Wichita Suburb Comparison
Andover vs Maize: Which Suburb Is Right for Your Family?
Both are strong choices. Both have great schools. But they suit different families. Here is my honest take on each.
Side-by-Side Stats
Key numbers, straight from the data.
| Category | Andover | Maize |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | ~$325,000 | ~$305,000 |
| School Rating | A (#3 in Kansas) | A- (#10 in Kansas) |
| Median Household Income | $106,676 | $121,200 |
| Avg. Commute | ~20 min | ~19 min |
| Population | ~15,800 | ~7,100 |
| Eff. Property Tax Rate | ~1.5% | ~1.5% |
Andover: What You Are Getting
Andover is the suburb most families mean when they say they want the best schools near Wichita. USD 385 ranks #3 in Kansas. That is not a tagline. It holds up year after year with real data. The schools here are the real deal.
The city has been growing fast. New subdivisions, new retail, and more families arriving every year. If you want to be part of a suburb that still has momentum, Andover fits that. Resale values have held strong because demand keeps coming.
The honest trade-off is price. Median homes run around $325,000. You are paying a premium to be in this district. Whether the gap between A and A- schools justifies that gap in price is a personal call. For some families it does. For others, the math works out differently.
Andover sits in Butler County. Property tax rates are comparable to Maize at about 1.5%, but the county is different. It is worth confirming the exact rate on any specific home you look at.
Maize: What You Are Getting
Maize does not get enough credit. USD 266 ranks #10 in Kansas. That is still excellent. You are not giving up school quality by choosing Maize. You are paying roughly $20,000 less for a home that feeds into a district still in the state's top 10.
The median household income in Maize is $121,000. That is the highest of any Wichita suburb in this guide. The community is made up of dual-income professional families. That stability shows in the schools, the neighborhoods, and the overall feel of the city.
Maize has the shortest average commute of any major Wichita suburb at 19 minutes. K-96 runs straight through and is a controlled-access expressway with no stoplights. The drive to downtown Wichita is fast and consistent.
The one honest caveat is size. Maize is a smaller city, around 7,100 people. It has a quieter, more settled feel. There is less new development compared to Andover. For some buyers that is a feature, not a drawback. It depends on what kind of neighborhood energy you want.
Which One Is Right for You?
Choose Andover if:
The #3 school ranking is worth the higher price tag. Or if you want to be in a growing suburb with strong resale and more new development happening around you.
Choose Maize if:
You want top-10 schools at a lower entry price, the shortest commute in the metro, and a high-income neighborhood that has been quietly strong for years. The school quality difference between A and A- is real but small. Saving $20,000 on a home is also real.
If budget is the main driver:
Maize is the stronger value. You get a high-income neighborhood, a fast commute, and schools still ranked in the top 10 statewide. That combination is hard to argue with.
If school ranking is non-negotiable:
Andover. The #3 in Kansas ranking is real, consistent, and matters to a lot of buyers. If that is the priority, pay the premium and do not second-guess it.
Read the Full Suburb Guides
This comparison covers the key numbers. The full guides go deeper on neighborhoods, schools, things to do, and what daily life actually looks like.
Still Not Sure Which One Fits?
I have helped families buy in both suburbs. Tell me your priorities and I can give you a straight answer in 20 minutes.
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