What it's like to live in Andover
Andover is a small city in Kansas with home prices that remain within reach, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Andover deals with larger class sizes than the national average, cold winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Andover compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Andover
Based on Andover's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,900
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,000 a year
- 29% of Andover renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$58,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,140
- Homes cost 2.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,450/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,450 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $291,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $291,400 · 29% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Butler County is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Butler County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 79% below US
75 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1322/100k · Andover Police Department · 2024 data
Getting around▼ 15% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 44% above US
52% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
10 public schools inside the boundary
There are 10 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 26:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (60 miles away).
Bottom line
Andover's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are cold winters and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit. A year of median rent ($1,450/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Andover
All Kansas guides →Not sure Andover is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.