Recommendations for Safe, Inexpensive Smaller Cities/Towns

[Ithuvanian]

You'll find a number of good candidates along the I-135 corridor between Salina and Wichita. McPherson and Newton are large enough for a Walmart supercenter. Lindsborg and Moundridge are smaller, but big enough to support a grocery store and dollar store. The area isn't necessarily booming, but hasn't experienced a population cave-in like many parts of KS, so the towns remain well-kept without being too expensive. I can't vouch for the student loan payoff program, but Hillsboro would also be a good option- it's in one of the eligible counties, not far from those other towns. So if you're thinking of visiting to scout locations, I'd recommend focusing around this area. Folks are pretty laid-back and welcoming toward newcomers (I know because I grew up there ).

Northwestern and north central KS probably has cheaper housing, and a lot of people there seem to love it, but I think it takes a special kind of person to live out there. Southwestern KS is more culturally akin to "The Southwest" than the rest of the state; it has more of a ranching heritage and has recently experienced a boom in meatpacking, and some growing pains along with it. Southeastern KS is sort of an extension of the Ozarks, some very nice scenery but most towns there seem to be struggling. The northeast would be more expensive around KC and the college towns of Manhattan and Lawrence, but I'm not really sure once you get away from those hubs. Kansas has its drawbacks, but it is an underappreciated place; hope it works out for you to move there.

[lanx]

Just choose the bigger cities like Topeka or Lawrence and live on the "safe" side of town, which would be the sw part.