Ulysses is rural and remote but rich in community connection
Ulysses is a small southwest Kansas city with a friendly community and quiet surroundings. "There are a lot of people who were born and raised here, but also people who moved here from other states because they've heard about how peaceful it is," says Dianna Olivas, board of education administrative assistant and lifelong resident of Ulysses. The county seat of Grant County is named after Ulysses S. Grant and is home to about 5,800 residents. "It's so diverse here, and there's a good mix of Filipino, Mexican, German and American residents," Olivas says. "Everyone gets along with one another and looks out for one another. It's a very safe place to live and raise a family." The rural area is far from any big city and surrounded by farms as far as the eye can see. But an involved school district, city parks with a range of amenities and relatively inexpensive housing keep lifelong residents like Olivas around.
Homes surround the community water tower in Ulysses.
Ulysses delivers a quiet small‑town atmosphere with many amenities nearby.
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Home prices are well below the national median
Cape Cods, bungalows and ranch-style homes along the area's gridded streets and in small pocket neighborhoods range between $60,000 and $230,000. Trees shade lawns and sidewalks, and alleyways lead to detached garages or sheds behind small backyards. Many homes south of Oklahoma Avenue are manufactured homes, ranging between $70,000 and $160,000. Some split-level homes, brick ramblers and New Traditional homes from the past few decades sell between $230,000 and $350,000. The median sale price for single-family homes in Ulysses is around $175,000, less than half the national median.
Ulysses features Cape Cod–style homes that add charm to family‑friendly blocks.
Ulysses features many ranch homes with space for growing families.
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The district offers free summer meals and extra academic support
Ulysses United School District 214 has four schools, which teach about 2,000 students. Nearly 30% of the city's residents are under 18, according to the 2020 census. From prekindergarten through second grade, students learn at Hickok Elementary School, rated B by Niche. Sullivan Elementary School and Kepley Middle School both get a C, while Ulysses High School earns a B-minus. Olivas explains that the district regularly provides accommodation for students needing extra help. "Whether it's a tutor, paraprofessional or something else, the district helps out," she says. Additionally, the district offers free grab-and-go lunches to all residents under 18 throughout the summer, regardless of financial status. "The superintendent and staff are wonderful and care about the well-being of their students in addition to giving them a good education," Olivas says.
Kepley Middle School receives a C grade from Niche.
Ulysses High School is a great schooling option after kids graduate from middle school.
Hickok Elementary School is a popular choice for younger students in the city.
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Sports, gardening and leisure activities at Ulysses city parks
Frazier Park is an outdoor retreat with an RV campground, an 18-hole public golf course, sand volleyball courts and pavilions. Visitors can hike around the fishing lake, and the city asks park-goers to refrain from picking wildflowers to improve the area's floral diversity and keep pollinators around. Youth baseball leagues and the high school baseball team play at Grant County Recreation Ball Park and Carrithers Complex, which have six diamonds between them, two soccer fields and outdoor racquetball courts. Basketball players and gardeners can enjoy Barb Dye Park's court and community garden. During the summer's hottest days, Grant County Swimming Pool is full of people from all over the county.
Frazier Park has a wide variety of activities to enjoy.
Take an afternoon stroll along the trails at Frazier Park.
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Community unity led to a bold move and new beginnings
Arguably, Ulysses' most unique characteristic is its bizarre history. The original town was flourishing in the late 1800s, but crippling debt, extreme property taxes and a dwindling population left it with little to show in the early 1900s. So, the remaining residents decided to move Ulysses' last few buildings about three miles west, where they'd be free from their existing bonds and released from debilitating debt. Over three months in 1909, buildings were loaded onto skids and wagons and pulled by horses to their new location. Old Ulysses was left with only a brick school building, and New Ulysses could attract new residents again. Little evidence remains of the move, but the story is told in Ulysses as an example of community determination and unity.
Artwork and murals can be found on walls throughout Ulysses.
Residents enjoy visiting a variety of shops throughout Ulysses.
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The small downtown area comes to life each Tuesday evening
Main Street has locally owned restaurants, specialty shops and a movie theater. The Grant County Farmers and Makers Market takes place each Tuesday evening on the corner of Grant Avenue and Main Street. "It's a big deal, and everyone goes," Olivas says. Vendors sell everything from fresh produce to local meat to handmade crafts, and local restaurants set up booths and trailers with specialty menu items. Cuisine in Ulysses reflects the area's diversity, and there are many Hispanic restaurants, including Alejandro's, La Estrella and El Ranchito Café. Fast-food chains are on West Oklahoma Avenue, and residents do their grocery shopping at Lowe's Market or one of two dollar stores.
