Atchison, KS vs Hesston, KS

Atchison is moderately more affordable than Hesston, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Atchison scores 64 compared to 68 for Hesston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hesston 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 $722/month in Hesston — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hesston has cheaper rent, Atchison actually has lower median home values ($130,200 vs $183,000).

Median household income in Atchison is $54,695 compared to $72,620 in Hesston (-24.7%). While Hesston 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, more than the 11.9% in Hesston.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.7°F vs 56.1°F). Atchison receives more rainfall at 34.8" per year compared to 28.3" in Hesston.