#1Morton Township
Sedgwick County · 2,819 peopleStrongest: schools A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living B
BCost–SafetyA+SchoolsBHealthA−JobsB+WalkBHazards
Morton Township, #1 on this list · Photo: United States Census Bureau, modified by User:FUBAR007 · Public domainKansas rankings · 2026
Best small towns in Kansas
Morton Township ranks first of Kansas’ 104 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with an A+: schools (A+) and jobs & income (A−) are its strongest grades; cost of living (B) is its lowest. 30 of the 104 (29%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.
The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work
#1A+
Aubry Township
Johnson County · 4,719 peopleStrongest: jobs & income A+, schools A+·lowest: walkability C
B−Cost–SafetyA+SchoolsAHealthA+JobsCWalkBHazards
Wamego Township
Pottawatomie County · 5,838 peopleStrongest: jobs & income A−, health A−·lowest: hazard risk B−
B+Cost–SafetyB+SchoolsA−HealthA−JobsBWalkB−Hazards
Where they are: Three of the top 10 are in Sedgwick County.
All 104 small towns
Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 150 Kansas towns.
104 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it
1Morton TownshipSedgwick County · 2,819 people74.1top 2.1%A+Strongest: schools A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living B
2Aubry TownshipJohnson County · 4,719 people73.7top 2.4%A+Strongest: jobs & income A+, schools A+·lowest: walkability C
3Wamego TownshipPottawatomie County · 5,838 people72.6top 3.4%A+Strongest: jobs & income A−, health A−·lowest: hazard risk B−
4HesstonHarvey County · 3,458 people70.9top 5.4%AStrongest: schools A, health A−·lowest: hazard risk C+
5LindsborgMcPherson County · 3,824 people70.4top 6.1%AStrongest: safety A, health A−·lowest: hazard risk C
6WamegoPottawatomie County · 4,912 people70.3top 6.4%AStrongest: health A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: hazard risk B−
7ClearwaterSedgwick County · 2,792 people69.0top 8.4%AStrongest: jobs & income A−, safety A−·lowest: walkability C+
8Grant TownshipSedgwick County · 5,743 people68.7top 9.0%AStrongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: walkability C+
9Emma TownshipHarvey County · 4,017 people68.5top 9.3%AStrongest: schools A, health B+·lowest: hazard risk C+
10Sherman TownshipLeavenworth County · 2,920 people67.2top 12.0%AStrongest: jobs & income A+, schools A·lowest: walkability D−
11FairwayJohnson County · 4,181 people67.1top 12.1%AStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D
12Union TownshipSedgwick County · 2,704 people66.6top 13.2%AStrongest: schools A, health A−·lowest: walkability C
14Valley CenterSedgwick County · 7,685 people66.1top 14.3%AStrongest: health A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability C
15HillsboroMarion County · 2,646 people66.1top 14.4%AStrongest: cost of living A, walkability A−·lowest: jobs & income C
16EllsworthEllsworth County · 3,092 people66.0top 14.5%AStrongest: safety A−, walkability A−·lowest: hazard risk C+
17Mission HillsJohnson County · 3,522 people65.5top 15.6%A−Strongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living C−
19Baldwin CityDouglas County · 4,946 people65.0top 16.8%A−Strongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living C+
21Big Creek TownshipEllis County · 2,622 people64.3top 18.3%A−Strongest: schools A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: hazard risk C+
22De SotoJohnson County · 7,083 people64.2top 18.7%A−Strongest: schools A, health A−·lowest: cost of living C
24Rose HillButler County · 4,320 people63.8top 19.5%A−Strongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: walkability C+
27Washington TownshipDoniphan County · 2,966 people62.9top 21.6%A−Strongest: cost of living A, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability C
28Ninnescah TownshipSedgwick County · 3,563 people62.8top 21.9%A−Strongest: jobs & income A−, schools A−·lowest: walkability C
30Palmyra TownshipDouglas County · 7,847 people62.8top 22.0%A−Strongest: health A, schools A−·lowest: cost of living C−
32EudoraDouglas County · 6,506 people62.3top 23.2%A−Strongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: cost of living C−
