Garden City 69 Good
Garden City Livability #179 ranked city in Kansas#8,237 ranked city in the USARanks better than 71% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Garden City

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this region is notably lower than the national average, encompassing everyday goods, housing, utilities, transportation and health care expenses.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    Access to public transportation in this particular area may be limited, which can result in longer-than-average commute times to reach workplaces.

  • Crime Crime

    This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.

  • Schools Schools

    The lower than average schools score may be influenced by below-average education levels, subpar reading and math scores and the lack of access to local elementary and high schools.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Surveys and polls conducted by AreaVibes with residents of the area revealed unfavorable results concerning the walkability of amenities, the availability of parks and public transit access.

What's it like Living in Garden City?

Located in the state of Kansas, Garden City is a mid-sized city with a population of 27,354 residents. If we look at the most recent Census, Garden City is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Garden City are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 37% of the population also speak Spanish. With an average age of 32 years old, Garden City could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Garden City offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 13 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Living in Garden City can be a fulfilling experience for anyone moving to the area. Having said that, in the state of Kansas, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. The best areas in Garden City and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Using data from crime, health & safety, housing, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the Kansas and national averages.

Garden City has a livability score of 69/100 and is ranked #180 in Kansas and #8,248 in the USA. If we check out each of the categories on their own, we see that Garden City ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). On a more negative note, Garden City does not have favorable grades for the following: crime (F) and education (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Garden City has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Garden City is actually affordable. The median home price for Garden City homes is $282,438, which is 14.5% higher than the Kansas average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Garden City, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.4, which is 13.3% higher than the Kansas average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Garden City

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Compare Garden City, KS Livability

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      Garden City transportation information

      Statistic Garden City Kansas National
      Average one way commute13min19min26min
      Workers who drive to work82.1%82.2%76.4%
      Workers who carpool13.9%9.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.5%0.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.8%2.4%2.8%
      Working from home2.3%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Garden City, KS data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.