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Quality of Life in Douglass, KS
A livable area that tracks near national norms for affordability, walkability, and neighborhood health.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
39% below national average
The Real Cost of Living in Douglass, KS for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $14k | $26k |
| Comfortable | $25k | $36k |
| Luxury | $114k+ | $177k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $134k+ | $208k+ |
194%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Limited data for this area
Limited data for this area
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
0 within 10 miles
Gas
2 within 10 miles
Hospital
8 within 20 miles
Airport
MCI — Kansas City International
Post Office
USPS — Douglass, KS
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Douglass, Kansas, presents a notably affordable quality of life that attracts a mix of working families, agricultural professionals, and commuters seeking a quieter, lower-cost alternative to the Wichita metro. With a cost of living index of 61 — well below the U.S. average of 100 — the community is characterized by its modest home values, a predominantly blue-collar and middle-class demographic, and a slower pace of life that prioritizes space and self-sufficiency over urban convenience. The town's population of roughly 1,700 residents leans toward long-term homeowners and those employed in manufacturing, logistics, and farming, creating a stable, family-oriented social fabric.
Cost of living, housing affordability, and how it compares to Wichita and surrounding areas
Douglass offers some of the most accessible housing in Butler County, with a median home value of $115,300 — roughly half the national median and significantly lower than Wichita's median of about $175,000. Median rent sits at $869, making it a viable option for renters priced out of the city's east side or nearby suburbs like Andover and Derby, where rents frequently exceed $1,100. The overall cost of living index of 61 is driven by below-average prices for groceries, utilities, and transportation, though residents should note that property taxes in Butler County hover around 1.3% of assessed value, slightly above the Kansas average. The trade-off for these low housing costs is a longer average commute of 32.4 minutes, as most employment opportunities — including major employers like Spirit AeroSystems, Textron Aviation, and Koch Industries — are concentrated in Wichita, roughly 25 miles north. For remote workers or those employed locally in agriculture or the Douglass school system, the commute burden is minimal, but daily drivers to Wichita should budget for fuel and vehicle wear.
Amenities, schools, and what daily life is like in Douglass
Daily life in Douglass centers around a compact downtown with a grocery store, a few local restaurants, and a hardware store, but residents travel to Wichita for most shopping, healthcare, and entertainment. The Douglass Unified School District 396 serves the community with one elementary school, one middle school, and Douglass High School, which enrolls roughly 250 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of about 14:1 — smaller than the state average. The district's graduation rate hovers near 90%, and while advanced placement offerings are limited, the school provides a solid foundation for college-bound students and vocational-track learners alike. Outdoor recreation is limited to a small city park, a public swimming pool, and nearby El Dorado State Park, about 20 minutes east, which offers fishing, hiking, and camping. For families, the lack of after-school programs and childcare options is a notable gap, and most extracurricular activities require driving to Wichita or larger towns like Augusta. The town's social rhythm is defined by community events such as the annual Douglass Fall Festival, church gatherings, and youth sports leagues, which serve as the primary social outlets for residents.
Douglass is best suited for budget-conscious families, agricultural workers, and commuters who prioritize homeownership and space over walkability and urban amenities. Retirees on fixed incomes will find the low housing costs appealing, though access to specialized healthcare requires a drive to Wichita. Young professionals and singles may find the social scene too limited, while families with school-age children will appreciate the small class sizes and safe environment. Anyone considering a move here should be comfortable with a car-dependent lifestyle and a 30-minute commute to access full-service grocery stores, major employers, and medical facilities.
Crime in Douglass, KS
Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Douglass, Kansas, presents a mixed safety profile that warrants careful consideration for potential residents. The city's violent crime rate of 449.6 incidents per 100,000 residents is notably higher than the national average, while its property crime rate of 1,815 per 100,000 sits closer to but still above the national benchmark. These figures place Douglass in a position where awareness of local crime patterns is essential for anyone evaluating the community as a relocation destination.
Crime in context
When compared to statewide Kansas averages, Douglass's violent crime rate is elevated. The state's violent crime rate typically hovers around 400 per 100,000, meaning Douglass exceeds that baseline by roughly 12%. Property crime in Douglass, at 1,815 per 100,000, is slightly above the Kansas state average of approximately 1,700 per 100,000. The national violent crime rate stands at about 380 per 100,000, making Douglass's rate roughly 18% higher than the U.S. average. These comparisons indicate that while Douglass is not a high-crime outlier, it does experience crime at levels that exceed both state and national norms, particularly for violent offenses.
What residents experience
Residents of Douglass report that property crimes such as burglary and theft are the most common safety concerns, aligning with the elevated property crime rate. The violent crime figure of 449.6 per 100,000 translates to a small number of incidents annually in a town of roughly 1,700 people, meaning most residents will not directly experience violent crime. However, the presence of progressive judicial philosophies in the broader Wichita metropolitan area—which includes Douglass—raises legitimate concerns. Liberal and progressive judges and district attorneys in the region often prioritize offender rehabilitation over public safety, leading to lighter sentences and earlier releases for convicted criminals. This approach directly contributes to more offenders remaining on the streets, increasing the risk of repeat offenses and reducing the sense of security for law-abiding residents and victims of crime.
Neighborhood-level variation within Douglass is limited due to the town's small size, but some patterns are observable. Older, more established residential areas near the downtown core tend to have lower reported crime rates, while newer subdivisions on the outskirts may experience occasional property theft due to less dense street networks and fewer natural surveillance opportunities. The proximity to Wichita—about 30 miles north—means that some crime in Douglass is linked to individuals traveling from the larger metro area, where progressive criminal justice policies have been implemented. Potential residents should factor in the regional judicial climate when assessing safety, as the lenient treatment of offenders in the surrounding county can have spillover effects into smaller communities like Douglass.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-07-26T15:58:54.000Z
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