Wichita’s Low Cost of Living Attracts and Retains Young Professionals
Published Aug 17, 2009
Rene Campirano says Wichita’s affordable real estate was a major factor in his decision to relocate here from Los Angeles nearly three years ago.
When Rene Campirano decided to leave Seattle in 2005 in search of a smaller city and a better quality of life‚ his nationwide search led him to Wichita. Campirano‚ a 29-year-old mechanical designer for the aerospace industry‚ says Wichita’s employment opportuni ties‚ low cost of living and welcoming atmosphere made it the clear first choice for this Los Angeles native.
“I was moving into the next phase of my life and wanted to live in a town that gave me all of the big-city benefits without the big-city problems like traf fic and crime‚” Campirano says.
Not only did he find that Wichita meets these criteria‚ but he says the friendliness of the people here also heavily influenced his decision.
“It struck me immediately how friendly and courteous everyone here is‚ even when they’re driving. My commute is less than 15 minutes each way‚ and it’s stress free‚” Campirano says.
He recently made his move more permanent by purchasing a new home in the southeast section of town.
“That’s another big thing that stands out about Wichita‚ you can get so much more for your money in real estate. There’s no way I could have the same house I own in Wichita on the West Coast‚” Campirano says.
With housing costs at 48 percent below the national average‚ an overall cost of living at 6 percent below the national average‚ and an abundance of arts‚ culture‚ dining and recreation opportunities‚ Wichita is attracting a growing number of young professionals like Campirano who are choosing to call the city home.
Sommer Miller‚ a 25-year-old human resources information systems coordinator for Via Christi Health System‚ moved to the area from South Dakota in 2003 as a student. She has stayed on to begin building her career.
“There’s a real commitment in Wichita to improving the community and creating more professional and recreational opportunities for young residents‚” says Miller‚ an outdoor enthusiast who volunteers for the Wichita Recreation Alliance‚ part of the Quality of Life Foundation for the Visioneering Wichita task force.
Miller currently is working with the group on a comprehensive recreation plan that includes connecting several south-central Kansas counties with canoeing routes on the Arkansas River.
Along with Campirano‚ Miller also is part of the Young Professionals of Wichita group‚ a business and civic net working organization that was launched in 2005 by the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce. With nearly 2‚000 mem bers‚ the group’s mission is to help make Wichita the heartland’s destination for young intellectual capital.
Angie Begley‚ who serves on the organization’s diversity action team‚ moved to Wichita from California with her family in 1993. She says the area’s tightly knit business community and supportive organizations such as the Young Professionals of Wichita help up-and-coming workers advance more rapidly in their careers.
“Career opportunity combined with down-to-earth‚ friendly people and the low cost of living is what has kept me here‚” says Begley. “Wichita is also a great place to raise a family.”
Michal Emory‚ a 30-year-old trust investment officer for TCK Trust & Financial Advisors‚ says Wichita’s future plans for development and urban renewal are major factors in the area’s current ability to retain its existing base of young professionals.
“The city is bringing in new busi nesses and restaurants downtown and renovating buildings everywhere. There’s also the new arena breaking ground this year and the WaterWalk area in the works‚” Emory says. “They’re creating a thriving downtown‚ and it speaks volumes about the city for visitors and people moving here.”
Emory points to the city’s progres sive leadership and engaged business community as driving forces behind these successful projects.
“There is such a sense of vision and leadership in this community‚” Emory says. “For me‚ as a young professional‚ seeing that vision being realized for Wichita is very inspiring.”
Story by Valerie Pascoe
Photo by Wes Aldridge
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