City Profile

Hutchinson, Kansas

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Hutchinson, Kansas, affectionately known as 'Hutch,' is a historic Midwestern hub located along the Arkansas River in Reno County. Founded in 1871 and famously built over one of the world's largest deposits of rock salt, the city blends rich industrial heritage with a tight-knit community feel. It is widely recognized for hosting the annual Kansas State Fair and for housing world-class attractions like the Cosmosphere space museum and Strataca, the underground salt mine. People are drawn to Hutchinson for its small-town charm, affordable living, and robust local economy rooted in manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare.

About Kansas

Kansas, known as the "Sunflower State," offers a blend of rural charm and urban development, characterized by friendly communities and a relaxed pace of life. Its economy is diverse, with major industries including agriculture (a leading producer of wheat, corn, and sorghum), aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and professional services. Living in Kansas is generally affordable, with a cost of living approximately 10-15% lower than the national average, particularly for housing. The state experiences four distinct seasons with warm to hot summers, mild to cold winters, and moderate humidity, though it is prone to severe weather like thunderstorms and tornadoes, especially in spring and early summer.

40,000

Population

$51K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

64.1

Quality Score

How this 64/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 68 / 100	68.0	30%	20.4
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 82.0	66.3	25%	16.6
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $53,500 Income needed to live here: $42,000 Unemployment rate: 3.5%	70.2	20%	14.0
Growth	Population growth rate: no usable reading Job growth rate: 1.2%	44.0	15%	6.6
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 65 / 100	65.0	10%	6.5
Overall score				64.1

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 16 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Hutchinson is notably lower than the national average, making it an attractive destination for families, retirees, and first-time homebuyers. Housing costs, in particular, sit well below national benchmarks, allowing residents to secure spacious properties for a fraction of what they would pay in major metropolitan areas. Everyday expenses such as groceries, utilities, and transportation also track lower than the U.S. norm, ensuring that household budgets stretch further.

Downward cost pressures are driven primarily by abundant regional housing supply and reasonable agricultural production costs in central Kansas. While utility rates can experience seasonal fluctuations due to hot summers and cold winters, they remain manageable compared to coastal urban centers. Overall, Hutchinson offers exceptional financial breathing room for individuals seeking a high quality of life without the crushing overhead of larger cities.

Average Rent

$850/mo

Groceries

$380/mo

Transport

$310/mo

Utilities

$175/mo

Healthcare

$230/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$40.00

Cinema ticket

$11.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$18.00

Monthly groceries

$350.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$120.00

Income

Salary Insights

Hutchinson boasts a resilient and diversified economy anchored by manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and retail trade. Major employers such as Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, Collins Aerospace, and local agricultural cooperatives provide a stable foundation of jobs for the region. The city also actively fosters a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem supported by local economic development initiatives and regional technical colleges.

While traditional blue-collar and manufacturing sectors continue to drive the local labor market, remote work has gained steady traction among residents seeking affordable housing paired with reliable high-speed internet infrastructure. Workforce development programs in partnership with Hutchinson Community College help align local talent pipelines with the evolving needs of regional industries. This dynamic creates steady employment prospects and a welcoming environment for small business growth.

The average salary in Hutchinson is $51,000 per year. You would need approximately $42,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +0.80% Manufacturing +1.40% Healthcare +2.10% Educational Services +1.00% Agriculture & Mining +0.50%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

58°F

Avg Temp

☀️

87°F

Summer High

❄️

22°F

Winter Low

🌧️

33.50"

Annual Rain

💧

65.00%

Humidity

🌤️

279

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Hutchinson is predominantly car-dependent, though the city's compact grid layout makes driving straightforward and efficient. Average commute times are remarkably short compared to major urban areas, giving residents more free time in their daily routines. Street parking is generally ample and free throughout the downtown commercial district and residential neighborhoods.

While public transit options are limited, specialized services cater to seniors and individuals with mobility needs. Walkability is high in the historic downtown core and immediate surrounding residential grids, though suburban expansions require vehicular travel for daily errands. Cycling is popular recreationally, with ongoing city initiatives working to expand bike lane infrastructure.

17 min

Avg Commute

35.00/10

Transit Score

58.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Median home prices in Hutchinson are significantly lower than the national average per U.S. Census data.

Average commute times under 17 minutes provide superior daily quality of life.

Home to world-class educational and cultural assets including the Cosmosphere and Strataca.

Abundant outdoor recreational spaces, including the expansive Carey Park and local trail systems.

Strong local healthcare infrastructure anchored by the Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System.

Drawbacks

Limited public transportation options necessitate high car dependency for daily errands.

Hot summer temperatures and cold winter winds require higher seasonal utility management.

Slower job growth rates in certain traditional sectors compared to major Kansas metropolitan hubs.

Limited nightlife and entertainment options for young adults seeking a fast-paced urban scene.

Vulnerability to severe weather typical of central Kansas, including occasional high winds and storms.

Head to Head

Compare Hutchinson

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Community Q&A

Questions about Hutchinson

What people ask about living in and moving to Hutchinson, Kansas.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.