Winfield receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Arkansas City
Winfield
Opportunity
26 · Bottom 4%
vs31 · Bottom 7%
Growth
21 · Bottom 8%
vs29 · Bottom 16%
Climate
65 · Bottom 34%
vs65 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
53 · Bottom 45%
vs53 · Bottom 45%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 13%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
18 · Bottom 8%
vs42 · Bottom 38%
Access
77 · Bottom 18%
vs83 · Bottom 26%
Economic stability
36 · Bottom 12%
vs33 · Bottom 10%
Measured values
| Metric | Arkansas City | Winfield | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,884 | 11,711 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $49,629 | $56,656 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $27,382 | $35,969 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,276/sq mi | 1,051/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $86,800 | $132,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $781 | $786 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 56.5% | 64.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.1% | -2.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 27.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | 15.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3 | 10 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.3 | 0.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 0.0% | -16.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.9" | 34.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 44 mi | 34 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 21.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.1 | 38.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.16 | 12.52 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 15.6% | 23.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 18.5% | 31.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 63.2% | 56.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Arkansas City
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, strong wind, hail.
Winfield
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, strong wind, hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Arkansas City
49
Your Score
46
Area Score
Winfield
55
Your Score
52
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Arkansas City, KS · Winfield, KS · How this is calculated: methodology