Moving To Wichita, KS

1. Relatively cheap

2. College Hill, Eastborough, areas between

3. Not an awful place, not great.

4. Wind

Was just there for work, stayed in the Bradley Fair area. It was nice

Wow, didn't expect to see this thread.

I think I'm the resident Wichita expert (this has never been valuable before) on this board, so I'll chime in. Early 30s. Been in Wichita since 1998. I was dead set on leaving after HS/College, did, and after starting a family, came back. Been back since 2018. I love it here. We won't be going anywhere for the foreseeable future.

Wichita is a great affordable place to raise a family and grow up. Cost of living is cheap. Weather is OK. Wind sucks. It gets crazy hot and crazy cold, but that's most of the midwest. The wind is what drives me the most crazy. We're not Austin or Denver or Nashville or even Greenville and don't try to be. If you compare us to that, you will hate being here. In my experience, southerners hate it because of the lack of trees, hills, terrain in general. The city has gone through a bit of an identity crisis the last decade, but is doing better. More investment and development. COVID slowed it, but overall big improvements even since I was in HS/College. It's a shitty place if you like the outdoors. We have a terrible trail network and just in general, really lack cool shite to do outside. Our lakes are all Corps of Engineer, so they suck too, but a few close (El Dorado, Cheney, Hillsboro, etc.). Wilson Lake and Winfield Lake are nice options if you are into camping. Redbud trail is an improvement for bike riding and running.

First question, where are you working and what part of town? That will decide a lot of things for you out of the gate. Maybe Koch, Cargill, Aviation, or the military is bringing you here?

I would suggest NorthEast Wichita into Andover or NorthWest Wichita into Maize/Goddard. I'm an east sider (this will make sense after you've lived here a while), so loyal to the former. Go East. If you want to be a little further, but more in the smaller town vibe, I'd suggest Derby. Especially if you're military. They have everything now and it's only 10-15 minutes to Wichita.

Those cities are also where you will want to be for schools. I'd suggest staying away from USD 259 Wichita Public Schools. Which brings up a good point. Are you Catholic? Why does that matter? Well, schooling. The Catholic Diocese of Wichita is the only stewardship based diocese in the country when it comes to schooling. Your tithe and stewardship pay your dues for catholic school, not a set tuition. I'm the benefactor of this and now a proud contributor into it. If you're a practicing Catholic and active, it can be very beneficial to families that normally could not afford that type of education.

Wichita is a decent metro with a small town feel. You won't leave whatever quadrant you live in, so you really will only live in a 125,000 person city. It can be hard for newcomers to meet friends and I've had peers of mine mention this coming from other places. So, it won't just happen. You'll have to get involved. Join the country club, join a church, get a social member for the pool at one of the country clubs, gym, something. You'll have to force your way into some interactions via either work or within the community.

The further east or west you go, the newer development you'll get. The more central you go, the more character you will have. I live in the Rockwood/Eastborough area. Homes built in the 30s-70s. I love it.

Restaurants to hit
- Meddy's
- Red Rock Canyon Grill
- Napoli
- George's French Bistro
- Ziggy's Pizza - Best hang
- Il Vicino - Best Pizza
- Redbird Sandwich Co
- Depot Downtown
- Sienna Grill Downtown
- Bella Vita
- Monarch
- Wichita Brewing Company

Bars
- Ziggys Hideout
- Harry's Uptown
- Sheet's Creek (nicer)
- Deano's
- CSB
- Wichita Brewing Company (Beer Good. Food OK) New one is cool.
- Walts (a classic)

Concerts
- Wave Venue
- Cotillion

I'll try to think of other things.

You can email me anytime. lsutigerz2001@yahoo.com. Happy to answer specific questions or meetup for a beer if you move to town.

Happy to jump on a call as well.

You can’t go wrong with Magdalen or St Thomas. You should definitely take the opening if it works. It won’t always be there. My kids go to St. Thomas. I went to St Thomas from 6th grade on. It’s a fantastic school and parish. It’s a feeder into Kapaun which is a fantastic school as well. I’ve met great people because of my parents making that decision.

Father Matt is the head priest. Amazing priest and more so just a great person. St Thomas is certainly more of a legacy school than Magdalen. Lots of 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation kiddos and families. You may find it clique, but it’s a great place. They do a lot to foster community and engagement as well. Magdalen tends to trend a little younger in parishioner base and families. Lots of young families in your exact category. Some locals. Some transplants. You can’t go wrong with either really and getting them in is most important.

I mention the stewardship based tithing, but it doesn’t really impact the demographic. It’s still (upper) middle class in the demo. Just opens the doors to kids who aren’t ultra wealthy.

Which is what Collegiate is. As well as Trinity Christian and Independent. East Wichita has 4 private schools in a 3 mile radius. Kind of wild. Collegiate is an amazing school. Great teachers. Great facilities. It’s a traditional private school experience. I heard $10,000 a kid. If you can swing it, amazing, but not sure the delta is worth it if you can get into the Catholic school.

Where you’re looking is a nice area that’s developed over the years. I lived across the street in Preston trails growing up. We almost bought a house over there in 2021. It’s a little weird when you get close to Greenwich near that trailer park, but they’ve really developed Jackson Heights closer to where you are. My buddy just built the bardominium off central right there. My only comment would be it’s probably not the best spot for young kids to play in the street with neighbor kids. Just in the sense that I don’t think there’s a lot of young families there. If you went a little further up the road to 13th and 127th area, or 21st and 127th, more families that way.

If you come before you pull the trigger let me know. I’ll give you the nickel tour.

No way! The Cotillion Ballroom is still operating? The place on W Kellogg?

Back in the day saw Vanilla Fudge, Bill Halley and the Comets among others there.