City Comparison
Leavenworth vs Overland Park
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Overland Park scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Leavenworth
Overland Park
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Leavenworth is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
15% lower than in Overland Park.
Housing costs are a major driver: Leavenworth's average rent is
21% lower than Overland Park's.
| Metric | Leavenworth | Overland Park | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,150 | $1,450 | -21% |
| Groceries | $380 | $420 | -10% |
| Utilities | $165 | $175 | -6% |
| Transport | $110 | $115 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,025 | $2,390 | -15% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 102 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Overland Park offers 21% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Overland Park delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Leavenworth is estimated at
$50,000 vs $58,000 in Overland Park.
| Metric | Leavenworth | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $78,000 |
| Salary Needed | $50,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,391 idx | 76,471 idx |
| Household Income | $68,000 | $95,450 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.6°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Overland Park sees 0.7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Leavenworth | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.30°F | 56.90°F |
| Summer High | 85.60°F | 86.10°F |
| Winter Low | 21.10°F | 22.20°F |
| Rainfall | 44.20 in | 42.60 in |
| Snowfall | 17.30 in | 18.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 267 | 266 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Overland Park scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Leavenworth leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Leavenworth | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Overland Park is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Leavenworth.
From a growth perspective, Overland Park is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Overland Park has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Leavenworth | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,500 | 197,238 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.60% | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 38.4 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 2.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Leavenworth
Advantages
Fort Leavenworth provides robust local economic stability and high-paying federal and civilian jobs.
Housing costs remain significantly more affordable than the nearby Kansas City metropolitan average.
Rich historic downtown district featuring local shops, dining, and well-preserved 19th-century architecture.
Abundant outdoor recreation options along the Missouri River and local municipal parks.
Strong sense of community with a welcoming, patriotic environment for military families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Limited public transit options make owning a personal vehicle essentially mandatory for daily life.
Local property tax rates can be relatively high compared to some surrounding Kansas counties.
Winter weather brings freezing temperatures and occasional heavy snowfall requiring careful road maintenance.
Nightlife and entertainment options are somewhat modest, requiring trips into Kansas City for major events.
Retail and dining variety is more restricted compared to larger neighboring urban centers.
Overland Park
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest large cities in Kansas with low violent crime rates per FBI crime data.
Home to top-performing public school districts within Johnson County, attracting families from across the region.
Robust local economy anchored by major engineering, technology, and healthcare corporations.
Extensive park system featuring over 80 parks, athletic fields, and the 300-acre Overland Park Arboretum.
Vibrant and growing culinary, arts, and shopping scene centered around Downtown Overland Park and Prairiefire.
Drawbacks
Cost of living and housing prices are higher than the Kansas state average and national medians in certain sectors.
High automobile dependency with limited fixed-rail public transit options across the suburban expanse.
Property taxes in Johnson County can be relatively high for homeowners.
Humid continental climate brings hot summer peaks and cold winter freezes, requiring climate-controlled infrastructure.
Traffic congestion can spike during peak commute hours along major thoroughfares like I-435 and US-69.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Leavenworth
#273Kansas, USA
61.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,150
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
267/yr
Avg Temp
56.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.60%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
72
Business
65
Overland Park
#63Kansas, USA
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
102
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
266/yr
Avg Temp
56.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
85
Business
79
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