What It Is Like to Retire in Wichita |
As the largest city in Kansas, Wichita is also the county seat of Sedgwick County with a diverse population of 397,532, according to the 2020 Census. The city began as a trading post, and was also known for cattle drives that traveled from Texas to Wichita which gave rise to the nickname “Cowtown.” Today the city is home to parks, schools of higher education, and museums, along with cultural events and entertainment venues. As an aircraft production hub, Wichita is known as the Air Capital of the World. Photo of Downtown Wichita viewed from the west bank of the Arkansas River (2010) courtesy of spacefem - Wichita; photo of Campbell Castle in Wichita’s Riverside neighborhood courtesy of Wikipedia and Jeffrey Beall; photo of Darius Sales Munger House in Cowtown Wichita, courtesy of Wikipedia and UNOBUDO, Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/
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Where to Retire in Wichita and Home Prices |
Wichita is made up of several neighborhoods which includes ones that are close to downtown, parks and historic neighborhoods. According to Zillow, the median home value was $177,528.
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What Is Special about Wichita |
The city of Wichita offers parks, museums, sporting and cultural events, and is home to several schools of higher education. |
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What Is Not Special about Wichita |
The crime rate is high; Wichita is located in Tornado Alley |
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Who Will Like Retirement in Wichita |
Wichita is a college town that offers a low cost of living, public transportation, hospitals, and an active library. The senior center features community education, exercise, entertainment and several programs and services. |
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Local Economy Is Driven by |
Wichita had established aircraft manufacturing companies since the 1920s, and the city is still known as a production hub for aircraft which includes AeroSystems and Airbus. It is also the birthplace of well-known restaurants such as White Castle and Pizza Hut, and is home to oil and gas organizations, along with headquarters of Koch Industries and Cargill. The main drivers of the economy are manufacturing and health care. |
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Climate and Physical Environment |
Located on the Arkansas River, Wichita's average January temperature is 33 degrees, with July's average at 82 degrees. The state of Kansas is in the heart of Tornado Aley and Wichita has seen it's fair share. |
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Restaurants & Cultural Scene |
There are many restaurants here from delis and cafes to steakhouses and breweries. The city also offers a lot to choose from culturally with museums, arts, parks, a zoo, and an ice center. There are annual events that include the Wichita Riverfest, Autumn & Art, and Illuminations Botanica Wichita. |
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