Arkansas City Commercial Historic District · Jeffrey Beall / CC BY 3.0"Boomers Camp. Arkansas City, Kan. Waiting For the Strip To Open Mar. 1st, 1893." - NARA - 516453 · Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided / Public domainOld Arkansas City High School · Jeffrey Beall / CC BY 3.0
Arkansas City is a small city of 11,997 in Kansas, with a median household income of $49,177
and a 6.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Arkansas City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Arkansas City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Arkansas City city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 85.9
Arkansas City's overall cost of living index is 85.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Arkansas City costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Arkansas City, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$78,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$755
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,177
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Arkansas City's violent crime rate is 401.7 per 100,000 residents
— 6% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
401.7 /100k
Property Crime
2170.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Arkansas City is served primarily by Arkansas City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Arkansas City, KS
National Avg
School District
Arkansas City
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Arkansas City sees average highs of 45.6°F in January
and 91.9°F in July,
with 39.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 6.2 inches of snow per year.
Arkansas City's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Arkansas City roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $78,500 and median rent is $755/month.
Arkansas City's violent crime rate is 401.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2170.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Arkansas City are operated by Arkansas City.
The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Arkansas City, KS has a population of 11,997, a median household income of $49,177, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Arkansas City averages 45.6°F in January and 91.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.1 inches
with about 6.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Arkansas City, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 67005.
The population of Arkansas City, Kansas is 11,997 with a median age of 35.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Arkansas City: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $78,500, median household income $49,177, crime index 105 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Arkansas City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
