 1,019
- Population: 8,088
- Median household income: $57,765
- Median home value: $136,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $750 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Wakefield High School (grade A minus), Clay Center Community High School (grade B+), Lincoln Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Clay Center (grade B), Blaine Township (grade A+), Clay Center Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 965
- Population: 20,096
- Median household income: $56,143
- Median home value: $94,600 (75% own)
- Median rent: $723 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Oswego Junior/Senior High School (grade A minus), Edna Elementary School (grade A minus), Meadowview Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Patrick Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Parsons (grade B), Richland Township (grade B), Fairview Township (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 961
- Population: 5,385
- Median household income: $52,866
- Median home value: $111,700 (82% own)
- Median rent: $706 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Council Grove Elementary School (grade B minus), Council Grove Junior/Senior High School (grade B minus), White City Elementary School (grade C+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: 2 Township (grade A minus), Council Grove (grade B+), Dwight Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 867
- Population: 9,486
- Median household income: $55,876
- Median home value: $108,700 (73% own)
- Median rent: $662 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Hiawatha Middle School (grade B), Hiawatha Senior High School (grade B), Everest Middle School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Hiawatha (grade A minus), Morrill (grade A minus), Morrill Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 841
- Population: 6,374
- Median household income: $59,844
- Median home value: $109,400 (81% own)
- Median rent: $675 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Central Plains Elementary School - Holyrood (grade A minus), Kanopolis Middle School (grade B+), Wilson Junior/Senior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Ellsworth (grade B), Holyrood (grade A minus), Empire Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 806
- Population: 9,441
- Median household income: $58,523
- Median home value: $87,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $711 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Sterling Junior/Senior High School (grade A minus), Sterling Grade School (grade A minus), Lyons High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Lyons (grade B), Sterling Township (grade A), Valley Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 801
- Population: 10,014
- Median household income: $64,306
- Median home value: $112,300 (82% own)
- Median rent: $671 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Valley Heights Elementary School (grade A minus), Frankfort Elementary School (grade B+), Marysville Junior/Senior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Gregory Catholic School (grade unavailable), Good Shepherd Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Marysville (grade A minus), Waterville Township (grade B+), Waterville (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 704
- Population: 18,492
- Median household income: $62,971
- Median home value: $137,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $755 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Chapman High School (grade A), Blue Ridge Elementary School (grade A minus), Hope Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Andrew's Elementary School (grade unavailable), Abilene Baptist Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Abilene (grade B+), Garfield Township (grade B+), Chapman (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 685
- Population: 9,175
- Median household income: $61,685
- Median home value: $111,100 (70% own)
- Median rent: $763 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Southwest Elementary School (grade B+), Liberty Middle School (grade B), Skyline High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Pratt (grade B+), 6 Township (grade B+), 12 Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 635
- Population: 67,618
- Median household income: $77,724
- Median home value: $181,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $963 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Robert M. Martin Elementary School (grade A), Andover Middle School (grade A), Andover Central Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Berean Academy (grade B+), St. James Catholic School (grade unavailable), Andover KinderCare - Kansas (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Andover (grade A), Rose Hill (grade B+), El Dorado (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 552
- Population: 36,247
- Median household income: $57,992
- Median home value: $162,400 (43% own)
- Median rent: $1,132 (57% rent)
- Top public schools: Fort Riley Middle School (grade A), Spring Valley Elementary School (grade A minus), Milford Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Francis Xavier Catholic School (grade B+), Apostolic Academy (grade unavailable), Forsyth Child Development Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Grandview Plaza (grade B+), Junction City (grade B), Lyon Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 537
- Population: 30,085
- Median household income: $71,250
- Median home value: $180,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $871 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Soderstrom Elementary School (grade B+), Moundridge Middle School (grade B), Windom Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Elyria Christian School (grade C+), St. Joseph Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Lindsborg (grade A), McPherson (grade B+), King City Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 505
- Population: 11,867
- Median household income: $60,011
- Median home value: $114,700 (81% own)
- Median rent: $680 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Goessel Elementary School (grade A minus), Hillsboro Middle/High School (grade A minus), Hillsboro Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Hillsboro (grade A), Centre Township (grade A), Blaine Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 490
- Population: 54,160
- Median household income: $59,887
- Median home value: $161,900 (67% own)
- Median rent: $869 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Southeast Saline High School (grade A minus), Stewart Elementary School (grade B), Southeast Saline Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School (grade C+), St. Mary Queen of the Universe Grade School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Salina (grade B+), Assaria (grade A minus), Smoky Hill Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 471
- Population: 32,182
- Median household income: $56,415
- Median home value: $136,100 (58% own)
- Median rent: $763 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: Olpe Junior/Senior High School (grade B+), Emporia High School (grade B), Timmerman Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart School (grade unavailable), Emporia Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Emporia (grade A minus), Center Township (grade A minus), Olpe (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 439
