Best counties to raise a family in Kansas
Written by:
March 5, 2021
realtor.com
Best counties to raise a family in Kansas
Known in other parts of the world as shires, provinces, or territories, the United States’ counties (also known in certain states as boroughs or parishes) date back to the 1600s, when settlers first came to find freedom from British rule. Today, those counties remain, with the 50 states divided into several, each with its own unique makeup.
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wishlists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Kansas using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, healthcare, recreation and weather. Listings and images are from realtor.com.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.
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#10. Nemaha County
- Population: 10,121
- Median home value: $130,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $644 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $63,216
- Top public schools: Sabetha Middle School (A-), Nemaha Central Elementary and Middle School (A-), Sabetha Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Sts. Peter & Paul School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Sabetha (A-), Illinois Township (A), Home Township (A-)
- Pictured: 2205 116th Rd, Sabetha ($199,000, 6 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $130,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $644 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $63,216
- Top public schools: Sabetha Middle School (A-), Nemaha Central Elementary and Middle School (A-), Sabetha Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Sts. Peter & Paul School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Sabetha (A-), Illinois Township (A), Home Township (A-)
- Pictured: 2205 116th Rd, Sabetha ($199,000, 6 bedrooms)
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#9. Lyon County
- Population: 33,251
- Median home value: $106,800 (60% own)
- Median rent: $674 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $46,338
- Top public schools: Olpe Elementary School (B+), Timmerman Elementary School (B+), Olpe Junior/Senior High School (B)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart School (unavailable), Emporia Christian School (unavailable), St. Joseph's School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Emporia (A-), Fremont Township (A-), Reading Township (A-)
- Pictured: 1229 S Highway 99, Emporia ($525,000, 4 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $106,800 (60% own)
- Median rent: $674 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $46,338
- Top public schools: Olpe Elementary School (B+), Timmerman Elementary School (B+), Olpe Junior/Senior High School (B)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart School (unavailable), Emporia Christian School (unavailable), St. Joseph's School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Emporia (A-), Fremont Township (A-), Reading Township (A-)
- Pictured: 1229 S Highway 99, Emporia ($525,000, 4 bedrooms)
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#8. Leavenworth County
- Population: 80,745
- Median home value: $182,900 (67% own)
- Median rent: $987 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $73,013
- Top public schools: Patton Junior High School (A), Eisenhower Elementary School (A), Bradley Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Xavier Elementary School (unavailable), St. Paul Lutheran School (unavailable), Genesis Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Lansing (A-), Leavenworth (A-), Basehor (B+)
- Pictured: 1 MT Calvary Rd, Lansing ($459,950, 4 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $182,900 (67% own)
- Median rent: $987 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $73,013
- Top public schools: Patton Junior High School (A), Eisenhower Elementary School (A), Bradley Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Xavier Elementary School (unavailable), St. Paul Lutheran School (unavailable), Genesis Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Lansing (A-), Leavenworth (A-), Basehor (B+)
- Pictured: 1 MT Calvary Rd, Lansing ($459,950, 4 bedrooms)
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#7. Geary County
- Population: 34,025
- Median home value: $148,800 (38% own)
- Median rent: $1,057 (62% rent)
- Median household income: $53,133
- Top public schools: Eisenhower Elementary School (A-), Lincoln Elementary School (A-), Morris Hill Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: St. Xavier Catholic School (A-)
- Top places to live: Grandview Plaza (B), Junction City (B), Milford Township (B+)
- Pictured: 517 W 2nd St, Junction City ($150,000, 4 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $148,800 (38% own)
- Median rent: $1,057 (62% rent)
- Median household income: $53,133
- Top public schools: Eisenhower Elementary School (A-), Lincoln Elementary School (A-), Morris Hill Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: St. Xavier Catholic School (A-)
- Top places to live: Grandview Plaza (B), Junction City (B), Milford Township (B+)
- Pictured: 517 W 2nd St, Junction City ($150,000, 4 bedrooms)
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#6. Riley County
- Population: 75,056
- Median home value: $201,000 (43% own)
- Median rent: $946 (57% rent)
- Median household income: $51,208
- Top public schools: Manhattan High School (A), Susan B. Anthony Middle School (A), McCormick Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Manhattan Catholic School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Manhattan (A+), Wildcat Township (A+), Grant Township (A)
- Pictured: 2923 Tatarrax Dr, Manhattan ($995,000, 4 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $201,000 (43% own)
- Median rent: $946 (57% rent)
- Median household income: $51,208
