Shawnee County vs Wyandotte County
Shawnee County, Kansas versus Wyandotte 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 and Wyandotte County score about the same overall (45 vs 48 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Shawnee County | Wyandotte County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $63k | $58k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $47k |
| Home Value | $160k | $140k |
| Monthly Rent | $942 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.48% | 1.54% |
| Income Tax | 5.70% | 5.12% |
| Sales Tax | 8.75% | 8.75% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.33% | 11.75% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | 5.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 30°F | 30°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 80°F | 80°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6 in | 40.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 15.3 in | 12.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 271 days | 253 days |
| Summer Humidity | 67°F | 67°F |
| Comfortable Days | 61 days | 76 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 88.0 | 89.4 |
| Air Quality | 48 AQI | 51 AQI |
| School Quality | 51.8 | 63.3 |
| Violent Crime | 2025/100k | 537/100k |
| Property Crime | 2986/100k | 303/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 178,625 | 167,989 |
| Median Age | 39.4 | 34.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.38 | 0.68 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | Even | D+32 |
| White (%) | 72.2% | 39.1% |
| Black (%) | 7.8% | 20.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 13.2% | 30.2% |
| Asian (%) | 1.4% | 5.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.4% | 5.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 22 min |
| Walkability | 10.2/20 | 10.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 59 mi | 14 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 82.7% | 85.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 10.24 | 4.35 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Good |
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 Shawnee County or Wyandotte County more affordable?
- Shawnee County has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Shawnee County's $44k and Wyandotte County's $47k. Median rent is $942 in Shawnee County versus $1k in Wyandotte County.
- Is Shawnee County or Wyandotte County safer?
- Wyandotte County has the lower violent crime rate. Shawnee County reports 2025/100k and Wyandotte County reports 537/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Shawnee County or Wyandotte County?
- The median home value is $160k in Shawnee County and $140k in Wyandotte County, so homes are more affordable in Wyandotte County.