| Index | Atchison | Kansas | National |
| Cost of living | 84 | 90 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 58 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 94 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 92 | 93 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Atchison is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Atchison is 84, which is 16% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that Atchison stands out by reporting housing costs that are 41.8% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more manageable portion of their income to housing, resulting in greater financial flexibility.
Is Atchison an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Atchison, the median home price is 46% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 31.8% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Atchison come in at $72,556, which is 10.8% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Atchison, the groceries index is 3.5% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Atchison starts at 6.5% and the income tax rates start at 3.1%.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
The Atchison cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $90,847 | $7,571 | $2,120 | $2,726 |
| Renters | $41,025 | $3,419 | $957 | $1,231 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Kansas | 6.5% | 11.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Kansas | 3.1% | 4.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Iatan, MO | 16 | 96 | 4.4% |
| Huron, KS | 56 | 73 | 27.4% |
| Severance, KS | 79 | 76 | 24.1% |
| Rushville, MO | 299 | 79 | 21.4% |
| Lancaster, KS | 357 | 81 | 19.3% |
| Atchison, KS | 10,863 | 84 | 15.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Shelton, WA | 10,858 | 108 | 7.8% |
| North Branch, MN | 10,855 | 103 | 2.6% |
| Petal, MS | 10,849 | 90 | 10.3% |
| Avon Park, FL | 10,877 | 89 | 11.3% |
| Martin, TN | 10,847 | 90 | 10.0% |
| Atchison, KS | 10,863 | 84 | 15.6% |
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