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Mary Seaman Ennis HouseGoodland, #1 on this list · Mary Seaman Ennis House · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0
Kansas rankings · Civic life

Towns with the most civic life in Kansas

Goodland ranks first on civic life among Kansas’ 149 towns of 2,500+; 49 of the 149 grade A− or better on civic life nationally.

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. How grades work

#1

Goodland

Sherman County · 4,366 people
A+

Civic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall C− · #123 of 150 in KS

#2

Burlington

Coffey County · 2,640 people
A+

Civic life grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #103 of 150 in KS

#3

Abilene

Dickinson County · 6,552 people
A+

Civic life grade, better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #61 of 150 in KS

All 149 towns

Civic life grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

149 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1GoodlandSherman County · 4,366 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall C− · #123 of 150
2BurlingtonCoffey County · 2,640 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #103 of 150
3AbileneDickinson County · 6,552 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #61 of 150
4HoltonJackson County · 3,396 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #69 of 150
5WamegoPottawatomie County · 4,912 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 150
6KingmanKingman County · 2,884 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #105 of 150
7AtchisonAtchison County · 10,789 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #100 of 150
8HiawathaBrown County · 3,124 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #93 of 150
9LarnedPawnee County · 3,596 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #118 of 150
10OttawaFranklin County · 12,716 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #88 of 150
11Wamego TownshipPottawatomie County · 5,838 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 150
12ColbyThomas County · 5,489 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #42 of 150
13Osage CityOsage County · 2,784 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #91 of 150
14CoffeyvilleMontgomery County · 8,460 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #144 of 150
15EllsworthEllsworth County · 3,092 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #16 of 150
16ChanuteNeosho County · 8,584 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #129 of 150
17ParsonsLabette County · 9,315 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #108 of 150
18TonganoxieLeavenworth County · 6,208 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #64 of 150
19MarysvilleMarshall County · 3,385 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #80 of 150
20Scott CityScott County · 3,855 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #50 of 150
21ManhattanRiley County · 54,673 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #73 of 150
22HesstonHarvey County · 3,458 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 150
23GarnettAnderson County · 3,242 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #90 of 150
24Clay CenterClay County · 4,061 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #99 of 150
25NortonNorton County · 2,651 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #76 of 150
26Baldwin CityDouglas County · 4,946 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 150
27MissionJohnson County · 10,125 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #66 of 150
28LouisburgMiami County · 5,299 peopleA−better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #33 of 150
29Auburn TownshipShawnee County · 3,319 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #37 of 150
30HaysEllis County · 21,258 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #57 of 150
31PrattPratt County · 6,574 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #62 of 150
32LeawoodJohnson County · 34,093 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #20 of 150
33EudoraDouglas County · 6,506 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #32 of 150
34IolaAllen County · 5,240 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #113 of 150
35IndependenceMontgomery County · 8,193 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #107 of 150
36LindsborgMcPherson County · 3,824 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 150
37ClearwaterSedgwick County · 2,792 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 150
38PaolaMiami County · 5,880 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #74 of 150
39MulvaneSedgwick County · 7,030 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #49 of 150
40UlyssesGrant County · 5,524 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #38 of 150
41WinfieldCowley County · 11,745 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #147 of 150
42Palmyra TownshipDouglas County · 7,847 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #30 of 150
43NewtonHarvey County · 18,353 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #133 of 150
44LawrenceDouglas County · 96,367 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #77 of 150
45GoddardSedgwick County · 6,638 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #36 of 150
46OsawatomieMiami County · 4,215 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #111 of 150
47Franklin TownshipFranklin County · 3,179 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #68 of 150
48FairwayJohnson County · 4,181 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 150
49Morton TownshipSedgwick County · 2,819 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 150
50Roeland ParkJohnson County · 6,683 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #46 of 150
51Emma TownshipHarvey County · 4,017 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 150
52RussellRussell County · 4,286 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #137 of 150
53Union TownshipSedgwick County · 2,704 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 150
54Valley CenterSedgwick County · 7,685 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #14 of 150
55Mission HillsJohnson County · 3,522 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 150
56McPhersonMcPherson County · 13,918 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #71 of 150
57TopekaShawnee County · 125,795 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #136 of 150
58Bonner SpringsWyandotte County · 7,962 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #116 of 150
59Fort ScottBourbon County · 7,500 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #122 of 150
60HillsboroMarion County · 2,646 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #15 of 150
61Prairie VillageJohnson County · 23,008 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 150
62LyonsRice County · 3,488 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #101 of 150
63PittsburgCrawford County · 20,569 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #143 of 150
64HoisingtonBarton County · 2,598 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #79 of 150
65Monmouth TownshipShawnee County · 3,224 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #55 of 150
66Great BendBarton County · 14,266 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 150
67Valley Center TownshipSedgwick County · 5,036 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #35 of 150
68BasehorLeavenworth County · 8,249 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #45 of 150
69Spring HillJohnson County · 10,777 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #29 of 150
70Towanda TownshipButler County · 2,574 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #82 of 150
71St. George TownshipPottawatomie County · 5,056 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #128 of 150
72BeloitMitchell County · 3,288 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #75 of 150
73De SotoJohnson County · 7,083 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #22 of 150
74AndoverButler County · 17,370 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #25 of 150
75Ninnescah TownshipSedgwick County · 3,563 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 150
76Rock Creek TownshipJefferson County · 2,773 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #40 of 150
