Kansas Senior Living Options & Resources

Senior Living in Kansas: What You Need to Know

Kansas is home to 486,659 seniors aged 65 and older, representing 16.6% of the state's 2.9 million residents. With a median age of 37.2 and a growing retiree population drawn to the state's affordable cost of living and community-oriented values, Kansas offers a welcoming environment for aging adults. The state's 43 senior living communities are distributed across 10 cities, with the greatest concentration in the Kansas City metropolitan suburbs and Wichita, providing diverse options for independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care.

The geographic distribution of senior living communities reflects Kansas's population centers. Overland Park leads with 13 communities, followed by Wichita with 10, offering the most comprehensive range of senior care options. The Kansas City metro area—including Overland Park, Prairie Village, Leawood, and Lenexa—accounts for more than half of the state's senior living inventory, providing access to world-class healthcare through systems like The University of Kansas Health System and AdventHealth. Central Kansas cities such as Hutchinson and Great Bend, along with the college town of Lawrence, round out the state's senior living landscape with community-focused options.

Kansas presents exceptional value for seniors and their families, with assisted living costs averaging $5,192 per month and nursing home semi-private rooms at $8,164 monthly—both significantly below national averages of $5,900 and $9,277 respectively. This 12% cost advantage, combined with the state's median household income of $72,639, makes quality senior care more accessible. The state's healthcare infrastructure is anchored by major systems including Stormont Vail Health in Topeka, Ascension Via Christi in Wichita, and numerous critical access hospitals serving rural communities.

Kansas's four-season climate, characterized by warm summers and moderate winters, appeals to retirees who appreciate changing seasons without extreme cold. The state's small-town charm, low crime rates, and strong sense of community create an ideal environment for aging in place. Kansas offers several programs to support seniors, including the KanCare program (the state's Medicaid managed care system) and multiple Home and Community-Based Services waivers that help seniors receive care in the least restrictive setting possible, whether that's at home or in residential care facilities.