Johnson County vs Shawnee County
Johnson County, Kansas versus Shawnee County, Kansas: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Johnson County and Shawnee County score about the same overall (44 vs 45 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Johnson County | Shawnee County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $104k | $63k |
| Cost of Living | $55k | $44k |
| Home Value | $343k | $160k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $942 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.17% | 1.48% |
| Income Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Sales Tax | 8.75% | 8.75% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.45% | 12.33% |
| Unemployment | 3.2% | 4.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 30°F | 30°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 79°F | 80°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.2 in | 37.6 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.9 in | 15.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 260 days | 271 days |
| Summer Humidity | 67°F | 67°F |
| Comfortable Days | 73 days | 61 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 94.8 | 88.0 |
| Air Quality | 49 AQI | 48 AQI |
| School Quality | 53.9 | 51.8 |
| Violent Crime | 1037/100k | 2025/100k |
| Property Crime | 1857/100k | 2986/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 610,742 | 178,625 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 39.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.32 | 0.38 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | Even | Even |
| White (%) | 78.2% | 72.2% |
| Black (%) | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 8.1% | 13.2% |
| Asian (%) | 5.3% | 1.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 10.3/20 | 10.2/20 |
| Airport Distance | 28 mi | 59 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 95.0% | 82.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 3.63 | 10.24 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Johnson County or Shawnee County more affordable?
- Shawnee County has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Johnson County's $55k and Shawnee County's $44k. Median rent is $1k in Johnson County versus $942 in Shawnee County.
- Is Johnson County or Shawnee County safer?
- Johnson County has the lower violent crime rate. Johnson County reports 1037/100k and Shawnee County reports 2025/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Johnson County or Shawnee County?
- The median home value is $343k in Johnson County and $160k in Shawnee County, so homes are more affordable in Shawnee County.