33LouisburgMiami County · 5,299 people62.2top 23.3%A−Strongest: schools A+, safety B+·lowest: cost of living C−
35Valley Center TownshipSedgwick County · 5,036 people61.9top 24.3%A−Strongest: schools A−, health A−·lowest: walkability C−
36GoddardSedgwick County · 6,638 people61.8top 24.5%A−Strongest: jobs & income A, schools A·lowest: walkability C−
37Auburn TownshipShawnee County · 3,319 people61.8top 24.7%A−Strongest: health A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability D
38UlyssesGrant County · 5,524 people61.7top 24.9%A−Strongest: cost of living A, safety A·lowest: schools D
39Attica TownshipSedgwick County · 9,068 people61.7top 25.0%A−Strongest: schools A, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D
40Rock Creek TownshipJefferson County · 2,773 people61.6top 25.1%B+Strongest: schools A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: walkability C−
42ColbyThomas County · 5,489 people60.9top 27.0%B+Strongest: hazard risk A−, walkability B+·lowest: schools B−
43Tecumseh TownshipShawnee County · 7,829 people60.4top 28.5%B+Strongest: jobs & income A+, hazard risk B+·lowest: walkability C−
44Gardner TownshipJohnson County · 2,550 people60.3top 28.8%B+Strongest: jobs & income A+, health A−·lowest: walkability C−
45BasehorLeavenworth County · 8,249 people60.2top 28.9%B+Strongest: schools A, health B+·lowest: walkability C
46Roeland ParkJohnson County · 6,683 people59.7top 30.1%B+Strongest: health A, schools A−·lowest: safety C−
48Park TownshipSedgwick County · 8,984 people59.2top 31.5%B+Strongest: health A−, schools A−·lowest: cost of living D
49MulvaneSedgwick County · 7,030 people59.2top 31.6%B+Strongest: health B+, safety B+·lowest: walkability C−
50Scott CityScott County · 3,855 people59.2top 31.6%B+Strongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B·lowest: walkability C
54St. MarysPottawatomie County · 2,790 people58.2top 34.1%B+Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income B−
55Monmouth TownshipShawnee County · 3,224 people58.1top 34.3%B+Strongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: walkability D−
58Richland TownshipButler County · 2,620 people57.7top 35.6%BStrongest: jobs & income A, health B+·lowest: walkability C−
59Eudora TownshipDouglas County · 7,870 people57.2top 36.8%BStrongest: jobs & income A, health B+·lowest: cost of living C−
60St. Marys TownshipPottawatomie County · 4,018 people57.1top 37.1%BStrongest: cost of living B+, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income B−
61AbileneDickinson County · 6,552 people57.0top 37.2%BStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living B+·lowest: safety C+
62PrattPratt County · 6,574 people57.0top 37.2%BStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income C
63FrontenacCrawford County · 3,443 people57.0top 37.3%BStrongest: schools A−, health B+·lowest: walkability C−
64TonganoxieLeavenworth County · 6,208 people56.4top 39.0%BStrongest: safety A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C
65MaizeSedgwick County · 7,853 people56.2top 39.4%BStrongest: health A, schools A−·lowest: cost of living C−
67Pleasant TownshipButler County · 5,459 people56.0top 40.1%BStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
68Franklin TownshipFranklin County · 3,179 people55.9top 40.5%BStrongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B+·lowest: hazard risk C+
69HoltonJackson County · 3,396 people55.9top 40.5%BStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability B+·lowest: hazard risk C+
70Belle Plaine TownshipSumner County · 3,025 people55.5top 41.3%BStrongest: cost of living A, health B·lowest: walkability D−
74PaolaMiami County · 5,880 people54.8top 43.4%BStrongest: walkability A−, schools B+·lowest: safety C−
75BeloitMitchell County · 3,288 people54.2top 44.7%BStrongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: health C−
76NortonNorton County · 2,651 people53.6top 46.4%B−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability A−·lowest: health C
78Lincoln TownshipLinn County · 2,730 people52.9top 48.7%B−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B−·lowest: jobs & income C
