Kansas income tax
5.2% on the first $23,000 of taxable income ($46,000 married filing jointly) and 5.58% on everything above that. Kansas does not tax Social Security benefits.
Free relocation guide · English or Spanish
Moving to Wichita. The whole picture.
Taxes, costs, neighborhoods, schools, weather, the airport and your first 90 days, all in one place. Read it here, or get the printable guide and one market email a month for the area you pick.
Get the printable guide
400,991People in WichitaCensus, 2024
661,200In the metro areaCensus, 2024
88.8Cost of living (US = 100)C2ER, 2024
$247,000Median sold priceMLS, last 90 days
2,430Homes for sale todayMLS, live
Costs and taxes
Wichita's cost of living index is 88.8, where the US average is 100 (C2ER, 2024). Here is how the taxes you will see work.
Sales tax
7.5% in most of Wichita: 6.5% state plus 1% Sedgwick County. Wichita has no city sales tax, though a few ZIP codes run higher. Since January 1, 2025 the state tax on most groceries is 0%, so groceries carry only the local rate.
Property tax
Kansas taxes 11.5% of a home's value. A $250,000 home is assessed at $28,750. Sedgwick County's own levy (28.701 mills) is about $825 of that bill. The county was about a quarter (25.1%) of a typical Wichita bill in 2025, so the whole bill on that home lands near $3,300 a year. Every address is different: the county has more than 175 taxing districts.
When it is due
Bills arrive in November. The first half is due December 20 and the second half May 10. If your loan has an escrow account, your lender pays them for you.
General information to help you plan, not tax advice. For your situation, talk with your CPA.
The housing market
MLS numbers for the Wichita area that update themselves.
$247,000Median sold price, 90 days
55Median days from listing to closing
2.7Months of supply
2,430Homes for sale today
Under 3 months of supply leans toward sellers. Between 3 and 6 is balanced. Over 6 leans toward buyers.
Where to live
Fourteen areas, each with its own guide: homes, market numbers, school districts and what is nearby. Times are to downtown Wichita outside rush hour.
Northwest Wichita
The northwest side of Wichita
- To downtown
- 15 to 20 min
- Districts
- Maize USD 266, Wichita USD 259, Goddard USD 265
West Wichita
The west and southwest side of Wichita
- To downtown
- 15 to 20 min
- Districts
- Goddard USD 265, Haysville USD 261, Wichita USD 259, Maize USD 266
East Wichita
The east side of Wichita
- To downtown
- 10 to 20 min
- Districts
- Wichita USD 259, Andover USD 385
Northeast Wichita
The northeast side of Wichita
- To downtown
- 15 to 25 min
- Districts
- Wichita USD 259, Circle USD 375, Andover USD 385
Delano
Just west of downtown, across the river
- To downtown
- 5 min
- Districts
- Wichita USD 259
Downtown Wichita
The city core, east bank of the Arkansas River
- To downtown
- Route 24
- Districts
- Wichita USD 259
Maize
Northwest edge of the metro
- To downtown
- 20 to 25 min
- Districts
- Maize USD 266
Goddard
West of Wichita on Kellogg
- To downtown
- 20 to 25 min
- Districts
- Goddard USD 265
Valley Center
North of Wichita
- To downtown
- 20 to 25 min
- Districts
- Valley Center USD 262
Park City
North of Wichita along I-135
- To downtown
- 15 to 20 min
- Districts
- Valley Center USD 262, Wichita USD 259
Bel Aire
Northeast edge of Wichita
- To downtown
- 15 to 20 min
- Districts
- Wichita USD 259, Circle USD 375
Derby
Southeast of Wichita
- To downtown
- 20 to 25 min
- Districts
- Derby USD 260
Haysville
Just south of Wichita
- To downtown
- 15 to 20 min
- Districts
- Haysville USD 261
Andover
East of Wichita, Butler County
- To downtown
- 20 to 25 min
- Districts
- Andover USD 385
College Hill
East of downtown, between Hillside and Oliver
- To downtown
- 10 min
- Districts
- Wichita USD 259
Riverside
Just northwest of downtown, between the rivers
- To downtown
- 5 min
- Districts
- Wichita USD 259
Where people work
The largest employers in the region, by local full-time employees (Greater Wichita Partnership, September 2026).
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| The Boeing Company | 13,000 |
| Textron Aviation | 11,000 |
| Wichita Public Schools (USD 259) | 9,100 |
| McConnell Air Force Base | 6,000 |
| Wichita State University | 5,500 |
| City of Wichita | 3,400 |
| Ascension Via Christi | 3,300 |
| Wesley Healthcare | 3,100 |
| Koch Inc. | 3,000 |
| Sedgwick County | 3,000 |
Coming for one of these? Here are the closest guides
McConnell Air Force Base
In southeast Wichita. The host unit is the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, flying the KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135R.
Closest guides: East Wichita, Derby, Andover
Boeing Wichita (formerly Spirit AeroSystems)
Spirit's Wichita commercial operations became part of Boeing on December 8, 2025. The plant is in south Wichita, next to McConnell.
Textron Aviation
Two campuses: West Campus at One Cessna Blvd by the airport, and East Campus, the historic Beechcraft site in east Wichita.
Closest guides: West Wichita, Goddard, East Wichita, Andover, Bel Aire
Wichita State University
The main campus is on 21st Street North at Hillside, northeast of downtown.
