City Comparison
Leawood vs Leavenworth
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Leawood scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Leawood
Leavenworth
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Leavenworth is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
27% lower than in Leawood.
Housing costs are a major driver: Leawood's average rent is
52% higher than Leavenworth's.
| Metric | Leawood | Leavenworth | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,150 | +52% |
| Groceries | $480 | $380 | +26% |
| Utilities | $190 | $165 | +15% |
| Transport | $140 | $110 | +27% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $220 | +5% |
| Monthly Total | $2,790 | $2,025 | +38% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Leawood offers 53% 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 $50,000 in Leavenworth.
| Metric | Leawood | Leavenworth |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $95,000 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $75,000 | $50,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 76,000 idx | 67,391 idx |
| Household Income | $165,000 | $68,000 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.6°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Leawood sees 0.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Leawood | Leavenworth |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.90°F | 56.30°F |
| Summer High | 86.10°F | 85.60°F |
| Winter Low | 22.20°F | 21.10°F |
| Rainfall | 39.80 in | 44.20 in |
| Snowfall | 17.90 in | 17.30 in |
| Sunny Days | 270 | 267 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Leavenworth 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 | Leawood | Leavenworth |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 32.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Leavenworth is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Leawood.
From a growth perspective, Leavenworth 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 | Leavenworth |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,650 | 38,500 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.60% |
| Median Age | 45.0 | 37.5 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 3.80% |
| 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.
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.
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
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
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