- Top public schools: Manhattan High School (A), Susan B. Anthony Middle School (A), McCormick Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Manhattan Catholic School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Manhattan (A+), Wildcat Township (A+), Grant Township (A)
- Pictured: 2923 Tatarrax Dr, Manhattan ($995,000, 4 bedrooms)
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#5. Pottawatomie County
- Population: 23,847
- Median home value: $183,100 (79% own)
- Median rent: $854 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $66,835
- Top public schools: Rock Creek Junior/Senior High School (A-), St. George Elementary School (A-), Westmoreland Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools: Flint Hills Christian School (A-)
- Top places to live: St. Marys (A-), Wamego (B+), Blue Township (A)
- Pictured: 212 S 6th St, Saint Marys ($145,000, 3 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $183,100 (79% own)
- Median rent: $854 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $66,835
- Top public schools: Rock Creek Junior/Senior High School (A-), St. George Elementary School (A-), Westmoreland Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools: Flint Hills Christian School (A-)
- Top places to live: St. Marys (A-), Wamego (B+), Blue Township (A)
- Pictured: 212 S 6th St, Saint Marys ($145,000, 3 bedrooms)
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#4. Sedgwick County
- Population: 513,375
- Median home value: $140,700 (63% own)
- Median rent: $824 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $56,524
- Top public schools: Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School (A), Maize Elementary School (A), Discovery Intermediate School (A)
- Top private schools: Wichita Collegiate School (A+), The Independent School (A+), Trinity Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Crown Heights (A+), College Hill (A+), Bel Aire (A+)
- Pictured: 10018 E Lincoln St, Wichita ($200,000, 5 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $140,700 (63% own)
- Median rent: $824 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $56,524
- Top public schools: Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School (A), Maize Elementary School (A), Discovery Intermediate School (A)
- Top private schools: Wichita Collegiate School (A+), The Independent School (A+), Trinity Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Crown Heights (A+), College Hill (A+), Bel Aire (A+)
- Pictured: 10018 E Lincoln St, Wichita ($200,000, 5 bedrooms)
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#3. Shawnee County
- Population: 177,852
- Median home value: $132,500 (64% own)
- Median rent: $825 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $56,762
- Top public schools: Jay Shideler Elementary School (A), Washburn Rural High School (A), Farley Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Cair Paravel Latin School (A), Hayden High School (A-), Heritage Christian School (A-)
- Top places to live: Topeka (A-), Mission Township (A), Auburn (A-)
- Pictured: 5908 SW Clarion Lakes Way, Topeka ($969,000, 7 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $132,500 (64% own)
- Median rent: $825 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $56,762
- Top public schools: Jay Shideler Elementary School (A), Washburn Rural High School (A), Farley Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Cair Paravel Latin School (A), Hayden High School (A-), Heritage Christian School (A-)
- Top places to live: Topeka (A-), Mission Township (A), Auburn (A-)
- Pictured: 5908 SW Clarion Lakes Way, Topeka ($969,000, 7 bedrooms)
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#2. Douglas County
- Population: 120,290
- Median home value: $199,400 (51% own)
- Median rent: $926 (49% rent)
- Median household income: $59,435
- Top public schools: Lawrence Free State High School (A), Baldwin Elementary Primary Center (A), Southwest Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Bishop Seabury Academy (A+), Veritas Christian School (A-), St. John Catholic School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Lawrence (A+), Eudora (A), Baldwin City (A-)
- Pictured: 115 N Running Ridge Rd, Lawrence ($1.5 million, 3 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $199,400 (51% own)
- Median rent: $926 (49% rent)
- Median household income: $59,435
- Top public schools: Lawrence Free State High School (A), Baldwin Elementary Primary Center (A), Southwest Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Bishop Seabury Academy (A+), Veritas Christian School (A-), St. John Catholic School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Lawrence (A+), Eudora (A), Baldwin City (A-)
- Pictured: 115 N Running Ridge Rd, Lawrence ($1.5 million, 3 bedrooms)
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#1. Johnson County
- Population: 591,506
- Median home value: $259,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,109 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $89,087
- Top public schools: Blue Valley North High School (A+), Blue Valley High School (A+), Blue Valley West High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (A), Kansas City Christian School (A), St. Thomas Aquinas High School (A)
- Top places to live: Prairie Village (A+), Leawood (A+), Oak Park (A+)
- Pictured: 5201 W 81st St, Prairie Village ($2.3 million, 5 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $259,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,109 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $89,087
- Top public schools: Blue Valley North High School (A+), Blue Valley High School (A+), Blue Valley West High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (A), Kansas City Christian School (A), St. Thomas Aquinas High School (A)
- Top places to live: Prairie Village (A+), Leawood (A+), Oak Park (A+)
- Pictured: 5201 W 81st St, Prairie Village ($2.3 million, 5 bedrooms)
