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As we advance into 2026, the landscape for women in the workforce continues to evolve, yet challenges remain. Across the United States, women still encounter obstacles such as wage disparities, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and issues related to work-life balance. In Kansas, these challenges manifest differently in various cities.
To provide insight into the most challenging environments for women in the state, we have analyzed cities in Kansas to identify those with the least favorable conditions for women. The results highlight significant variance across locations.
Continue reading to discover which cities rank as the most challenging for women in Kansas and the factors that influenced our findings.
The 10 Worst Cities To Be A Woman In Kansas
These ten cities are where women face the steepest challenges in Kansas. Dive deeper to understand the reasons behind these rankings or jump ahead to see the cities that offer better prospects for women.
Methodology – How We Determined The Worst Cities For Women In Kansas
Each city was ranked based on the following four categories:
- Percentage of Women in Management (Lower is worse)
- Percentage of Women in Poverty (Higher is worse)
- Income Ratio of Women to Men (Lower is worse)
- Uninsured Women (Lower is worse)
To assess the income disparity between women and men by city, we utilized data from the Census American Community Survey. The income ratio is calculated by dividing median male income by median female income.
For the percentage of women living in poverty, we also relied on ACS data, focusing on women without relatives, which tends to yield a higher poverty rate compared to the general population.
The representation of women in management roles was evaluated using ACS data, highlighting opportunities for advancement and leadership among women in these cities.
Finally, the percentage of uninsured women was sourced from the ACS, providing further insight into women’s health coverage within each city.
Our analysis concentrated on Kansas cities with populations exceeding 5,000.
1. Ulysses
Income Ratio (Women to Men): $0.57
Women in Management: 17.2%
Women in Poverty: 13.8%
Uninsured Women: 15.9%
Ulysses ranks as the most challenging city for women in Kansas, primarily due to its low statistics across all evaluated categories. Women in Ulysses face a high likelihood of living in poverty and lacking health insurance, highlighting the significant hurdles they encounter.
2. Atchison
Income Ratio (Women to Men): $0.55
Women in Management: 35.7%
Women in Poverty: 24.9%
Uninsured Women: 9.2%
Atchison stands out as the second most challenging city for women, marked by high poverty rates and concerning income disparity.
3. Garden City
Income Ratio (Women to Men): $0.62
Women in Management: 24.4%
Women in Poverty: 16.7%
Uninsured Women: 14.0%
While Garden City offers some opportunities, women still contend with a low management representation and a considerable poverty rate.
4. Wellington
Income Ratio (Women to Men): $0.67
Women in Management: 31.3%
Women in Poverty: 21.8%
Uninsured Women: 9.4%
Wellington’s women face significant challenges, with a notable percentage living in poverty and without health insurance.
5. Great Bend
Income Ratio (Women to Men): $0.65
Women in Management: 38.7%
Women in Poverty: 22.6%
Uninsured Women: 13.1%
Great Bend offers relatively better opportunities, yet women still face noteworthy challenges in income and poverty rates.
6. Abilene
Income Ratio (Women to Men): $0.56
Women in Management: 32.9%
Women in Poverty: 12.8%
Uninsured Women: 9.5%
Abilene ranks sixth, where women face notable challenges, particularly related to poverty and income disparity.
7. Coffeyville
Income Ratio (Women to Men): $0.71
Women in Management: 43.3%
Women in Poverty: 25.0%
Uninsured Women: 16.2%
Coffeyville presents a tough environment for women, with high poverty rates and an alarming percentage of uninsured individuals.
8. Manhattan
Income Ratio (Women to Men): $0.62
Women in Management: 35.5%
Women in Poverty: 27.3%
Uninsured Women: 4.7%
Manhattan poses significant challenges for women, with a high poverty rate and low income compared to men.
9. El Dorado
Income Ratio (Women to Men): $0.58
Women in Management: 45.9%
Women in Poverty: 18.1%
Uninsured Women: 11.1%
El Dorado women grapple with significant challenges, including low income relative to men and notable uninsured rates.
10. Wichita
Income Ratio (Women to Men): $0.67
Women in Management: 38.2%
Women in Poverty: 17.3%
Uninsured Women: 11.4%
Wichita ranks tenth, where women still face notable challenges despite better opportunities than earlier cities in the list.
Summary of the Worst Cities for Women in Kansas
The analysis reveals the cities in Kansas where women encounter the most significant challenges. Despite progress in various areas, these cities present particularly difficult circumstances for women striving for equality and opportunity.
Overall, while Ulysses stands out as the most challenging environment, the experience for individual women can vary widely based on personal circumstances.
Explore the detailed list below to see how other cities compare.
Detailed List Of The Worst Cities For Women In Kansas
| Rank | Place | Pay Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ulysses | $0.57 |
| 2 | Atchison | $0.55 |
| 3 | Garden City | $0.62 |
| 4 | Wellington | $0.67 |
| 5 | Great Bend | $0.65 |
| 6 | Abilene | $0.56 |
| 7 | Coffeyville | $0.71 |
| 8 | Manhattan | $0.62 |
| 9 | El Dorado | $0.58 |
| 10 | Wichita | $0.67 |
| 11 | Arkansas City | $0.60 |
| 12 | Hays | $0.62 |
| 13 | Emporia | $0.64 |
| 14 | Winfield | $0.70 |
| 15 | Bonner Springs | $0.73 |
| 16 | Fort Scott | $0.73 |
| 17 | Parsons | $0.71 |
| 18 | Independence | $0.81 |
| 19 | Mcpherson | $0.64 |
| 20 | Kansas City | $0.79 |
| 21 | Dodge City | $0.71 |
| 22 | Spring Hill | $0.58 |
| 23 | Chanute | $0.73 |
| 24 | Liberal | $0.72 |
| 25 | Colby | $0.72 |
| 26 | Salina | $0.81 |
| 27 | Pittsburg | $0.95 |
| 28 | Mulvane | $0.44 |
| 29 | Newton | $0.66 |
| 30 | Olathe | $0.65 |
| 31 | Eudora | $0.65 |
| 32 | Junction City | $0.68 |
| 33 | Augusta | $0.65 |
| 34 | Bel Aire | $0.57 |
| 35 | Leawood | $0.40 |
| 36 | Hutchinson | $0.79 |
| 37 | De Soto | $0.77 |
| 38 | Lawrence | $0.78 |
| 39 | Pratt | $0.74 |
| 40 | Park City | $0.65 |
| 41 | Overland Park | $0.66 |
| 42 | Shawnee | $0.67 |
| 43 | Leavenworth | $0.70 |
| 44 | Haysville | $0.62 |
| 45 | Gardner | $0.67 |
| 46 | Derby | $0.62 |
| 47 | Topeka | $0.83 |
| 48 | Lenexa | $0.68 |
| 49 | Andover | $0.72 |
| 50 | Valley Center | $0.77 |
| 51 | Ottawa | $0.85 |
| 52 | Mission | $0.78 |
| 53 | Prairie Village | $0.77 |
| 54 | Merriam | $0.79 |
| 55 | Basehor | $0.71 |
| 56 | Paola | $0.72 |
| 57 | Roeland Park | $0.94 |
| 58 | Lansing | $1.12 |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