79HoisingtonBarton County · 2,598 people52.8top 48.8%B−Strongest: safety B+, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
80MarysvilleMarshall County · 3,385 people52.6top 49.3%B−Strongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: health C
81Williamsport TownshipShawnee County · 4,334 people52.4top 49.8%B−Strongest: health A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: walkability D
82Towanda TownshipButler County · 2,574 people52.1bottom 49.1%B−Strongest: schools A−, cost of living B·lowest: walkability C−
83Salem TownshipSedgwick County · 9,673 people51.6bottom 47.8%B−Strongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability D
86Oaklawn-Sunviewunincorporated, Sedgwick County · 2,789 people50.9bottom 46.0%B−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability A·lowest: health D−
89Stranger TownshipLeavenworth County · 5,467 people49.8bottom 43.1%C+Strongest: schools A, health B+·lowest: walkability D−
90GarnettAnderson County · 3,242 people49.6bottom 42.6%C+Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C
91Osage CityOsage County · 2,784 people49.6bottom 42.5%C+Strongest: schools A, cost of living B+·lowest: safety D
93HiawathaBrown County · 3,124 people48.8bottom 40.4%C+Strongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A−·lowest: safety D
94Blue TownshipPottawatomie County · 5,449 people48.4bottom 39.3%C+Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B+·lowest: cost of living C−
95Minneha TownshipSedgwick County · 3,472 people48.3bottom 39.0%C+Strongest: jobs & income A+, health A·lowest: schools D
96ConcordiaCloud County · 4,991 people47.7bottom 37.1%C+Strongest: walkability A−, cost of living B+·lowest: jobs & income C−
99Clay CenterClay County · 4,061 people47.3bottom 36.1%C+Strongest: schools B, cost of living B·lowest: health C
101LyonsRice County · 3,488 people47.0bottom 35.4%C+Strongest: cost of living A+, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C−
102South HutchinsonReno County · 2,516 people46.5bottom 34.1%CStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk B·lowest: health C−
103BurlingtonCoffey County · 2,640 people45.6bottom 31.8%CStrongest: cost of living A−, schools B·lowest: jobs & income D
104Reno TownshipReno County · 4,360 people45.1bottom 30.5%CStrongest: walkability B, cost of living B·lowest: health C−
105KingmanKingman County · 2,884 people44.9bottom 29.9%CStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability B−·lowest: hazard risk C−
106HugotonStevens County · 3,545 people44.7bottom 29.4%CStrongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living B·lowest: health D
107IndependenceMontgomery County · 8,193 people44.0bottom 27.8%CStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D
108ParsonsLabette County · 9,315 people43.8bottom 27.4%CStrongest: cost of living A−, schools B+·lowest: safety D−
111OsawatomieMiami County · 4,215 people43.6bottom 26.9%CStrongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk C+·lowest: schools C−
112Washington TownshipCrawford County · 3,543 people43.4bottom 26.4%CStrongest: cost of living B+, schools C+·lowest: walkability C−
113IolaAllen County · 5,240 people43.4bottom 26.2%CStrongest: cost of living A, walkability A·lowest: safety D
114GalenaCherokee County · 2,788 people43.1bottom 25.7%CStrongest: cost of living A+, hazard risk B−·lowest: health C−
115Fort Rileyunincorporated, Geary County · 8,606 people43.0bottom 25.4%CStrongest: hazard risk A−, health A−·lowest: cost of living D−
116Bonner SpringsWyandotte County · 7,962 people42.8bottom 25.1%CStrongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B−·lowest: safety C−
117Baxter SpringsCherokee County · 3,823 people42.8bottom 24.8%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, schools B·lowest: health D−
118LarnedPawnee County · 3,596 people42.4bottom 24.1%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, walkability C+·lowest: schools C
119ColumbusCherokee County · 2,866 people42.3bottom 23.8%C−Strongest: cost of living B+, schools B−·lowest: jobs & income C−
121Park CitySedgwick County · 9,458 people41.9bottom 23.1%C−Strongest: walkability B+, jobs & income B+·lowest: schools D
