7 Best Neighborhoods In Wichita For Singles And Young Professionals
Alex is the founder of 9Kilo Moving, which he started to help people easily find and choose the right moving company to make their move as stress-free and seamless as possible. He has spent over 20 years working in the moving industry, so he knows every aspect of the business and uses his knowledge to write about the industry and give moving advice.
Wichita is just a little bit more than your usual, run-of-the-mill, small city. However, it is home to a strong and growing economy, making it a great place for singles and youngsters looking to start their careers, look for better jobs, or even put down roots.
If you do decide to move here and want to scope out the area a bit, we suggest you drive into town. You get to experience every nook and cranny of the area and there is very less traffic. Moreover, affordable housing, a strong country club culture, and over 30 museums, art galleries, theaters, stadiums, and zoos make this city that much more worthy of a few years of your life. All that being said, you will need to choose a neighborhood that suits your needs the best. So, here’s a list of the best neighborhoods in Wichita for singles and young professionals.
Best Neighborhoods In Wichita For Singles And Young Professionals
College Hill
This is a historic neighborhood in the city of Wichita that was planned as a series of developments in the 1880s. The name ‘College Hill’ comes from the plans that were drafted for a college to be built in this area around the same time. The college moved to Winfield, but the name stayed with this place.
College Hill is located in the southern part of the city, right next to the US 400 that passes through Wichita and connects Kansas to Missouri and Colorado. This neighborhood is also less than 3 miles from Downtown Wichita. So, commuting for work or vacation is going to be equally easy. There’s an eclectic mix of places that you can visit in College Hill. The few that caught our eye are the Lincoln Heights Shopping Center, the Wichita Community Theater, and the Allen-Lambe House.
The best part is, you get to walk down the brick-paved streets of this neighborhood to a house that suits your style the best. You can choose between a historic mansion-style home, a modern-style home, a cottage-esque home, or any other style of home that you choose to buy from this beautiful neighborhood.
Median Home Value: $170,000
Monthly Rent: $662
Median Household Income: $62,982
Westlink
Westlink is a tiny neighborhood on the west side of the city and is just a few miles away from the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. The specialty of this neighborhood is that you’ll find amazing homes as well as commercial buildings here since it’s a mixed commercial and residential neighborhood. However, even if you don’t find a job in the area itself, you can easily drive Downtown with a 7-mile drive.
The best part is, Westlink is surrounded by parks. The 38-acre-wide Buffalo Park is one of the people’s favorites. However, Swanson Park and Brown Thrush Park are great alternatives if you are in the mood to explore. You also have access to the Rolling Hills Country Club. This is a private club with a 19-hole golf course located on the banks of Cowskin Creek.
When it comes to shopping or having a night on the town in general, you can visit the Westlink Shopping Center. However, that is the only strip mall in this part of the city and you will have to drive a little bit to the east to find more options. Although small, the relatively active and accessible neighborhood of Westlink is one of the best places for singles to move into.
Median Home Value: $200,000
Monthly Rent: $787
Median Household Income: $66,026
Indian Hills
Located right on the bank of the Arkansas River, Indian Hills is a mixed commercial and residential area that is known for its upbeat and eclectic culture. You will meet many people who will come around for a block party every once in a while. You also have a bunch of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks, and you have Downtown Wichita at a distance of less than 4 miles.
Since this area is on the Arkansas Riverbend, you get a beautiful landscape as your background, making it possible for the busiest people in the area to disconnect without a lot of effort. You also have the Indian Hills Greenway, a scenic park developed along the west bank of the Arkansas River. Through the Greenway, you can join the 10-mile long Arkansas River Bicycle Path.
You get limited options when it comes to shopping and dining venues in the area. Most of them call West Central Avenue their home. However, places like South Central and College Hill are not very far off. So, you can take care of your splurges there. Given the number of places surrounding it and the easy accessibility Indian Hills provides, it’s no wonder that this place has become a people’s favorite!
Median Home Value: $175,000
Monthly Rent: $700
Median Household Income: $44,560
Sherwood Glen
This is a tiny residential neighborhood in the northern part of the city of Wichita and is blessed with some of the best options when it comes to housing. You can get an old, almost historic spot for yourself, or a much more modern house to call your own. The best part is, you have enough free space around the neighborhood to not be disturbed by the hustle and bustle of the main city.
Even though Sherwood Glen is a little out of the way, it is very well connected. Interstate 235 runs right along the northern and western ends of the neighborhood, making it very easy for the residents of Sherwood Glen to drive deeper in as well as out of the city. This is also convenient for you if you’ve nailed a great job a little away from the city and need a residential area with great connectivity to call home.
