Live & Work Here
Small-Town Living.
More Within Reach.
Allen County offers the affordability and ease of a smaller community with access to the healthcare, education, recreation and amenities that make it a great place to call home. Short commutes, attainable housing and distinct communities give residents more reasons to put down roots.
From Iola, the county seat and hub for healthcare, education and culture, to Humboldt’s nationally recognized small-town revival and Kansas’s newest state park, Allen County offers plenty to discover beyond the workday.
A Place You Can Afford to Call Home
Housing costs can make a meaningful difference in quality of life — and in Allen County, your housing dollar goes further. The average home value is approximately $112,000, compared with $206,000 in Kansas City, Kansas, and $372,000 nationally.
On average, Allen County households spend just 14.1% of their income on housing expenses, leaving more room in the household budget for everything beyond the mortgage or rent.
New housing is also expanding the options available to residents. More than 100 new homes have been built in Iola in recent years, adding to the choices available in Allen County’s largest community.
Moving Resources:
Healthcare Close to Home
Allen County residents have access to local hospital and emergency care through Allen County Regional Hospital, part of Saint Luke’s Health System. The Critical Access Hospital provides 24/7 emergency care, inpatient and outpatient surgery, advanced imaging and other essential healthcare services.
Allen County has also earned national recognition for its commitment to community health, becoming the first Kansas community to receive the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Culture of Health Prize in 2017.
Education From K–12 Through College
Allen County’s three public school districts — USD 256, USD 257 and USD 258 — provide students with academic and career pathways across the county, including extensive Career and Technical Education opportunities.
Higher education is close to home as well. Allen Community College is based in Iola, with Fort Scott Community College and Neosho County Community College providing additional education and technical training opportunities nearby. Several four-year universities are also within approximately two hours of Allen County.
Arts, Culture & Local Flavor
Allen County’s communities offer locally owned restaurants, shops, arts and cultural experiences that give each town its own character. In Iola, the Bowlus Fine Arts Center brings performances, exhibitions and arts programming to the heart of the county, while farmers markets, community events and locally owned businesses create gathering places throughout the year.
In 2022, Humboldt was named one of The New York Times’ “52 Places for a Changed World,” recognizing the community’s revitalization and growing dining, retail and cultural scene. Together, these destinations and experiences give residents plenty to discover close to home.
Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor recreation is part of everyday life in Allen County, with trails, parks, camping and water recreation offering plenty of ways to get outside close to home. At the center of it is Lehigh Portland State Park, Kansas’s newest state park, which transformed a former cement quarry into one of the county’s signature outdoor destinations.
The park features a clear, spring-fed lake surrounded by limestone cliffs and rock islands, along with 14 miles of multipurpose trails through prairie, woodland and the former quarry landscape. Visitors can hike, mountain bike, swim, paddle and camp.
Allen County’s trail network extends beyond the park. The Prairie Spirit Trail State Park begins in Iola and stretches more than 50 miles north to Ottawa, while the Southwind Rail Trail connects Iola and Humboldt. In Humboldt, Base Camp Humboldt offers cabins, camping and direct trail access, while Allen County’s free Bike Share program makes it easy to explore the area on two wheels.
Find Your Place in Allen County
Nine communities make up Allen County, each offering its own history, character and connection to the region. From Iola, the county seat and largest community, to Humboldt’s nationally recognized revitalization and the close-knit communities throughout the county, residents can find the pace and place that feels like home.
Allen County’s largest community, Iola serves as a center for employment, education, healthcare, arts and recreation. Its historic downtown offers local shops, restaurants and community events, while the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, Lehigh Portland State Park and an extensive trail network provide arts and recreation close to home.
Humboldt combines small-town character with a nationally recognized story of community revitalization. A growing dining and retail scene, community events, BaseCamp Humboldt, the Southwind Rail Trail and other recreation amenities have helped make Humboldt a destination as well as a place to call home.
La Harpe | Population 480
With roots in Allen County’s railroad and natural-gas boom, La Harpe today is a small agricultural community with local businesses, recreation and convenient access along U.S. 54.
Gas | Population 475
Gas traces its history to the natural-gas discovery that helped fuel Allen County’s early industrial growth. Today, the community offers a city park with a walking trail and splash pad — along with one of the county’s more memorable landmarks, its distinctive “Gas Kan” water tower.
Moran | Population 466
Located in eastern Allen County, Moran is an agricultural community known for its strong local identity and annual Moran Days celebration. Its location at U.S. Highways 54 and 59 provides easy connections throughout the region.
Savonburg | Population 74
Originally settled by Swedish immigrants, Savonburg maintains its agricultural heritage and close-knit community character, with an active community center serving residents and the surrounding rural area.
Elsmore | Population 50
Elsmore’s roots stretch back to Swedish settlers, agriculture and the railroad. Today, the small eastern Allen County community retains its rural character while offering a gathering place for food and live music at Slims.
Mildred | Population 25
One of Allen County’s smallest communities is home to one of its most distinctive destinations. The century-old Mildred Store combines a grocery, deli and community gathering place with a monthly Music Night that draws hundreds of people for live music and dancing. The store has received national recognition, including being named National Small Town Grocery Store of the Year by the Huck Boyd Foundation.
Bassett | Population 20
Allen County’s smallest incorporated community has ties to the county’s industrial history, developing alongside the Lehigh Portland Cement Plant in the early 1900s. Bassett also has a unique place in Kansas history: the state’s first concrete road was laid there in 1914.
