Atchison, KS vs Dodge City, KS

Atchison is moderately more affordable than Dodge City, with a 10.4% lower cost of living index. Atchison scores 64 compared to 71 for Dodge City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Dodge City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Atchison is $736/month compared to $982/month in Dodge City — a 25% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Atchison has cheaper rent, Dodge City actually has lower median home values ($122,800 vs $130,200).

Median household income in Atchison is $54,695 compared to $67,958 in Dodge City (-19.5%). While Dodge City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Atchison spend roughly 16.1% of their income on rent, less than the 17.3% in Dodge City.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.7°F vs 55.9°F). Atchison receives more rainfall at 34.8" per year compared to 22" in Dodge City.