77El DoradoButler County · 12,696 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #87 of 150
78LenexaJohnson County · 60,506 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #23 of 150
79Washington TownshipDoniphan County · 2,966 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #27 of 150
80Bruno TownshipButler County · 19,221 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #41 of 150
81Fairmount TownshipLeavenworth County · 12,817 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #47 of 150
82Washington TownshipCrawford County · 3,543 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #112 of 150
83ShawneeJohnson County · 69,848 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #26 of 150
84ColumbusCherokee County · 2,866 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 150
85DerbySedgwick County · 26,606 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #85 of 150
86Grant TownshipSedgwick County · 5,743 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 150
87AugustaButler County · 9,073 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #125 of 150
88Sherman TownshipLeavenworth County · 2,920 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 150
89OlatheJohnson County · 150,025 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 150
90LeavenworthLeavenworth County · 37,012 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #84 of 150
91Overland ParkJohnson County · 203,677 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #34 of 150
92Attica TownshipSedgwick County · 9,068 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #39 of 150
93Mission TownshipShawnee County · 10,195 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #53 of 150
94ConcordiaCloud County · 4,991 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #96 of 150
95EmporiaLyon County · 24,137 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #131 of 150
96Eudora TownshipDouglas County · 7,870 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #59 of 150
97Aubry TownshipJohnson County · 4,719 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 150
98Stranger TownshipLeavenworth County · 5,467 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #89 of 150
99SalinaSaline County · 46,094 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #134 of 150
100Soldier TownshipShawnee County · 15,282 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #52 of 150
101HugotonStevens County · 3,545 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #106 of 150
102HaysvilleSedgwick County · 11,353 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #110 of 150
103Williamsport TownshipShawnee County · 4,334 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #81 of 150
104Belle Plaine TownshipSumner County · 3,025 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #70 of 150
105HutchinsonReno County · 39,595 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #145 of 150
106LansingLeavenworth County · 11,331 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #31 of 150
107GardnerJohnson County · 26,154 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #51 of 150
108Baxter SpringsCherokee County · 3,823 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 150
109Lincoln TownshipLinn County · 2,730 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #78 of 150
110Junction CityGeary County · 22,583 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #142 of 150
111WellingtonSumner County · 7,541 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 150
112Rose HillButler County · 4,320 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #24 of 150
113GalenaCherokee County · 2,788 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #114 of 150
114Rockford TownshipSedgwick County · 24,796 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #72 of 150
115St. MarysPottawatomie County · 2,790 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #54 of 150
116Blue TownshipPottawatomie County · 5,449 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #94 of 150
117Richland TownshipButler County · 2,620 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #58 of 150
118Pleasant TownshipButler County · 5,459 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #67 of 150
119Tecumseh TownshipShawnee County · 7,829 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #43 of 150
120Gardner TownshipJohnson County · 2,550 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #44 of 150
121LiberalSeward County · 19,010 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #135 of 150
122Prospect TownshipButler County · 2,548 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #132 of 150
123Garden TownshipCherokee County · 2,713 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #127 of 150
124MerriamJohnson County · 11,509 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #56 of 150
125St. Marys TownshipPottawatomie County · 4,018 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #60 of 150
126Baker TownshipCrawford County · 3,483 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #126 of 150
127Salem TownshipSedgwick County · 9,673 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #83 of 150
128FrontenacCrawford County · 3,443 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #63 of 150
129Arkansas CityCowley County · 11,800 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #150 of 150
130South HutchinsonReno County · 2,516 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #102 of 150
131Gypsum TownshipSedgwick County · 10,370 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #92 of 150
132Madison TownshipRiley County · 9,403 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
133MaizeSedgwick County · 7,853 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #65 of 150
134Park TownshipSedgwick County · 8,984 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #48 of 150
135WichitaSedgwick County · 400,987 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #149 of 150
136Park CitySedgwick County · 9,458 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #121 of 150
137Big Creek TownshipEllis County · 2,622 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #21 of 150
138Smoky Hill TownshipGeary County · 9,191 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #141 of 150
139Dodge CityFord County · 27,653 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #124 of 150
140Reno TownshipReno County · 4,360 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #104 of 150
141Kechi TownshipSedgwick County · 10,931 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #98 of 150
142Riverside TownshipSedgwick County · 13,603 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #109 of 150
143Garden CityFinney County · 27,402 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #140 of 150
144Kansas CityWyandotte County · 157,805 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #146 of 150
145Minneha TownshipSedgwick County · 3,472 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #95 of 150
146Garden City TownshipFinney County · 5,667 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #148 of 150
147Bel AireSedgwick County · 10,287 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #97 of 150
148Sherlock TownshipFinney County · 2,907 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #130 of 150
149EdwardsvilleWyandotte County · 4,748 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #139 of 150
Not ranked

2 towns without a civic life grade

Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.

Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Kansas town has the most civic life?

Goodland (Sherman County) ranks first on civic life among 149 towns, with an A+; Burlington and Abilene follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a civic life grade (149 in Kansas). 2 towns of 2,500+ lack the figures and are listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Kansas page.

Go deeper

More Kansas lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Kansas rankings →
Best places to live150 towns · #1 Morton TownshipBest small towns104 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 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
Other states

Towns with the most civic life in other states

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