The Complete Guide to Retiring in Kansas
Kansas is an appealing destination for retirement, thanks to its affordability and access to health care. In fact, Kiplinger ranked it as one of the top 3 best places for those who are living single in retirement.
Whether you’re single or retiring with a partner, Kansas’s 8 botanical gardens and 28 state parks make it an attractive location for nature lovers. And, summer brings an average of 14.5 hours of daylight each day, meaning you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors.
In this article, we’ll cover the pros and cons of retiring in Kansas, as well as some of the best cities to call home to help you decide if a Kansas retirement is right for you.
Key Takeaways
Kansas has a lower cost of living, which can make it an affordable place to retire.
The state is more rural. While this can be appealing if you enjoy a quieter lifestyle, it might not be the ideal place for you to retire if you enjoy the faster pace and amenities of the city.
While access to healthcare is generally good, it can be more difficult in the more rural areas of the state.
What to expect from retiring in Kansas
If you choose to retire in Kansas, you’ll experience all four seasons. While summers can be hot and humid and winters cold and snowy, fall and spring can be great transition times to enjoy the outdoors. These fall and spring seasons also happen to be key bird migration times, with Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivera National Wildlife Refuge being popular spots to watch pelicans, sandhill cranes, and bald eagles pass through.
If you’re not into birdwatching, there’s still plenty to do outdoors. Fishing and boating on some of Kansas’s numerous lakes and rivers is popular, and the state has over 200 golf courses to enjoy. Kansas’s tallgrass prairies and rolling hills make for a scenic background for hiking and biking.
Music, food, and art are well-celebrated in Kansas. Kansas City-style BBQ and jazz music are plentiful. Events like the Kansas State Fair and Wichita Riverfest celebrate Kansas’s heritage while allowing you to connect with your community.
The pros and cons of retiring in Kansas
Now that you have an idea of what retiring in Kansas might look like, let’s explore some more specific pros and cons:
Pros:
Kansas is a more affordable state to live in. The cost of living is 11% lower than the national average. Housing costs in Kansas are also more reasonable.
There are many tax benefits for seniors living in Kansas. Social security income and public pensions are not taxed by the state.
If you enjoy spending time outside, Kansas presents a great landscape with opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and fishing.
Cons:
Although Kansas has a lower cost of living and low property taxes, sales tax is higher.
Kansas is a more rural state. While some individuals might enjoy the quiet, if you’re looking for a more urban environment or an active social community, Kansas might not be the best fit for you.
There is a risk of severe weather, such as thunderstorms and tornadoes.
How retirement taxes work in Kansas
While Kansas offers some tax benefits for seniors, property taxes can be high.
No Social Security tax: If you rely on Social Security for your retirement income, you’ll be happy to know that Kansas does not tax Social Security income.
Public pension exemption: While income from a 401(k), pension, or IRA is taxed, public pensions are exempt from state taxes in Kansas.
Homestead refund: Kansas offers a Homestead Refund Program and a property tax relief program for low-income seniors (SAFESR). To qualify for the programs, you need to have a household income of under $42,600 and meet certain conditions, like being 65 years of age or older.
No estate or inheritance taxes: Kansas does not charge state estate or inheritance taxes.
Property tax rates: Although Kansas has property tax relief programs for seniors, property taxes are higher in the state. The average effective property tax rate is 1.34%. The median annual payment is $2,595.
Is it expensive to live in Kansas?
Kansas is a more affordable place to live. The cost of living is 11% lower than the national average. Although property taxes are higher, housing costs are 32% lower than the national average. The median home price in Kansas is around $229,000, while the average rent is around $1,200. Food and clothing prices are also lower in Kansas than the national average.
According to the U.S. News & World Report’s Affordability Rankings, Kansas ranks #11 in affordability and #9 in cost of living. Cities like Manhattan and Hutchinson tend to be more expensive compared to rural areas.
Housing and cost of living in Kansas
While housing costs are below average in Kansas, there are some areas with housing can be more expensive. In urban areas like Wichita and Kansas City, the average home cost can be $220,000-$300,000. In more rural areas, homes can be found for $100,000-$180,000.
The state sales tax is 6.5%. However, groceries are not taxed. Local sales taxes can also impact the overall tax rate.
How does retiring in Kansas compare to Oklahoma or Missouri?
