Gardner, KS? (house, employment, buying)

[AnywhereElse]

I was looking at the population growth, 1.1% versus US average of 1.7% and saw that several counties did lose population but Gardner, KS, according to the website, increased their population over 100%. I looked it up on the map and it is in Johnson County but I do wonder how a town grows like that in such a short time. Could it have been a mistake?

[thriftylefty]

The schools are just as good and the housing is a little cheaper. I wonder if a lot of people are leaving Olathe to Gardner.

[MOKAN]

Originally Posted by AnywhereElse

I was looking at the population growth, 1.1% versus US average of 1.7% and saw that several counties did lose population but Gardner, KS, according to the website, increased their population over 100%. I looked it up on the map and it is in Johnson County but I do wonder how a town grows like that in such a short time. Could it have been a mistake?

When a town is so small to begin with, it's easy for it to gain huge percentages. An intermodal hub is being built in Gardner that will employee thousands of people. Plus, Gardner is right on I-35 and the KC area has been growing southwestward along I-35 for a very long time. The housing out there is cheaper and the schools are good, like thriftylefty mentioned. Actually, there's a lot of blue-collar employment in Johnson County and those folks have to have somewhere to live. I'm not sure if folks are moving from Olathe to Gardner because Olathe is growing too, but it's likely people from outside the KC area in KS are moving to Gardner to be close to employment opportunities.

[MOKAN]

A city that grew even faster than Gardner is Basehor:

http://www.city-data.com/city/Basehor-Kansas.html

[athfo]

Originally Posted by MOKAN

A city that grew even faster than Gardner is Basehor:

http://www.city-data.com/city/Basehor-Kansas.html

And a city that grew even faster is Goddard:

http://www.city-data.com/city/Goddard-Kansas.html

[pioneer88]

All three of those towns have something in common. Small town, near a growing metroplitan area. Good schools. More affordable housing. (Relative of course) Gardner is by far the biggest of the three though. I can't speak for everywhere but I know Gardner is full of young families. I woudn't be surprised if most of the new population in these other towns are young couples buying their first home.

Edit: Also, as people move to the "city" from rural America, places like these are a nice combination of the small town they loved and the proximity to the jobs they need.

[AnywhereElse]

OK. Thanks. For the most part, it looks like "bedroom" communities to the bigger city although someone mentioned that Gardner was getting a "hub" which I don't understand what that is. I looked at Gardner on the map and thought.

[pioneer88]

City of Gardner - Intermodal and Logistic Park Pictures

[luzianne]

Another thing that factors in, I think, is that some people may be looking for a little bit of land with their house. That is available in places like Basehor and Gardner and at a reasonable price. Try to buy a house with a couple of acres in closer-in areas of Johnson County and you will find that it mostly isn't available, and where it is available you are going to pay dearly.