What it's like to live in Gladstone
Gladstone is a small city in Missouri with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Gladstone deals with cold winters and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Gladstone compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Gladstone
Based on Gladstone's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,176
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,520 a year
- 41% of Gladstone renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$46,300
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $23,150
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 23% below US
$1,088/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,088 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $231,500. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $231,500 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
332 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1448/100k · Gladstone Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% 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 25°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 12% below US
32% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 32% 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
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below 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 (20 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Gladstone's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are cold winters and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit. A year of median rent ($1,088/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Gladstone
All Missouri guides →Moving to Kansas City →
6 mi away · pop. 510,612
Rent $1,238/mo · Income $69,166
Compare with Gladstone →Moving to Smithville →
12 mi away · pop. 10,705
Rent $1,323/mo · Income $101,165
Compare with Gladstone →Not sure Gladstone is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.