Fort Riley, KS vs Gardner, KS

Fort Riley is moderately more affordable than Gardner, with a 6.2% lower cost of living index. Fort Riley scores 89 compared to 95 for Gardner, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gardner can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Riley is $1,283/month compared to $1,296/month in Gardner — a 1% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Riley is more affordable at $222,100 median vs $276,000.

Median household income in Fort Riley is $52,823 compared to $92,579 in Gardner (-42.9%). While Gardner is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Riley spend roughly 29.1% of their income on rent, more than the 16.8% in Gardner.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (55°F vs 55.1°F). Gardner receives more rainfall at 37.5" per year compared to 32.2" in Fort Riley.