The City of Abilene, Kansas has been recognized by NerdWallet, Inc. as one of the ten best cities in Kansas for young families.
NerdWallet, Inc. rates communities from each state using a methodology that looks at school
quality, median home value, monthly homeowner costs, median household income, and income change between 1999 and
2011.
Other cities included in the Top Ten were: Andover, Hays, Spring Hill, Gardner, Mulvane, De Soto, Eudora, Overland Park,
Leawood, and Abilene. Of these communities, only Hays and Abilene are not located in proximity to a major metropolitan
area. The City of Hays has Fort Hays State University, which is a Kansas Board of Regents university.
Abilene is the only Kansas community included in the Top Ten not located in a major metropolitan area or with a university.
“Abilene’s inclusion on this list shows that the community is a great place for young families to call home,” says Mayor John
Ray. “The City continues to work on ways to make Abilene more attractive to young families and other demographics.” Some
of the initiatives currently being undertaken in Abilene is the development of a Special Tourism and Commerce District to
encourage the development of a niche retail experience in the National Downtown Historic District.
Abilene’s Economic Development Council is reviewing several proposals for incentives that will allow downtown development
projects to be more feasible for private investors. Such incentives may include an “enhanced” Neighborhood Revitalization
District and the use of industrial revenue bonds to provide sales tax exemption and potential tax abatement on major
revitalization projects.
“Young families are looking for communities with employment opportunities, affordable housing, and great schools,” says
Mayor Ray. “Walk and bikeability and general safety are also major considerations for young families. The overall framework
being discussed in Abilene will create the physical and social infrastructure needed to ensure that Abilene remains a great
place for young and old families alike.”
The City of Abilene is in the early stages of planning the Abilene Cowboy Trail. The trail will create safe pedestrian and
bicycle routes for residents and visitors to travel to various venues throughout the community such as schools, tourist
attractions, and downtown retail establishments.
Sixty-one Kansas and areas designated as places by the U.S. Census Bureau were included in the analysis. Only places
with populations greater than 5,000 were considered.
NerdWallet, Inc. has been featured on the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, and Reuters. More
information about the NerdWallet, Inc. may be found online at: https://www.nerdwallet.com.