The Town FilesGardner, Kansas
City in Johnson County · population 23,287 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $306,200
- Household income
- $96,818
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 30.7
Gardner is a city of 23,287 people in Johnson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $306,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more vibrant than 91% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 91% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 86% of Kansas towns.
How Gardner ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Gardner is worth $306,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $96,818, which is more affordable than 8% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,306 a month. 67.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gardner | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $306,200 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,306 | $815 |
| Median household income | $96,818 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.6% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gardner
| People | Gardner | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.7 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.0% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Gardner
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.7 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gardner since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 20, 1957 about 4.3 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 23 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 19, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 149 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 19, 1974.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4747: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| November 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4347: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| December 12, 2007 | Severe Storm | EM-3282: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 370,992 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,090 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Gardner itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Gardner
10 public schools with 5,746 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner Edgerton High | 9-12 | 1,766 | 17.5 |
| Trail Ridge Middle School | 5-8 | 684 | 13.2 |
| Pioneer Ridge Middle School | 5-8 | 570 | 13.9 |
| Wheatridge Middle School | 5-8 | 525 | 12.2 |
| Madison Elementary | PK-4 | 523 | 14.9 |
| Nike Elementary | PK-4 | 365 | 12.2 |
| Grand Star Elementary | PK-4 | 351 | 10.0 |
| Moonlight Elementary School | PK-4 | 330 | 12.7 |
| Gardner Elem | PK-4 | 321 | 11.9 |
| Sunflower Elementary | PK-4 | 311 | 12.4 |
Towns near Gardner
- Spring Hill, KS6.5 mi · 7,952 people · home $357,800
- Olathe, KS7.4 mi · 141,290 people · home $364,700
- De Soto, KS9.8 mi · 6,118 people · home $422,400
- Lenexa, KS12.5 mi · 57,434 people · home $394,900
- Eudora, KS12.8 mi · 6,408 people · home $280,100
- Overland Park, KS13.6 mi · 197,238 people · home $413,600
- Baldwin City, KS14.5 mi · 4,826 people · home $249,500
- Shawnee, KS15.7 mi · 67,311 people · home $359,700
Gardner questions
Is Gardner, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gardner scores better for retirees than 8% of Kansas towns and quieter than 3%. 8.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.7).
How much does a house cost in Gardner?
The median owner-occupied home in Gardner is valued at $306,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,818, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,306 a month.
What is the weather like in Gardner?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 13.7 inches of snow.
Does Gardner get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gardner since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 20, 1957. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)