Sedgwick County vs Shawnee County
Sedgwick 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.
Shawnee County edges out Sedgwick County on overall objective livability (44 vs 39 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Sedgwick County | Shawnee County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $65k | $63k |
| Cost of Living | $42k | $44k |
| Home Value | $176k | $160k |
| Monthly Rent | $937 | $942 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $127k | $50k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.27% | 1.48% |
| Income Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Sales Tax | 8.75% | 8.75% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.00% | 12.33% |
| Unemployment | 5.3% | 4.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 33°F | 30°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 81°F | 80°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0 in | 37.6 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.4 in | 15.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 234 days | 271 days |
| Summer Humidity | 66°F | 67°F |
| Comfortable Days | 65 days | 61 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 96.6 | 88.0 |
| Air Quality | 48 AQI | 48 AQI |
| School Quality | 56.7 | 51.8 |
| Violent Crime | 3015/100k | 2025/100k |
| Property Crime | 3573/100k | 2986/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 522,700 | 178,625 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 39.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.45 | 0.38 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | R+13 | Even |
| White (%) | 66.4% | 72.2% |
| Black (%) | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 15.5% | 13.2% |
| Asian (%) | 4.2% | 1.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 10.2/20 | 10.2/20 |
| Airport Distance | 136 mi | 59 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 89.3% | 82.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 1.91 | 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 Sedgwick County or Shawnee County more affordable?
- Sedgwick County has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Sedgwick County's $42k and Shawnee County's $44k. Median rent is $937 in Sedgwick County versus $942 in Shawnee County.
- Is Sedgwick County or Shawnee County safer?
- Shawnee County has the lower violent crime rate. Sedgwick County reports 3015/100k and Shawnee County reports 2025/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Sedgwick County or Shawnee County?
- The median home value is $176k in Sedgwick County and $160k in Shawnee County, so homes are more affordable in Shawnee County.