What it's like to live in Leavenworth
Leavenworth is a small city in Kansas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Leavenworth deals with crime rates above the national average, cold winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Leavenworth compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Leavenworth
Based on Leavenworth's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,458
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $49,160 a year
- 38% of Leavenworth renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$38,600
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $19,300
- Homes cost 2.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 13% below US
$1,229/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,229 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $193,000. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $193,000 · 38% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 38% above US
455 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1693/100k · Leavenworth Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 25% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
33% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 33% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Harry S Truman National Historic Site (35 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Leavenworth's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,229/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Leavenworth
All Kansas guides →Moving to Kansas City →
17 mi away · pop. 155,135
Rent $1,123/mo · Income $62,401
Compare with Leavenworth →Moving to Shawnee →
22 mi away · pop. 68,542
Rent $1,322/mo · Income $109,940
Compare with Leavenworth →Not sure Leavenworth is the one?
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