- Population: 5,829
- Median household income: $63,008
- Median home value: $100,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $668 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Tipton Community School (grade A minus), Lakeside Elementary School (grade B+), Beloit Junior/Senior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Tipton Catholic High School (grade A minus), St John's Catholic School (grade B+), St John's Catholic Middle/High School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Beloit (grade B+), Pittsburg Township (grade A minus), Beloit Township (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 414
- Population: 39,012
- Median household income: $49,779
- Median home value: $114,100 (59% own)
- Median rent: $821 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: Girard Middle School (grade B+), R.V. Haderlein Elementary School (grade B+), Frontenac High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Mary's Colgan Catholic Schools High School (grade B), St. Mary's Colgan School (grade C), Countryside Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Pittsburg (grade B+), Frontenac (grade B), Girard (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 398
- Population: 33,959
- Median household income: $70,685
- Median home value: $160,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $857 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Hesston Elementary School (grade A minus), Hesston High School (grade A minus), Hesston Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary Catholic School (grade unavailable), Newton Bible Christian School (grade unavailable), Prairie View Special Purpose School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Hesston (grade A+), North Newton (grade A), Newton (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 357
- Population: 10,219
- Median household income: $72,788
- Median home value: $174,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $780 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Centralia Elementary School (grade A minus), Sabetha Elementary School (grade A minus), Sabetha Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Sts. Peter & Paul School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Sabetha (grade A minus), Washington Township (grade A), Bern (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 323
- Population: 28,921
- Median household income: $59,665
- Median home value: $199,100 (61% own)
- Median rent: $864 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: Kathryn O'Loughlin McCarthy Elementary School (grade A minus), Hays Middle School (grade B+), Washington Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Thomas More Prep-Marian High School (grade B+), Holy Family Elementary School (grade unavailable), St. Mary's School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Hays (grade B+), Buckeye Township (grade A minus), Big Creek Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 256
- Population: 82,050
- Median household income: $84,307
- Median home value: $240,800 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,102 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Patton Junior High School (grade A), Bradley Elementary School (grade A), Eisenhower Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Xavier Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Paul Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Guidepost Montessori at Leavenworth (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Lansing (grade A minus), Basehor (grade A minus), Leavenworth (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 187
- Population: 25,482
- Median household income: $85,241
- Median home value: $221,600 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,009 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Rock Creek Middle School (grade A), St. George Elementary School (grade A minus), St. Marys Junior/Senior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Flint Hills Christian School (grade B minus), Hope Lutheran Early Learning Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Wamego (grade A minus), St. Marys (grade A minus), Blue Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 173
- Population: 178,625
- Median household income: $63,463
- Median home value: $159,900 (67% own)
- Median rent: $942 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Silver Lake Elementary School (grade A), Jay Shideler Elementary School (grade A minus), Farley Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Hayden Catholic High School (grade A minus), Cair Paravel Latin School (grade A minus), Heritage Christian School (grade B)
- Top places: Topeka (grade B+), Mission Township (grade A), Auburn Township (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 151
- Population: 522,700
- Median household income: $65,372
- Median home value: $175,700 (63% own)
- Median rent: $937 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Wheatland Elementary School (grade A), Abilene Elementary School (grade A), Cheney Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Wichita Collegiate School (grade A+), The Independent School (grade A+), Trinity Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: College Hill (grade A+), Courtland (grade A+), Forest Hills (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 91
- Population: 72,105
- Median household income: $56,327
- Median home value: $231,000 (44% own)
- Median rent: $1,016 (56% rent)
- Top public schools: Manhattan High School (grade A), Amanda Arnold Elementary School (grade A), Susan B. Anthony Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Manhattan Catholic School (grade unavailable), Kansas State University Center for Child Development (grade unavailable), Creche - Grand Mere Village (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Manhattan (grade A+), Grant Township (grade A+), Ogden Township (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 44
- Population: 119,094
- Median household income: $66,153
- Median home value: $259,500 (50% own)
- Median rent: $1,041 (50% rent)
- Top public schools: Langston Hughes Elementary School (grade A), Quail Run Elementary School (grade A minus), Lawrence Free State High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Bishop Seabury Academy (grade A+), Veritas Christian School (grade B+), Corpus Christi Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Lawrence (grade A+), Baldwin City (grade A), Eudora (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 14
- Population: 610,742
- Median household income: $103,644
- Median home value: $343,300 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,312 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Blue Valley North High School (grade A+), Blue Valley High School (grade A+), Blue Valley West High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (grade A), Saint Thomas Aquinas High School (grade A), Maranatha Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Beverly Estates (grade A+), Nall Hills (grade A+), Leawood (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.