Residents enjoy a range of dining choices across Ulysses.
Ulysses features a variety of places to eat around town.
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Surrounded by farmland but connected by two highways
U.S. Route 160 and Kansas Highway 25 intersect in the middle of Ulysses and connect to other small communities in the region. Garden City and Dodge City are larger and more prominent southwest Kansas cities, 50 and 75 miles away, respectively. Garden City Regional Airport has domestic flights and is about 65 miles northeast. CommonSpirit Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital is in Ulysses.
Written By
Heather Haggerty
Photography Contributed By
Bob Yukich
Video By
Grace Kim
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Ulysses, KS sell after 56 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Ulysses, KS over the last 12 months is $186,750, up 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome home to 38.6± private acres just outside Ulysses, KS! This beautifully remodeled 1980 home offers 3,174± sq ft, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, an office, and a dream kitchen with a commercial range. Enjoy fresh apples and pears from your own trees, room to roam, and everything set up for horses or cattle-multiple pastures, a connecting alleyway, a 36'x48' barn, and a roping arena. Country living
Grant County, Kansas - 138.4 Acres | CRP Income, Recreational, & Investment/Development OpportunityThis 138.4-acre property in Grant County, Kansas offers an outstanding combination of dependable CRP income, Recreational potential, and long-term investment value. Enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) through 2031, the property generates approximately $5,450 in annual
This southwest Kansas full section of agricultural property features 413 base acres of productive tillable cropland and +/-204 acres enrolled in CRP. There are two CRP contracts in place that produce a total of more than $8,000 in yearly payments. With an entire contiguous section, this property is convenient for local producer and it also provides a good investment opportunity for a absentee
Located in the Southeast quarter of Section 7, Township 29, Range 35 in Grant County, Kansas, this 148.2 +/- acre property offers an exceptional combination of dependable CRP income, producing natural gas revenue, intact mineral rights, and quality native grassland habitat.The property is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), generating approximately $7,038 annually ($46.35 per
Discover 1,600 acres of fertile farmland northwest of Ulysses, Kansas, in Grant County. This expansive property, featuring mostly irrigated cropland, is ideal for growing various grains and silage. The land consists primarily of fertile Class II and III soils, with all sections connected by underground piping and GT water rights. This portfolio is conveniently located just northwest of Ulysses
Located in the Southeast Quarter of Section 7, Township 29, Range 35 in Grant County, Kansas, this 148.2 +/- acre property offers a rare combination of dependable income, intact mineral rights, native grassland, and recreational value. The property is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), generating approximately $7,038 annually ($46.35 per enrolled acre). An established local
2 bedroom country home on 2.7 acres with round-top just off of blacktop north of US HWY 160 about 10 miles east of Ulysses, Kansas for sale by Private Auction- bid by phone- through Chris Faulkner, Owner/Broker of Faulkner Real Estate, Inc. Phone bidding will not end prior to Tuesday August 25, 2026. Call 620-356-5808 today to learn the current high bid or to place your bids by phone. This
Country living at its finest! Just 8 miles east of town, close enough for convenience, far enough for peace and quiet. This very well cared for 5 bedroom, 3 bath brick home offers nearly 3,200 sf of living space on 4.6 acres, with an open concept layout and generous living spaces made for Sunday dinners, movie nights, and everything in between. Main floor laundry adds everyday ease, and the
Lovely Cul De Sac 425 E Grant Ct in Ulysses is ready for a new owner.This home has 3 bedrooms on the main level, the full basement has a large family room, a bedroom, an office, storage room and a bathroom. The laundery room is conveniently on the main floor. Call your favorite lender, get ready and call me for a look. Faulkner Real Estate 620-356-5808 see all our listings at
Lovely home in a great location. Sits on a large corner lot. 3 beds/2 baths, partial basement. There is a screened-in porch area for outdoor entertainment. Fenced-in backyard, 24x24 detached shop, plus a storage shed. Plenty of areas for all your hobbies. The house has a huge family room that is perfect for holidays. This is a wonderful house you have to see. Call Bobbi at Faulkner Real Estate
Contact Stutzman Realty & Auction to schedule a showing of this beautifully updated brick home situated on a corner lot on the eastern side of Ulysses. Built in 1963, this spacious home offers a total of 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, with 2 non-conforming bedrooms located in the basement. Featuring a total of 3,559 square feet, the home provides an open layout with generous living space throughout.
This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home has so much charm and plenty of cute updates throughout! You'll love all the natural light, the extra-large double car garage, and the full sprinkler system. It's also in a great location close to schools and downtown. Comfortable, convenient, and full of character, this is such a cute home with so much to offer! Contact me today to set up a showing - Angela Lopez
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