Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Manhattan, Kansas
Home to Kansas State University, Leafy Manhattan Often Lands on "Best Places to Live" Lists and Has a Distinct Collegiate Atmosphere
In gently rolling northeastern Kansas, leafy Manhattan, also known as the "Little Apple," is the home of Kansas State University (25,000 students) and has a distinct collegiate ambiance. It was founded by a group of New England "Free Staters" in the 1850s and became the site of KSU in 1863.
Manhattan is often noted as a "best place to live," with much of life revolving around the university. Locals enjoy KSU ballets, concerts and theater performances throughout the year. The university's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art receives rave reviews. Bill Snyder Family Stadium brims with 50,000 lively footfall fans every autumn Saturday afternoon. "Aggieville," a section of town with about 100 stores and restaurants, is a popular destination following games. KSU also boasts an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) for anyone lucky enough to be age 50 or better. Downtown has an eclectic mix of shops, art galleries, bookstores, coffeehouses and restaurants. The attractive Manhattan Town Center Mall is home to national retailers. Tuttle Creek Reservoir, on the north edge of town, is the place for water fun.
Fort Riley (population 25,000) protected Manhattan during the 19th-century "Bloody Kansas" period and is still located southwest of the city. Many military families call Manhattan home. Neighborhoods west of KSU tend to be quieter than the student-dense areas around campus.
Population: 55,000 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 20%
Cost of Living: 18% below the national average
Median Home Price: $310,000
Climate: Summer temperatures are in the 80s and 90s, and humidity is high. Winter temperatures are in the teens, 20s and 30s. On average, the area receives 30 inches of rain and 20 inches of snow per year. Winter skies are often overcast.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? Yes
At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission? Yes
Public Transit: Yes, but it is limited.
Crime Rate: Meets the national average
Public Library: Yes
Political Leanings: Conservative
College Educated: 52%
Is Kansas Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Somewhat
Cons: Manhattan is in "Tornado Alley' and has a tornado risk 175% above the national average. The poverty rate is above the national average, but this is attributed to the large student population.
Notes: The city has maintained its population during the last decade, and home prices have increased 7% since last year.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes
Kansas:
Kansas is named after the Kansas River which flows through it and was for thousands of years the home of various Native American tribes. After years of conflict between New England Free Staters and pro-slavery factions from Missouri, Kansas entered the Union as a free state in 1861.
Today, Kansas is one of the country's most productive agricultural regions and is carpeted with waving wheat and sunflower fields.
Famous people from Kansas include John Brown (abolitionist), Kirstie Alley (actress), Walter Chrysler (automaker), Bob Dole (politician) and Amelia Earhart (aviator).
It is said that Kansas has 6,000 ghost towns.
Webwerxx, Inc. Copyright (c) 2006-2024. All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced in any way without the express written consent of Webwerxx, Inc. Reproducing any original part of this publication without written permission from Webwerxx, Inc. is plagiarism. Numerous attempts were made to verify the accuracy of the information contained in this website, but some information may have changed since each article and/or report went online, and Webwerxx, Inc. is not liable for inaccurate information contained in its articles and/or reports.