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Living in
Gladstone.
About
Life in Gladstone
Gladstone works well if you want suburban Kansas City living without the density of the city itself—you're close enough for a 22-minute average commute but far enough to have actual neighborhood feel. The job market is steady with a 4.1% unemployment rate, and you'll have access to North Kansas City School District schools, though some of your kids' school assignments may pull into Kansas City proper depending on where you live. Rent averages around $1,095 monthly if you're not buying.
Gladstone at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.0%
Foreign-Born
7.3%
Broadband Internet
88.9%
of households
Population Growth
+1.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Gladstone: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Gladstone, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (18.1%), and 4.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.5%
of residents
65 and Older
20.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.5%
of households
Married Couples
43.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for MO
Rent, home values, and income in Gladstone
Rent and home values here are close to the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,477
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $268,078 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MO
Unemployment in Gladstone and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Gladstone is close to the MO average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Gladstone Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Kansas City, MO-KS metro area
Commute22.9 min avg
How Gladstone residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Gladstone, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Medium hub5.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Gladstone is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
332.1
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,447.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Gladstone Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Clay County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Clay County, which includes Gladstone, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2023 | 8 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 13 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2019 | 19 | Hail | None reported |
| 2018 | 13 | Drought | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Clay County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Clay County, which includes Gladstone, is typically good — 270 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
270
per year
Moderate Days
86
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Clay County, county-wide
Climate88°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Gladstone has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.8"
Annual Snowfall
11.0"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
93
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
86
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 22°F | 1.02" |
| Feb | 45°F | 26°F | 1.53" |
| Mar | 57°F | 36°F | 2.08" |
| Apr | 67°F | 46°F | 3.89" |
| May | 76°F | 57°F | 5.10" |
| Jun | 86°F | 67°F | 5.33" |
| Jul | 90°F | 72°F | 4.38" |
| Aug | 89°F | 70°F | 4.68" |
| Sep | 80°F | 61°F | 3.78" |
| Oct | 68°F | 49°F | 3.24" |
| Nov | 55°F | 36°F | 1.80" |
| Dec | 44°F | 27°F | 1.30" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Gladstone
Uninsured
9.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Gladstone's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Nkc Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · North Kansas City
Saint Lukes North Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Kansas City
Liberty Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.3 mi away · Liberty
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Gladstone
Gladstone's student/teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 31.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Gladstone (within 15 miles)
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
10.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 10,649 students · in-state tuition $3,630 · 22% graduate · median earnings $44,475 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Missouri-Kansas City
12.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,817 students · in-state tuition $13,216 · 58% graduate · median earnings $63,110 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,580 students · in-state tuition $46,270 · 77% graduate · median earnings $73,697 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 924 students · in-state tuition $21,538 · 62% graduate · median earnings $63,955 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 812 students · in-state tuition $45,674 · 57% graduate · median earnings $40,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
2.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 747 students · in-state tuition $10,560 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,104 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Harry S Truman National Historic Site, 20 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Gladstone
Gladstone has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Harry S Truman National Historic Site (20 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Harry S Truman National Historic Site
National Historic Site
20 mi awayBrown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
61 mi awayFort Scott National Historic Site
National Historic Site
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Gladstone
Antioch Branch
6060 N Chestnut Ave, Gladstone
Cities Near Gladstone
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Gladstone?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Gladstone FAQ
Is Gladstone, Missouri affordable?⌄
Gladstone's median rent is $1,088/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $79,271/year. Median home value is $231,500.
Is Gladstone, Missouri safe?⌄
Gladstone's violent crime rate was 332 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1448 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Gladstone, Missouri?⌄
Gladstone has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Gladstone, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Gladstone is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,088/month and median household income is $79,271/year. The median home value is $231,500. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Gladstone, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Gladstone is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from