A quintessential small Kansas town, Mulvane beams with pride and history, illustrated by such longtime traditions as an annual rodeo and a century-old festival. Though laid out like a south Wichita suburb of nearly 7,000 residents, farmland of southern Sedgwick County surrounds the town instead of urban sprawl. The charming downtown epitomizes a small-town Main Street with locally owned businesses and a museum detailing the city’s past as a railroad and agricultural community. Mulvane has come a long way since its founding in 1879, with the city transforming much of the land into dozens of parks and recreational spots. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the neighborly spirit. “Everyone tries really hard to support our locals,” says Krystal Wyrick, a Realtor with Real Broker, LLC, who has lived in Mulvane since 2011. “In the winter time, there are always people going out and cleaning driveways for the elderly, and there are always meal trains going around for people who have been in the hospital for something.”
That small, country atmosphere is met with a cost of living 11% lower than the national average. Many residents work at manufacturing facilities in an industrial park near the town center. The one that stands out the most is Mulvane Cooperative Union, a grain and farm cooperative in business for nearly 100 years. Its tall, white grain silos feature a star on the top that shines at night during the holiday season. The lights shine even brighter at Kansas Star Casino, open since 2011 about 6 miles west of downtown. The casino is the city’s largest employer, with more than 700 workers, and is known for its charitable contributions to local education.
Many of the homes in Mulvane are modern traditional homes.
Mulvane residents can cool off at the Nessley Auto Park splash pad.
Mulvane is a quintessential small Kansas town beaming with pride and history.
Visit Mulvane's Historical Museum to see some of the town's history.
1/4
Local charm on Main Street
With diagonal street parking, Mulvane’s Main Street is the city’s business center. Shoppers strolling the sidewalk will find their local florist, hairdresser and model train enthusiast offering their services. The area has less than a dozen local restaurants but still a variety of dining experiences. Luciano's is one of the most notable restaurants, known for its authentic Italian dishes created by Chef Luciano Mottola himself. Mottola, a native Italian, moved here from Italy and leads occasional trips to his homeland for cooking classes. For grocery shopping, Dillons on 2nd Avenue is the place go, but sometimes essentials are easier to pick up than that. “You can always find someone with fresh eggs,” Wyrick says of the community. And with Derby about 5 miles north, locals can drive up Kansas Highway 15 to the neighboring city’s many big box retailers.
There are a few local shops to shop at in Mulvane.
There are a few different statues in the Cobb Family Park near downtown Mulvane.
Grab a bite to eat from Amy's Pizza Place in Mulvane.
Downtown Mulvane has several local shops and businesses to enjoy.
1/4
Parks all over town and a charitable Casino
Mulvane operates 17 parks, so outdoor adventures are never far. Main Street Park is one of the most popular, offering a shaded playground and stage for talent shows, tap dances, pet contests and other local events. A few blocks away, next to the city museum, is the Cobb Family Historical Park, a nice spot to relax by the peaceful water fountain or admire the late 1880s train caboose on display. English Park offers plenty of outdoor fun with a playground, basketball courts and a nine-hole disc golf course. Locals also enjoy skateboarding on the mini half pipe at Styx Creek Park and beating the heat at the city's swimming pool, which features a high dive and a twisty water slide. Kansas Star Casino sits in the countryside about 6 miles west of downtown. Every year, the casino provides $100 gift cards to students and $500 to teachers within the Mulvane School District to assist with school supplies. It also awards every high school senior with a $1,000 scholarship to any college of their choosing.
Kids love to climb on the playground at Main Street Park in Mulvane.
Styx Creek Park also has a small skate park in Mulvane.
Let your kids have fun on the swing set at Main Street Park in Mulvane.
There are several parks to enjoy throughout Mulvane.
1/4
Old Settlers Celebration is a longstanding tradition
For more than 150 years, downtown Mulvane has transformed into a carnival for the Old Settlers Celebration, which started out as a basket dinner on a farm in 1873. Today, the highly anticipated event is held on the third weekend of August, honoring the city’s former frontier days with Ferris wheel rides, a parade and the Miss Pioneer Pageant. The cowboy-themed event is also punctuated by a rodeo at Mulvane Arena. “There are tons of kids running around, not elbow-to-elbow – the perfect type of crowd,” says Wyrick. “They have vendors with homemade goods, so I’ll typically stock up on unique Christmas presents.” Locals also look forward to other seasonal events like the Easter egg hunt and Halloween walk on Main Street.
From historic prairie houses to contemporary designs
The houses in Mulvane represent the area’s growth, with some dating to the year the city was established in 1879, while new construction continues to pop up in a surge of housing developments. Naturally, the older homes are closer to the center, while newer houses can be found on the outskirts. The median home price is $217,250, with some of the most expensive houses reaching the high $700,000s. The housing market in Mulvane can be competitive, with the average home selling in eight days at asking price. About 20% of homes tend to sell above asking price.
Because Mulvane is in Tornado Alley, a Midwest region susceptible to tornados, many houses are built with basements or storm shelters. Peak tornado season runs from April to June. According to Mulvane Emergency Services, the last tornado in Mulvane was in 2010, which was an F0 that touched down on farmland. As for general weather factors, Mulvane experiences all four seasons with the average winter low of 21 degrees and the average summer high being 92 degrees.
Live in a prairie-style dwelling in Mulvane.
Red brick accents are very common among Mulvane homes.
There are a wide variety of home styles throughout Mulvane.
It is common for Mulvane homes to have small front porches.
1/4
Seniors earning college degrees at Mulvane High
The Mulvane Unified School District earns a B-minus grade from Niche. With one primary school, one grade school, one middle school and one high school, students from every section of the city grow up together. Mulvane High School has around 550 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. It also partners with Cowley County Community College for students who want to get a head start with dual-credit courses before high school graduation.
Older kids can attend Mulvane High School.
A popular option for kids to attend school is W.D. Munson Primary School.
After elementary, kids can attend Mulvane Middle School.
Another schooling option is Mulvane Grade School.
1/4
Two routes to Wichita
While Mulvane is a pretty slow-paced city, many cars come through on Kansas Highway 15 to get to and from the casino. Locals can take K-15 for a 5-mile drive north to Derby, a mid-size city with lots of shopping, dining and entertainment. It also runs 16 miles north to Wichita. Drivers can also get to Wichita by taking Interstate 35, which is about 5 miles longer but avoids all the traffic lights that come with K-15.
Lower than average crime
According to FBI statistics, Mulvane had a reported 76 property crimes and five violent crimes in 2023. That puts the overall crime rate at approximately 12 per 1,000 people, compared to Wichita’s crime rate of 59 per 1,000.
Meet Legacy Homes of KS brokered by Heritage 1st Realty — your trusted real estate team serving Derby, KS and the surrounding areas. Led by team leader and experienced Realtor® Blake Billington, who brings nearly six years of expertise in residential sales, our team is committed to helping you achieve your real estate goals. Blake is joined by licensed Realtor® Cody Railing, and together they provide personalized service, local market knowledge, and a passion for creating smooth, successful transactions for every client. Whether you're buying, selling, or investing, Legacy Homes of KS is here to guide you every step of the way.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
