Moving to Kansas

Kansas, otherwise known as ‘The Sunflower State’, is a wonderful state to work and live. If you are moving or relocating to KS, we have composed a comprehensive list of some important facts and useful information to help make your move an easy transition.

Geography

Located in the West North Central Region of the country, Kansas is bordered by Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. With a total land area of over 82,276.84 Square Miles, it comes in as the 15th largest state.

Population

Currently, the population of KS is 2,907,289 making it the 15th least populated state in the union and the 9th least densely populated. The state capital, Topeka, has a population of 122377. which is the 22nd smallest capital in the country.

Notable Kansans

Kansas is home to various famous and some infamous people such as, Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle a memorable actor is from Smith Center and Clarence D Batchelor a prominent political cartoonist is from Osage City. Others include people like Gwendolyn Brooks a poet and Walter P Chrysler a auto manufacturer .

Climate

Kansas lies in the central Great Plains, straddling the transition from relatively abundant precipitation in the southeast, supporting forests and rain-fed agriculture, to semi-arid conditions in the west. The state is far from the moderating effects of oceans and temperatures vary widely across seasons. The statewide average temperature is 31.3°F in the winter and 76.6°F in the summer.

The last decade has been one of the warmest on record for Kansas, surpassed only by the extreme heat of the 1930s Dust Bowl era when extreme drought and poor land management likely exacerbated the hot summer temperatures. Many record high temperatures were set during the summer of 2012, which was the hottest year on record with an average temperature of 58.2°F. One notable trend is an increase in spring temperatures that has persisted over the last three decades, which has implications for crop planting. Summer temperatures have been near to above average during the 2000s. There is no long trend in very warm nights and extremely hot days, although both have been slightly above average over the past five years. The number of very cold nights has been below average since 1990. The freeze-free season has also lengthened, averaging 9 days longer in the 21st century than the 20th century average.

Crime Statistics

Safety and security should always be an important factor when relocating to a new location. A state’s crime rate affects more than just the security of its resident, it intensely affects property value, economics and the overall quality of life. Based on the last FBI Crime Statistics, Kansas’s violent crime rate is 34 per 10k residents which is less than the national average of 37.3. In addition, the state’s property crime rate is 273per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 248.7.

Kansas ranks #24 in the US for violent crime and #23 for property crime.

Schools & Education

Whether you are a student, have children, or neither, a state’s educational system is not only important to those attending, it’s vital to the overall quality of life, culture and economics of the state. Based on data from multiple public and private sources, we were able to rank Kansas’s educational system.

Overall Grade: C

Kansas spends on average $11628.00 per pupil, which is less than the national average ($11,900). KS ranks #27 in the US compared to the rest of the country. While KS ranks #27 in spending, the latest graduation rate is 85.70%%.

Another important factor is the percentage of families that enroll their young children (ages 3-4) in an accredited pre-school program. Kansas ranks #28 with over 43.60% of children attending a early educational program.

Taxes

The current income tax rate for Kansas is 4.60% which ranks 15th favorable amongst other states. If you are purchasing property, you may want to consider the the property tax burden rate. This is the amount you pay in taxes per $1000 earned. KS’s rate is $31.23 which ranks 32nd in the US.

Currently, KS sales tax is $29.24 for which it comes in as 38th compared to other states.

Sports

Kansas fans are not only passionate but also very unwavering to their local major league teams. Kansas is home to the following teams: and the Sporting Kansas City .

Utility Companies

Before you move to Kansas, it’s advised that you know who your utility companies are. We have an extensive list of both public and private utility companies in KS.

Other Resources

For more information about moving to Kansas, visit their website at http://www.accesskansas.org/