What it's like to live in Arkansas City
Arkansas City is a small city in Kansas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Arkansas City deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, college degree attainment below the national average, and cold winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Low college degree attainment
- Cold winters
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Arkansas City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Arkansas City
Based on Arkansas City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,562
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $31,240 a year
- 49% of Arkansas City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$17,360
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $8,680
- Homes cost 1.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 45% below US
$781/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $781 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $86,800. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $86,800 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.2% county unemployment
Unemployment in Cowley County is 4.2%, 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.
Cowley County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 35% above US
444 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2348/100k · Arkansas City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 28% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°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. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 43% below US
21% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 21%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (98 miles away).
Bottom line
Arkansas City's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($781/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Arkansas City
All Kansas guides →Moving to Winfield →
15 mi away · pop. 11,711
Rent $786/mo · Income $56,656
Compare with Arkansas City →Moving to Derby →
36 mi away · pop. 26,062
Rent $1,136/mo · Income $84,112
Compare with Arkansas City →Moving to Haysville →
38 mi away · pop. 11,117
Rent $1,064/mo · Income $67,740
Compare with Arkansas City →Moving to Andover →
43 mi away · pop. 15,965
Rent $1,450/mo · Income $104,787
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