RANK #374 / 1001 NAT · #7 / 10 KS · POP 83,123
1YR FORECAST: +1.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
Leavenworth County, Kansas, stands out as the home of Fort Leavenworth, the oldest continuously active U.S. Army post west of the Mississippi River, a landmark that shapes the county's identity and history. Located in northeastern Kansas, it is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, with the city of Leavenworth, its county seat, approximately 30-45 minutes from downtown Kansas City. The community offers a small-town atmosphere with access to urban amenities. The Missouri River forms its eastern border, providing natural scenery and opportunities for outdoor recreation like walking trails and parks.
Life in Leavenworth County offers affordability and a sense of community, attracting families and military personnel. Public schools in the county are generally well-regarded. Commute times within the county are typically around 20 minutes, with options for driving to Kansas City for work. The economy benefits from government institutions, including Fort Leavenworth and federal correctional facilities. Recent economic developments include investments in data centers and the energy sector, contributing to job growth and capital investment in the area.
Leavenworth County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.1% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 18.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Project Bluestem Hyperscale Data Center
Cloverleaf Infrastructure
|
$600M | Proposed |
|
Leavenworth Battery/Storage (300 MW)
Undisclosed
|
$300M | Planned |
|
Wolf Creek Energy Storage (199 MWac)
Undisclosed
|
$199M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 62/100, Leavenworth County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $89,218 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in KS.
Housing in Leavenworth County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $282,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.32, with rents averaging $1,219/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Leavenworth County's population is growing — up +0.8% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.9%). Home values shifted +4.1% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 5.0% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Leavenworth County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.