Wichita started out as a trading post on the Chisholm Trail in south-central Kansas, along the banks of the Arkansas River. By the late 1800s, the small city had grown into a major destination for cattle drivers heading north, earning it the nickname "Cowtown." The budding municipality turned its attention skyward in the early 20th century as entrepreneurs and aeronautical engineers flocked here to establish aircraft-manufacturing companies. Boeing's Spirit AeroSystems is the city's largest employer, with about 12,000 workers. Textron Aviation, Learjet and Airbus also operate design and manufacturing facilities in Wichita, keeping the city at the forefront of the aviation industry and earning it the new nickname "Air Capital of the World."
"Wichita is a jewel of a city because we have all of these manufacturers, a strong economy and a strong labor market," says Joe Danler, broker of Berkshire Hathaway Pen Fed Realty, who has lived in Wichita for more than 60 years. "We certainly have one of the highest standards of living in the Midwest." While having a steady job market, Wichita's cost of living is 11% lower than the national average – a significant draw for those who want a big city lifestyle without big city prices.
Wichita residents — or Wichitans — are a diverse and active bunch. They enjoy the outdoors with waterfront activities along the Big Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers. They also take pleasure in creature comforts, such as dining out, watching live music and shopping in one of three artsy downtown enclaves: Delano , Old Town and the Douglas Design District. Wichita neighborhoods vary from Benjamin Hills-Pleasant Valley , with its mid-century bungalows and ranch-style houses built at the height of the city's 1950s housing boom, to manmade-lake communities like Tyler's Landing , Barefoot Bay and Reflection Ridge . There are even neighborhoods with historic homes: Frank Lloyd Wright's Allen House was built in 1918 in College Hill . Wichita proper is surrounded by a ring of smaller cities, sought by homebuyers for their suburban atmospheres and easy commuting distance to downtown. Some, such as Andover, Maize and Goddard, are also known for their highly rated school systems.
Downtown Wichita has an abundance of business opportunities.
Visit the Old Cowtown Museum and learn more about Kansas history in North Riverside.
The F-18's line up side by side as they fly over the crowd in the McConnell AFB Air Show.
Take a look inside the planes at the McConnell AFB Air Show.
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What to do downtown: Local flair meets mesmerizing murals
Wichitans head to Delano and Old Town in Downtown Wichita for dining and nightlife. The vibrant neighborhoods have indoor and outdoor music venues, like Public at the Brickyard and Barlycorn's. Many local restaurants, bars and breweries also keep people out late. The Old Town Farm & Art Market has been a popular weekly event on Saturdays from April to December for more than 30 years.
In the Douglas Design District, immediately east of Old Town at the heart of the city, there are more than 500 locally owned businesses. The artsy 3-mile stretch of Douglas Avenue has everything from meat markets and clothing boutiques to bookstores and florists. Colorful murals grace the facades of storefronts, many of which tell the stories of Wichita. Downtown's Intrust Bank Arena is the second-largest indoor arena in Kansas. Locals from around the metro flock there for everything from minor-league hockey to monster-truck rallies, concerts and rodeos. Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center is just a few blocks from the arena. The multi-purpose center hosts local and touring music ensembles, performing arts shows and speaking tours, among many other events.
Stop by Bite Me BBQ in Wichita for a late night dinner.
River City Brewing Co is one of many local restaurants in Wichita.
Stop by Greater Grounds Coffee for some caffeine in Wichita.
Find plenty of green spaces in Downtown Wichita.
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Riverfront recreation and constant improvements
Wichita earned a 2023 Park Score Ranking of 66 from the Trust for Public Land, and 52% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of one of the city's 144 parks. In recent years, the city's Park and Recreation department completed a range of improvement projects in the Wichita park system to the tune of $30 million. More improvements to athletic courts, playgrounds, aquatics facilities, rec centers and even dog parks are under way all over the city. Also in the works, the splash pads at Osage and Fairmount parks are being revitalized, as are the walking paths and outdoor exercise equipment in Chisholm Creek Park North.
Locals enjoy kayaking and paddleboarding on the Big Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers, which run the length of the city's west-central side. Wichita's biggest outdoor event, Riverfest, has been taking place every spring on the downtown riverfront since 1972. Between the fork where the two rivers split, the Riverside neighborhood is home to several sprawling city parks, as well as the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit, Wichita Art Museum, Old Cowtown Museum and the 17-acre Botanica, The Wichita Gardens. The Keeper of the Plains, a more than 40-foot-tall sculpture of an native-American chief, overlooks the fork itself from behind the Mid-America All-Indian Museum. Locals and visitors can immerse themselves in history in Delano, an Old West-themed district south of Riverside.
For sports fans, the city also hosts the Wichita Thunder ice hockey team — a minor-league affiliate of the Ottawa Senators — and the Wichita Wind Surge baseball team, a Double-A minor-league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Wichita State University fields historically strong men's and women's basketball teams, and the Shockers play home games at Charles Koch Arena.
The Wind-surge is one of two minor-league teams in Wichita.
Watch concerts of big-name artists at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita.