Closest guides: Bel Aire, Park City, Downtown Wichita
Getting around
The airport
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) is on the west side, off I-235 and Kellogg. Six airlines (Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Southwest and United) fly nonstop to about 16 cities, some seasonal, including Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
The highways
Kellogg (US-54/400) crosses the city east to west. I-135 runs north and south through the middle, I-235 loops the west and north sides, and K-96 and K-254 connect the northeast. The Kansas Turnpike (I-35) runs along the east side of the metro.
The bus
Wichita Transit runs routes across the city. Route 24 (formerly the Q-Line) runs along Douglas in the daytime, free for now.
The weather
44° / 23°January average high and low (°F)
93° / 70°July average high and low (°F)
34 inRain a year
13 inSnow a year
NOAA normals, 1991 to 2020. Spring and early summer bring strong storms, hail and the occasional tornado. Know where your basement or safest room is, and read the wind and hail deductible on your homeowners policy: it can be a flat amount or a percentage of the home's value.
Schools
Schools are assigned by address and boundaries change. Every area guide lists its districts. For any home we send, we give you the district, and you confirm the schools with the district.
Public districts in the area: Wichita USD 259, Maize USD 266, Goddard USD 265, Derby USD 260, Andover USD 385, Haysville USD 261, Valley Center USD 262 and Circle USD 375.
Colleges: Wichita State University, Friends University, Newman University and WSU Tech.
Healthcare
Wichita has two Level I trauma centers: Ascension Via Christi St. Francis and Wesley Medical Center. Veterans are served by the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center on East Kellogg.
Things to do
Keeper of the Plains
The 44-foot sculpture where the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers meet, with pedestrian bridges over both rivers.
Old Town
Brick streets and old warehouses next to downtown, with restaurants, breweries and a Saturday farm and art market in season.
Riverfront Stadium
Home of the Wichita Wind Surge, the Minnesota Twins Double-A team, on the river.
INTRUST Bank Arena
Concerts, events and Wichita Thunder hockey, downtown.
Sedgwick County Zoo and Botanica
The zoo on the northwest side, and the Botanica gardens along the river.
Wichita Riverfest
The city's festival every early summer, along the river.
Your first 90 days
What almost everyone moving here has to do, in order.
Driver's license
You have 90 days after establishing residency. A valid out-of-state license transfers without testing. Bring proof of lawful presence, your Social Security number, two proofs of a Kansas address and your current license.
Vehicle tags
Kansas license first. Then a VIN inspection with the Kansas Highway Patrol, then a Sedgwick County tag office with your title, insurance and current registration. If your lender holds the title, ask them to send it to you.
Utilities
Electric: Evergy. Gas: Kansas Gas Service or Black Hills Energy, depending on the address. Water and sewer: the City of Wichita (the towns run their own). Trash: in Wichita you pick a private hauler.
Property tax dates
If you buy, mark December 20 and May 10, or confirm your lender pays them through escrow.
Your storm plan
Find the basement or safest room in the house and set up a way to get weather alerts.
How we get you here
Four steps, each with a real time frame, so you can plan the move around your start date.
01
Discovery call
Your start date, where you will work, your budget and what you want your days to look like. We send a short list of areas to look at.
Free · Video or phone · 30 min
02
Video tours
We walk homes and areas with you by video and send notes on each, so you arrive with a short list.
Weekly · As homes come up
03
The visit
We plan the route, the showings and the coffee stops. You leave with a decision, not a longer list.
In person · 1 to 2 days
04
Offer to keys
The offer strategy, every line of the contract, and a list of the plumbers, painters and taco spots you will need.
Usually 30 to 45 days to close
Using a VA loan? Tell us early. The VA appraisal has its own steps, and we plan the dates around your arrival.
Tell us about your move
We send homes that fit the job, the budget and the dates, and walk you through areas by video if you are not here yet.
Questions people ask
Is Wichita expensive to live in?
The cost of living index is 88.8, where the US average is 100 (C2ER, 2024). The median sold price for a home in the area over the last 90 days was $247,000, per the MLS. What moves your cost most is the area, the property tax at that address and insurance.
What are property taxes like?
Kansas taxes 11.5% of a home's value. On a $250,000 home in Wichita, the whole bill lands near $3,300 a year. Each address changes with the city and school district. The math is in the costs section.
Can I buy before I move?
Yes. We tour homes with you by video, send notes on each area, and most of the paperwork signs online. Many buyers make one visit of a day or two to decide.
Which area should I live in?
That is your call. We give you the facts on each area: where it is, the drive to work outside rush hour, the school district and the prices. The 14 area guides have all of it.
Do you work with VA loans and McConnell moves?
Yes. We plan the VA appraisal and the closing dates around your orders and your arrival date.
Do you work in Spanish?
Yes, start to finish. The guide, the calls, the tours and the contract explained in Spanish.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau population estimates (via citypopulation.de and USAFacts)
- Greater Wichita Partnership: cost of living (C2ER 2024)
- Greater Wichita Partnership: major employers
- Kansas income tax brackets 2026
- Wichita sales tax rate
- Kansas grocery sales tax change (KWCH)
- Sedgwick County Treasurer: property tax 101
- Sedgwick County Treasurer: due dates
- Kansas Department of Revenue: driver's license FAQ
- Sedgwick County Tag Office: new residents
- City of Wichita: utilities
- Fly Wichita (ICT)
- NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 (via climate-zone.com)
- Kansas Hospital Association: trauma centers
Ready to plan the move?
Text MOVE to 316-364-7500 and we'll put together a short list of areas and homes for your dates.
Text MOVE