Shawnee
Kansas

What stands out

Against every county in America, Shawnee County is unusual in three ways: the average commute is in the bottom 10% of American counties (16 minutes), the overdose death rate is in the top 13% of American counties (32 per 100,000), and the property tax rate is in the top 15% of American counties (1.48%). Within Kansas it ranks 16th of 43 counties for the average commute, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Shawnee County, Kansas. 178,625 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.1% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +156).

Kansas stopped taxing Social Security entirely in 2024 and consolidated its brackets, and property taxes fall heavily on homeowners because agricultural land is assessed on use value. Johnson County, in the Kansas City suburbs, has the state's best-rated schools and highest home prices. The state sits squarely in Tornado Alley.

Money

The typical household here brings in $63,463 a year, higher than 59% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $60,096. Unemployment runs 2.7%, lower than 74% of American counties. 9% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 16 minutes each way.

Kansas takes 5.4% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,454 a year.

Home

The median home costs $206K, cheaper than 61% of American counties, about 1.9 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $948 a month. Property tax is 1.48% of home value, roughly $2,372 a year on that median home, higher than 85% of American counties. 67% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.4 per 1,000 residents, lower than 74% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 32 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 75.7 years, shorter than 51% of American counties. There are 423 active physicians in the county, about 23.7 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.7 of 5 stars. 9.3% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.90 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 65% of American counties. 93% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 3 points. 65% of eligible voters turned out. Under Kansas law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is illegal.

Weather and risk

The year averages 56°F, highs near 67 and lows near 45, warmer than 51% of American counties. About 31 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 80 out of 100, riskier than 80% of American counties; the county has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 205 Mbps down, faster than 53% of American counties. There are 6 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.6 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 3 breweries, 4 museums, 1 National Park Service site.