While all three states are considered affordable, Oklahoma has lower property taxes, which can be appealing. Missouri tends to offer more activities. But if you’re looking for a quieter lifestyle with opportunities for outdoor activities, you might prefer Kansas. Kansas also offers a drier summer heat, which can be more appealing than the hot, humid summers in Missouri.
In terms of healthcare, Missouri offers the best access to high-quality healthcare services. While Kansas’s access to healthcare services is generally good, it can be more limited in rural areas.
Best places to retire in Kansas
While Kansas is a more affordable location to retire, some locations appeal to those looking for a more luxurious lifestyle. Higher-end destinations include:
Leawood: A suburb of Kansas City, with upscale homes and gated communities. Walking trails, golf courses, and outdoor pickleball courts offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.
Mission Hills: A quiet community that’s home to private, prestigious country clubs. Its close proximaty to Kansas City makes it easy to enjoy the amendities of the city.
Overland Park: A city with several cultural attractions, including the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. Overland Park also has an extensive trail system and regularly hosts concerts and festivals.
Options for those looking for a more affordable lifestyle include:
Hutchinson: With a small-town feel, Hutchinson has one of the lowest costs of living in the state. But there’s still plenty of amenities, including golf courses and trails.
Pittsburg: Located in Southeast Kansas, Pittsburg offers a range of single-family homes and apartments at affordable prices. Outdoor activities, like fishing, disc golf, and biking, are popular in the area.
Emporia: Emporia has a low cost of living and affordable groceries. The close-knit community has regular markets and festivals.
Retirement communities in Kansas
If you’re looking to live somewhere where you have easy access to dining, activities, and social connections, you might consider a retirement community.
Retirement communities can also make it easy to get medical care and extra help if needed. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular retirement communities in Kansas.
Santa Marta: Located in Olathe, Santa Marta has an on-site Tuscan restaurant as well as lots of activities, including movie nights, games, and Friday Happy Hours. Golf courses and dining options are nearby. If your health needs change, Santa Marta offers Medicare-certified skilled nursing, assisted living, and respite care without the need for you to move.
Lakeview Village: Located in Johnson County, Lakeview Village is a 100-acre community that offers a range of homes, including patio homes, garden cottages, and apartments. There’s plenty to do, including fishing in their 3-acre fishing lake, exploring trails, gardening, or playing bocce ball. Skilled nursing care and home health are also available.
The Regent: Located in Wichita, The Regent offers studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartments with fully equipped kitchens. They offer restaurant-style dining, meaning that you’ll get to choose from a menu of chef-prepared meals. Live concerts from local musicians, art classes like pottery, and fitness classes like tai chi and yoga can keep you busy. There is a physician on-site for any health needs that arise.
Senior health in Kansas
Kansas ranked as the 30th least healthy state in America’s Health Rankings Senior Report. Access to healthcare in Kansas is generally good, but those in more rural areas may have difficulty accessing healthcare services.
Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) also offers free help for seniors to navigate insurance.
Quality of healthcare in Kansas
Although access to healthcare can be more difficult in the rural areas of Kansas, there are high-quality facilities in the larger cities. University of Kansas Hospital, Olathe Medical Center, and Stormont Vail Hospital are some notable options.
Accessing specialized medical care in Kansas can be difficult, especially for those in more rural areas. If you have particular medical needs, you’ll want to keep this in mind when choosing where to retire.
Kansas has a number of senior health support programs. The Kansas Senior Nutrition Program offers home delivery of nutritious meals to individuals aged 60 or older. The Area Agencies on Aging also offers programs to help you age healthfully, including Tai Chi for Arthritis and Falls Prevention, Walk with Ease, and Chronic Disease Self-Management Education.
Medicare in Kansas
There are about 590,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Kansas. This makes up about 17% of the state’s population. 83% of these beneficiaries are on Original Medicare, while the remainder are on a Kansas Medicare Advantage plan.
If you want to learn more about Medicare in Kansas, you can speak with a Chapter Medicare Advisor. Call us at (855) 900-2427 or schedule a free consultation.
Retiring in Kansas
Kansas offers an affordable lifestyle and plenty of access to outdoor activities, making it an appealing location for retirement. Many seniors also enjoy the quiet community that Kansas offers.