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Manhattan, Kansas

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What It Is Like to Retire in Manhattan

Located in northeastern Kansas, at the juntion of the Kansas River and Big Blue River, Manhattan is a college town and the seat of Riley County. Affectionately known as the "LIttle Apple", the town of about 56,000 residents, is best known as home to Kansas State University and Fort Riley, one of the nation's largest U.S. Army military installations.  Manhattan is a popular biking town and offers many trails, and parks, along with a reservoir, a State Park, and the first PGA Collegiate golf course that is also a Audubon Signature Gold course. In 2017, Manhattan was listed in the Milken Report as one of the Best Cities for Successful Aging. In 2007, CNN and Money Magazine recognized Manhattan as one of the best places in America to retire young, and in 2011, Forbes rated the town as No.1 for Best Small Communities for a Business Career. 

Photo of Konza Prairie Preserve, a tallgrass prairie in the Flint Hills, northeastern Kansas, courtesy of Wikipedia and Kgwo1972 (public domain); Photo of Riley County Courthouse courtesy of Wikipedia and Kevin Zollman,Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/

Watch this short Youtube video prepared by ManhattenCVB:

<iframe width="300" height="200" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tb9IJh0RFuU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here is Topretirements Mini-Guide to retirement in Kansas

Where to Retire in Manhattan and Home Prices

Zillow reports the median listing price to be $215,309 in early 2020, and calls it a "Very Hot" market at this time.

What Is Special about Manhattan

Manhattan is a bicycle-friendly town that offers a lot of outdoor recreation, and Kansas State University presents sporting and cultural events. 

What Is Not Special about Manhattan

The University brings down the average age to just 24 years; Manhattan is in Tornado Alley.

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Who Will Like Retirement in Manhattan

Those who want to live in a college town with a lot of outdoor activity, historic places, a hospital, and cultural and sporting venues would enjoy living here. There is also a public transportation, a regional airport and many volunteer opportunities.

Local Economy Is Driven by

The economy here is heavily based on education.  The largest employer is Kansas State University, and its students help to support the retail, restaurant and entertainment venues.  The economy is also supported by the civilians and personnel at Fort Riley.

Climate and Physical Environment

January's average temperature is 31 degrees and July's average is 79 degrees.  The state of Kansas is in Tornado Alley with the most recent one touching down in 2008, and causing damage to Kansas State University.  Manhattan's other problem is it's location on a floodplain at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River, which has caused the town to experience major flooding, with the last Great Flood occurring in 1993.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Manhattan boasts over 140 restaurants, and because it is a college town there are many shopping and dining venues.  Kansas State provides sporting and cultural events, and the community is home to historical sites, a small zoo, and hosts several fesitvals and events.

Crime

The crime rate in Manhattan is a little above the national average, mainly due to theft.

Medical facilities

Via Christi Hospital is located in Manhattan.

Transportation

Manhattan Regional Airport offers flights to Chicago and Dallas, along with charter flights, with the nearest international airport over 130 miles away, in Kansas City; there is limited bus service within the town; Manhattan is a bronze-level bicycle-friendly community according to th League of American Bicyclists; there are walkable neighborhoods here, but as a whole, Manhattan is not considered a walkable community.

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