City Comparison
Hays vs Leawood
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Hays scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Hays
Leawood
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Hays is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
38% lower than in Leawood.
Housing costs are a major driver: Hays's average rent is
51% lower than Leawood's.
| Metric | Hays | Leawood | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $850 | $1,750 | -51% |
| Groceries | $380 | $480 | -21% |
| Utilities | $175 | $190 | -8% |
| Transport | $110 | $140 | -21% |
| Healthcare | $210 | $230 | -9% |
| Monthly Total | $1,725 | $2,790 | -38% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 125 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Leawood offers 43% lower 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 Hays is estimated at
$45,000 vs $75,000 in Leawood.
| Metric | Hays | Leawood |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $54,000 | $95,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $75,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 61,364 idx | 76,000 idx |
| Household Income | $58,500 | $165,000 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.3°F of each other.
For sunshine, Hays comes out ahead with 13 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Leawood sees 3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Hays | Leawood |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.60°F | 56.90°F |
| Summer High | 87.20°F | 86.10°F |
| Winter Low | 21.50°F | 22.20°F |
| Rainfall | 27.80 in | 39.80 in |
| Snowfall | 14.90 in | 17.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 283 | 270 |
| Humidity | 62.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Hays has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Leawood.
Hays scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Hays leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Hays | Leawood |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 14 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 32.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 22.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Leawood is the larger city
— approximately 0.6x the population of Hays.
From a growth perspective, Leawood is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Hays | Leawood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,100 | 34,650 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 45.0 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 2.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Hays
Advantages
Median home prices in Hays remain significantly more affordable than the national average per recent housing data.
Hays Medical Center and Fort Hays State University provide robust employment and economic stability for the region.
Crime rates in Hays are consistently well below national averages, ensuring a safe family environment.
Average commute times are exceptionally short, typically under 15 minutes across the city.
The local economy features a lower-than-average unemployment rate supported by diverse industries.
Drawbacks
Geographic isolation from major metropolitan hubs requires significant travel for specialized entertainment or shopping.
Extreme continental weather brings hot summers and cold, windy winters with occasional severe storms.
Limited public transportation options make owning a personal vehicle essentially mandatory.
Regional dining and retail options, while growing, are more limited compared to larger Kansas cities.
Rental vacancy rates can tighten during the academic year due to the influx of university students.
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.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Hays
#93Kansas, USA
67.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$850
Avg Salary
$54,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
14 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
283/yr
Avg Temp
56.60°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
78
Business
70
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
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