City Comparison
Leawood 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
Leawood
Overland Park
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Overland Park is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
14% lower than in Leawood.
Housing costs are a major driver: Leawood's average rent is
21% higher than Overland Park's.
| Metric | Leawood | Overland Park | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,450 | +21% |
| Groceries | $480 | $420 | +14% |
| Utilities | $190 | $175 | +9% |
| Transport | $140 | $115 | +22% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $230 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,790 | $2,390 | +17% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 102 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Leawood offers 22% higher 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 Leawood is estimated at
$75,000 vs $58,000 in Overland Park.
| Metric | Leawood | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $95,000 | $78,000 |
| Salary Needed | $75,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 76,000 idx | 76,471 idx |
| Household Income | $165,000 | $95,450 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Overland Park sees 0.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Leawood | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.90°F | 56.90°F |
| Summer High | 86.10°F | 86.10°F |
| Winter Low | 22.20°F | 22.20°F |
| Rainfall | 39.80 in | 42.60 in |
| Snowfall | 17.90 in | 18.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 270 | 266 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Overland Park scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
| Metric | Leawood | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 32.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Overland Park is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Leawood.
From a growth perspective, Overland Park is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Leawood | Overland Park |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,650 | 197,238 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 45.0 | 38.4 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 2.80% |
| 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.
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.
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
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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