City Comparison
Leawood vs Wichita
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Leawood scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Leawood
Wichita
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Wichita is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
34% lower than in Leawood.
Housing costs are a major driver: Leawood's average rent is
84% higher than Wichita's.
| Metric | Leawood | Wichita | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $950 | +84% |
| Groceries | $480 | $380 | +26% |
| Utilities | $190 | $170 | +12% |
| Transport | $140 | $110 | +27% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $220 | +5% |
| Monthly Total | $2,790 | $1,830 | +52% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 88 | 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 $48,000 in Wichita.
| Metric | Leawood | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $95,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $75,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 76,000 idx | 65,909 idx |
| Household Income | $165,000 | $65,200 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.5°F of each other.
For sunshine, Wichita comes out ahead with 10 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Leawood sees 10 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Leawood | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.90°F | 58.40°F |
| Summer High | 86.10°F | 87.20°F |
| Winter Low | 22.20°F | 23.60°F |
| Rainfall | 39.80 in | 35.90 in |
| Snowfall | 17.90 in | 7.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 270 | 280 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Wichita scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
| Metric | Leawood | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 19 min |
| Transit Score | 32.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 32.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Wichita is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Leawood.
From a growth perspective, Leawood 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 | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,650 | 397,532 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.40% |
| Median Age | 45.0 | 35.2 |
| 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.
Wichita
Advantages
Median home prices in Wichita are significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership highly accessible per Zillow data.
Average daily commute times are notably shorter than the U.S. average, reducing daily transit stress per Census Bureau reports.
The city offers a robust and growing arts and culinary scene, particularly in the historic Old Town and Delano districts.
Wichita serves as a major regional healthcare hub with world-class hospital systems like Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center.
Abundant green spaces, including the Arkansas River multi-use paths and Botanica Gardens, provide strong outdoor recreation options.
Drawbacks
The local economy experiences cyclical fluctuations due to its heavy reliance on the aerospace manufacturing sector.
Public transportation options are limited, resulting in a high degree of car dependency for daily commuting and errands.
Summer temperatures can be quite high and breezy, while winters occasionally bring unpredictable severe weather and ice storms.
Certain urban core neighborhoods experience higher property crime rates relative to suburban developments.
Voter-approved public transit and infrastructure funding have historically lagged behind growing metropolitan expansion needs.
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
Wichita
#290Kansas, USA
61.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
58.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
75
Business
70
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