City Comparison
Leawood vs Manhattan
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Manhattan scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Leawood
Manhattan
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Manhattan is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
28% lower than in Leawood.
Housing costs are a major driver: Leawood's average rent is
59% higher than Manhattan's.
| Metric | Leawood | Manhattan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,100 | +59% |
| Groceries | $480 | $400 | +20% |
| Utilities | $190 | $180 | +6% |
| Transport | $140 | $110 | +27% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $230 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,790 | $2,020 | +38% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Leawood offers 64% 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 Manhattan.
| Metric | Leawood | Manhattan |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $95,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $75,000 | $50,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 76,000 idx | 61,053 idx |
| Household Income | $165,000 | $62,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
For sunshine, Manhattan comes out ahead with 16 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Leawood sees 2.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Leawood | Manhattan |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.90°F | 56.90°F |
| Summer High | 86.10°F | 86.40°F |
| Winter Low | 22.20°F | 20.70°F |
| Rainfall | 39.80 in | 32.30 in |
| Snowfall | 17.90 in | 15.50 in |
| Sunny Days | 270 | 286 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Manhattan has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Leawood.
Manhattan scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Manhattan leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Leawood | Manhattan |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 16 min |
| Transit Score | 32.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 35.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Manhattan is the larger city
— approximately 0.6x the population of Leawood.
From a growth perspective, Manhattan 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 | Manhattan |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,650 | 54,100 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 45.0 | 26.5 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 3.20% |
| 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.
Manhattan
Advantages
Cost of living sits approximately 5% below the national average per recent cost-of-living indices.
Exceptional public safety ratings with crime rates well below state and national medians.
Proximity to Tuttle Creek Lake offers vast outdoor recreation, boating, and hiking opportunities.
Vibrant arts, cultural events, and Division I Big 12 collegiate athletics anchored by K-State.
High educational attainment levels and strong local public school performance.
Drawbacks
Rental market can experience tight inventories and higher prices near the university campus.
Local economy is heavily reliant on the university and military base, creating vulnerability to state/federal budget shifts.
Limited commercial flight options out of Manhattan Regional Airport require driving to Kansas City for major travel.
Humid continental climate brings notably cold winter extremes and occasional severe spring weather.
Public transit options are somewhat limited outside of core fixed-route bus services.
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
Manhattan
#170Kansas, USA
64.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,100
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
286/yr
Avg Temp
56.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
77
Business
70
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