There are several bike paths for Riverside residents to enjoy.
Play a round of pickleball with your friends at South Riverside Park.
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A steady housing market
Wichita is the state's largest city, population-wise. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the city's population grew from 382,368 in 2010 to 397,532 in 2020, an increase of nearly 4%. Census Bureau statistics reflect a decrease of 0.3% in the period between April 2020 and July 2022, when the population numbered 396,192. But home sales have increased recently. In late 2024, there was a 1.7-month supply of homes on the market. Compared to the national average of just over 3.5 months, this means that homes in Wichita tend to sell faster than in the average U.S. city. A market report from the Realtors of South Central Kansas finds there were more than 1,300 active listings in December 2023, an increase from just over 1,040 active listings in December 2022. Median price for the metro area was about $282,000 in mid-2024, down about a percentage point year-over-year.
“Housing is relatively inexpensive compared to our neighboring states,” says Danler. “We may not be as big as Oklahoma City, Denver or Kansas City, but we’re comparable in terms of job production, while having more affordable homes.”
Barefoot Bay is a stunning neighborhood surrounded by recreational activities.
This Delano Township home is truly a work of art.
Many of the homes throughout Delano Township are located along the water.
College Hill has many well-kept historic mansions; like this Tudor-influenced home.
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Kindergarten through doctoral programs
Wichita Public Schools earned a district-wide B-minus grade from Niche in 2024. A non-partisan, elected school board governs the school system. In 2024, four elementary and two middle schools were shut down in order to address a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall. There are several highly sought-after school systems in the surrounding metro as well. Of Niche's top-rated schools in Kansas for 2025, Andover Public Schools, Maize Unified School District 266 and Goddard Unified School District 265 come in at No. 4, No. 12 and No. 14, respectively. Andover receives an A, while Maize and Goddard get an A-minus.
Niche's top two private schools in Kansas for 2025 are in Wichita. Wichita Collegiate School earns the top spot, while The Independent School is ranked No. 2, with each earning an A-plus. Other top 20 options include Classical School of Wichita and Trinity Academy, ranked seventh and eighth in the state, respectively, both with A-minus grades.
Wichita State University offers degree programs from bachelor's through doctoral levels. This public research university is ranked No. 93 by Niche for the best information technology program in the country. Friends University, a small, private Christian institution, offers seven bachelor's degree programs and nine master's degree programs and is ranked the 76th best Christian college in the country.
Some primary students in West Wichita go to Benton Elementary School in the area.
Kids can attend Wichita Collegiate School.
After graduating Middle School, students can attend Southeast High School.
Wichita State University, located in Fairmount, is the largest research school in Kansas.
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Getting around Wichita
Interstates 35, 135 and 235, as well as U.S. routes 54 and 400, run around and through Wichita. Just a roughly 10-minute drive southwest of the city center, the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport offers nonstop flights to 14 major destinations across the country. For everyday commuting, Wichita Transit provides bus service throughout the metro. In 2019, the city became the first in Kansas to add emission-free buses to its fleet. There are 11 of the 100% electric buses in operation right now, and Wichita Transit plans to add seven more battery-powered demand-response paratransit models. The Q Line is a free bus service with more than 200 stops scattered through downtown neighborhoods such as Delano and the Douglas Design District, popular for bar-hopping. Locals can also take advantage of Wichita's increasing number of bike lanes by using the Bike Share ICT rent-and-ride program.
Decrease in crime in 5 years
According to FBI statistics, Wichita has property and violent crime rates above the national average. The city experienced nearly a 16% decrease in reported property crimes between 2018 and 2023. Reported violent crime incidents dropped more than 5% during the same period. At the beginning of 2024, Wichita started the Cure Violence program with the goal of preventing gun violence, specifically in the northeastern and southern sections of the city.
A city susceptible to tornadoes
Wichita is regarded as one of the windiest cities in the United States, which is due to sinking air coming from the Rocky Mountains to the west. Wichita is part of Tornado Alley, a region susceptible to tornadoes particularly from April through June, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began recording tornadoes in 1950. Since then, Wichita has averaged around four a year. Many of those tornadoes don't touch down for long, causing minimal damage. Surrounding towns and counties are typically impacted by tornadoes more than Wichita. Andover was hit by two destructive tornadoes between 1991 and 2022, both in April. The first one was an F5, killing 17 people and destroying 300 homes. The second one was an F3, damaging 21 homes and more than 1,000 buildings. Wichita and surrounding Sedgwick County do not have public tornado shelters. However, many houses are built with shelters and/or basements, which is known to be the safest part of a home during a tornado. Some nearby towns, such as Andover, do have tornado shelters.
Despite the threat of tornadoes, Wichitans enjoy all four seasons with the average low temperature at 25 degrees in the winter and average highs at 93 degrees during summer.
Joe Danler, Broker Associate, your friend in the real estate business for sound advice for any real estate matter. Whether your thinking of selling, buying or leasing call Joe. Over 25years experience selling homes in the Wichita area, Joe has the experience and expertise to ensure your home purchase or sale will be as smooth as possible!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
