City Profile

Leavenworth, Kansas

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Leavenworth, Kansas, holds the distinct honor of being the oldest city in Kansas, having been founded in 1854 along the scenic banks of the Missouri River. Steeped in deep military history as the home of Fort Leavenworth—the oldest active US Army post west of the Mississippi—the city successfully blends historic 19th-century architecture with a resilient and welcoming Midwestern community. Residents and newcomers are continually drawn to its charming downtown district, rolling bluffs, and a strong sense of civic pride anchored by its unique heritage.

About Kansas

Kansas, known as the "Sunflower State," offers a blend of rural charm and urban development, characterized by friendly communities and a relaxed pace of life. Its economy is diverse, with major industries including agriculture (a leading producer of wheat, corn, and sorghum), aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and professional services. Living in Kansas is generally affordable, with a cost of living approximately 10-15% lower than the national average, particularly for housing. The state experiences four distinct seasons with warm to hot summers, mild to cold winters, and moderate humidity, though it is prone to severe weather like thunderstorms and tornadoes, especially in spring and early summer.

38,500

Population

$62K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

61.8

Quality Score

How this 62/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 68 / 100	68.0	30%	20.4
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 92.0	53.8	25%	13.4
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $68,000 Income needed to live here: $50,000 Unemployment rate: 3.8%	73.8	20%	14.8
Growth	Population growth rate: 0.6% Job growth rate: 1.5%	45.0	15%	6.8
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 65 / 100	65.0	10%	6.5
Overall score				61.8

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 2 (reasoned) (q=54, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 15 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Leavenworth generally tracks comfortably below the national average, making it an attractive option for families, military personnel, and retirees looking for financial breathing room. Housing, utilities, and everyday goods remain significantly more affordable here compared to the nearby Kansas City metropolitan core, though recent inflationary pressures have caused modest bumps in grocery and service pricing. Overall, residents enjoy a high value for their dollar without sacrificing access to modern amenities.

Average Rent

$1,150/mo

Groceries

$380/mo

Transport

$110/mo

Utilities

$165/mo

Healthcare

$220/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$40.00

Cinema ticket

$12.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$20.00

Monthly groceries

$380.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$130.00

Income

Salary Insights

Leavenworth's economy is heavily anchored by public sector employment, with Fort Leavenworth serving as a massive economic engine that supports thousands of military service members, civilian contractors, and federal personnel. Beyond the military installation, key economic drivers include healthcare services, regional manufacturing, education, and local retail trade. The local workforce also benefits from expanding remote work infrastructure while maintaining an easy commute into the broader Kansas City job market.

The average salary in Leavenworth is $62,000 per year. You would need approximately $50,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +1.40% Manufacturing +1.60% Healthcare & Social Assistance +2.10% Educational Services +1.00% Public Administration / Military +1.20%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

56°F

Avg Temp

☀️

86°F

Summer High

❄️

21°F

Winter Low

🌧️

44.20"

Annual Rain

💧

68.00%

Humidity

🌤️

267

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

While most residents rely on personal automobiles for daily commutes and errands due to limited public transit options, the city's straightforward grid layout keeps local traffic manageable. Convenient access to major regional corridors like US-73 and nearby interstate connections makes traveling to Kansas City and international airport facilities straightforward.

22 min

Avg Commute

35.00/10

Transit Score

48.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

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.

Head to Head

Compare Leavenworth

Leavenworth VS Kansas City Leavenworth VS Grants Pass Leavenworth VS Syracuse Leavenworth VS Toledo

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Nearby Cities

Shawnee

Kansas City

Lenexa

Overland Park

Community Q&A

Questions about Leavenworth

What people ask about living in and moving to Leavenworth, Kansas.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

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