Once you are done traveling and want to spend some time relaxing, you have multiple options that take you outside. There are a few lakes further northwest and the Little Arkansas River runs along the eastern edge of the neighborhood. As a single individual, if you plan on settling into one place for a long time, you have a safe, accessible, and relatively quiet place to call home in Sherwood Glen.
Median Home Value: $188,000
Monthly Rent: $1,028
Median Household Income: $79,314
Uptown
Located in the heart of Wichita, Uptown is a neighborhood that is a mix of commercial areas as well as residential areas. One thing that stands out about this part of the city is that you have a multitude of healthcare facilities sprinkled throughout. The Wesley Medical Centers mean young professionals in healthcare have a great shot at employment.
As a resident of Uptown, you have The Elm in the north, College Hill to your east, East Front in the south, and New Salem to your west as neighbors, all of which have an eclectic vibe. So, it is safe to say that this tiny neighborhood will keep you where all the action is. The city of Wichita already boasts of a very short average commute time. Living in a place like this reduces it even more, regardless of whether you are commuting for your work, or for leisure.
This, along with the relatively affordable housing makes Uptown an ideal neighborhood for young professionals as well as single individuals. The neighborhood is that much more convenient for those moving to the city for a job. As Uptown lets you explore the city relatively easily and build a life out of a location.
Median Home Value: $144,000
Monthly Rent: $760
Median Household Income: $44,507
Riverside
Due to its central location, Riverside has become one of the most preferable neighborhoods in Wichita for young professionals and single individuals who come to the city. It is a quiet little neighborhood close to Downtown, but keeps the noise and crowd away. This is thanks to the Little Arkansas and Arkansas Rivers’ water lines that cordon off three sides of the neighborhood.
In fact, Riverside falls right in between the Little Arkansas River and the Arkansas River. So, you have quite a bit of quiet at home. Once you get out, though, you have easy access to Kellogg, the I-135, and Downtown Wichita. So, you are good to go when it comes to the convenience of commuting.
As a young professional, you will want some semblance of a social life. This requires the availability of social venues, and Riverside has those in abundance. You have multiple parks in the neighborhood itself. You also have the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit and the Ralph Wulz Riverside Tennis Center at your disposal. Riverside also hosts a few cafés and restaurants, all of which either participate in or host events in the neighborhood throughout the year. So, as a single individual in the city, you have some great spots to go socialize and make friends in Riverside.
Lastly, if you are a history geek, you might want to check the story of Riverside. This neighborhood was born in 1886 and has been growing ever since. There is a castle known as the Riverside Castle that was built at the same time and you can find it in all its glory still. If that isn’t enough, Riverside is home to four museums. So, you can imagine how this neighborhood holds on to its culture. This also brings about a little bit of charm of its own and might just become the reason you decide to settle down here.
Median Home Value: $143,000
Monthly Rent: $690
Median Household Income: $43,520
Sunnyside
Sunnyside is probably the best neighborhood in Wichita when it comes to commuting. Its northern and western ends are lined with the US-400 and the I-135 respectively. The southern end is neighbor to Schweiter and the eastern end has Longview on the other side of the neighborhood’s supposed border.
This predominantly residential corner in the middle of the city will open you up to all the corners of Wichita, letting you explore and socialize until you make a list of your favorite places. However, if you don’t want to go too far, you can always visit the Grandparent’s Park at the corner of South Estelle Street and East Kellogg Drive. It is safe to say that if you are the more mellow kind of person, Sunnyside is the place for you.
Median Home Value: $107,000
Monthly Rent: $563
Median Household Income: $38,000
Summing Up
Wichita is a city that is taking its own sweet time in growing. But as it steadily grows, it brings with it the potential for phenomenal opportunities to come. There’s virtually no traffic, the housing is affordable, and you have the luxury of living without the crowds and congestion of the mainstream big cities. As a single individual, Wichita is the perfect place for you to start a new chapter of your life if you’re looking for a calm, quiet, and relatively safe city.
FAQs On Best Neighborhoods In Wichita For Singles And Young Professionals
What Is The Nicest Place To Live In Wichita?
There is no clear answer to this question. However, a few places that caught our eye, other than the ones mentioned in this blog, are Crown Heights and Rockhurst. Both of these places are known for the amenities available there, along with the variety of housing.
What Is The Safest Place To Live In Wichita?
Based on Niche’s ranking of the best places to live in 2022, the safest places in Wichita are Bel Aire, North Newton, and Derby. However, most neighborhoods in the area are safe enough for you to live there without worrying about break-ins or any other crimes.
Is Wichita A Good Place To Live?
Absolutely! In fact, there are a lot of venues for you to hang out socially and even though it is a rural area, Wichita does hold a dense suburban feel. It is also safe, affordable, and easy to navigate.
