Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Gardner, KS

    Is Gardner a good place to live?

    Watch Gardner

    Gardner ranks #6 of 17 Kansas cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (64/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 2.3% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $276,000
    +8.4% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,296
    per month
    Household income
    $92,579
    median
    Unemployment
    4.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Gardner

    The median home value in Gardner is $276,000 and median rent is $1,296 a month, against a median household income of $92,579. Homes cost about 3.0× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Gardner crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Kansas the 2025 rate was 476 violent and 1,922 property crimes per 100,000 people — #6 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Gardner, KS

    Gardner has about 24,020 residents, 4.0% unemployment and 22% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Gardner with

    Gardner vs WichitaGardner vs Overland ParkGardner vs Kansas CityGardner vs OlatheGardner vs TopekaGardner vs LawrenceGardner vs ShawneeGardner vs Lenexa

    More: Where to move in Kansas · Best counties in Kansas

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report