City Comparison
Leawood vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Leawood scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Leawood
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Grants Pass is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
8% lower than in Leawood.
Housing costs are a major driver: Leawood's average rent is
21% higher than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Leawood | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,450 | +21% |
| Groceries | $480 | $450 | +7% |
| Utilities | $190 | $400 | -53% |
| Transport | $140 | $120 | +17% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $150 | +53% |
| Monthly Total | $2,790 | $2,570 | +9% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Leawood offers 48% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Leawood delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Leawood is estimated at
$75,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Leawood | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $95,000 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $75,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 76,000 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $165,000 | $59,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Leawood runs warmer on average — a 56.9°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Leawood comes out ahead with 270 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Leawood sees 17.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Leawood | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.90°F | °F |
| Summer High | 86.10°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 22.20°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 39.80 in | in |
| Snowfall | 17.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 270 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Leawood.
Leawood scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Leawood leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Leawood | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 32.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Grants Pass is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Leawood.
From a growth perspective, Grants Pass is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Leawood has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Leawood | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,650 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 45.0 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 5.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Leawood
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest cities in Kansas with violent crime rates well below the national average.
Home to top-performing public schools within the Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission school districts.
Exceptional median household income exceeding $160,000 per year per U.S. Census Bureau data.
Abundant green spaces, including over a dozen public parks and extensive hike-and-bike trail networks.
Premier shopping and dining destinations like Town Center Plaza and Park Place.
Drawbacks
Significantly higher cost of living and housing prices compared to the national average and Kansas state norms.
High level of car dependency with limited public transportation infrastructure within residential zones.
High property tax burdens associated with high municipal real estate valuations.
Limited inventory of affordable starter homes for first-time buyers within city limits.
Competitive real estate market driven by high demand for top school districts.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Leawood
#171Kansas, USA
64.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$95,000
Cost Index
125
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
32.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
270/yr
Avg Temp
56.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
92
Business
78
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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