122Fort ScottBourbon County · 7,500 people41.2bottom 21.6%C−Strongest: walkability A−, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
123GoodlandSherman County · 4,366 people41.1bottom 21.4%C−Strongest: walkability B+, cost of living B·lowest: schools D
125AugustaButler County · 9,073 people40.8bottom 20.7%C−Strongest: cost of living B−, schools B−·lowest: safety C−
126Baker TownshipCrawford County · 3,483 people40.3bottom 19.6%C−Strongest: jobs & income B+, schools B−·lowest: walkability D
127Garden TownshipCherokee County · 2,713 people40.3bottom 19.6%C−Strongest: jobs & income A−, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability D
128St. George TownshipPottawatomie County · 5,056 people40.1bottom 19.3%C−Strongest: health A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: schools D−
129ChanuteNeosho County · 8,584 people40.1bottom 19.3%C−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D
130Sherlock TownshipFinney County · 2,907 people39.8bottom 18.5%C−Strongest: jobs & income B, hazard risk B−·lowest: walkability D
132Prospect TownshipButler County · 2,548 people39.6bottom 18.3%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, jobs & income C·lowest: schools C−
137RussellRussell County · 4,286 people38.1bottom 15.3%C−Strongest: hazard risk B−, cost of living B−·lowest: health C−
138WellingtonSumner County · 7,541 people37.7bottom 14.8%DStrongest: cost of living A, walkability B·lowest: safety D
139EdwardsvilleWyandotte County · 4,748 people37.6bottom 14.6%DStrongest: walkability B, cost of living C+·lowest: safety C−
141Smoky Hill TownshipGeary County · 9,191 people36.2bottom 12.4%DStrongest: walkability B+, schools B·lowest: jobs & income D−
144CoffeyvilleMontgomery County · 8,460 people34.8bottom 10.4%DStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability A−·lowest: health D
148Garden City TownshipFinney County · 5,667 people33.3bottom 8.5%DStrongest: cost of living B−, hazard risk B−·lowest: schools C−
Method
How this list is made
Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within Kansas. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.
Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the best small town in Kansas?
Among 104 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Morton Township (Sedgwick County) ranks first, with an A+; schools (A+) and jobs & income (A−) are its strongest grades; cost of living (B) is its lowest. Aubry Township and Wamego Township follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within Kansas. The full method is on How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (104 in Kansas). 222 smaller places have subject grades only; 1 town of 2,500+ lack enough data for a grade; Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the Kansas page.
Go deeper
All Kansas rankings →More Kansas lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live150 towns · #1 Morton TownshipMost affordable towns151 towns · #1 GalenaSafest towns80 towns · #1 LindsborgTowns with the best schools151 towns · #1 Morton TownshipHealthiest towns150 towns · #1 FairwayBest towns for jobs & income151 towns · #1 Mission HillsMost walkable towns151 towns · #1 MarysvilleTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk151 towns · #1 MerriamBest towns for the outdoors151 towns · #1 WinfieldMost historic towns151 towns · #1 Fort ScottTowns with the most civic life149 towns · #1 GoodlandTowns with the least snow151 towns · #1 El DoradoDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns151 towns · #1 GoodlandDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters153 towns · #1 Garden TownshipDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers153 towns · #1 UlyssesDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers153 towns · #1 HiawathaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes151 towns · #1 Mission HillsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes149 towns · #1 Oaklawn-SunviewDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns150 towns · #1 MaizeDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries70 towns · #1 GirardDescribed, no letters
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