Shawnee County, Kansas
Among the top 1% of US counties for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 18% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 42% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 4% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 99% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade A, better than 93% of US counties
- top 4% for park & nature access
- top 7% for walkability
- bottom 4% for property crime
Shawnee County is a county in Kansas with about 179,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and F for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include park & nature access, walkability, and commute time. It rates lower on violent crime and property crime.
Official websitesnco.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
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86%65%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.7 in1.2 in
muggy 100%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$63k59th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 67% of US counties
Home Value$160k50th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$942better than 29% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 41% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.48%better than 15% of US counties
Income Tax5.70%better than 33% of US counties
Sales Tax8.75%better than 20% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden12.33%better than 16% of US counties
Unemployment4.2%better than 62% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)30°F38th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)80°F66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation37.6 in37th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall15.3 inbetter than 46% of US counties
Sunny Days271 daysbetter than 87% of US counties
Summer Humidity67°Fbetter than 39% of US counties
Comfortable Days61 daysbetter than 17% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk88.0better than 12% of US counties
Air Quality48 AQIbetter than 22% of US counties
School Quality51.8better than 45% of US counties
Violent Crime2025/100kbetter than 6% of US counties
Property Crime2986/100kbetter than 4% of US counties
Community
Population178,62588th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age39.431st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3864th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9516th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven16th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)72.2%38th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)7.8%72nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)13.2%78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.4%77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.4%82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 89% of US counties
Walkability10.2/20better than 93% of US counties
Airport Distance59 mibetter than 74% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access82.7%better than 46% of US counties
Amenities Nearby10.24better than 86% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 96% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Shawnee County an affordable place to live?
- Shawnee County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 67% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Shawnee County?
- The median home value in Shawnee County is $160k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Shawnee County?
- Median household income in Shawnee County is $63k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Shawnee County?
- Median gross rent in Shawnee County is $942 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Shawnee County safe?
- Shawnee County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2025/100k (better than 6%). Property crime is 2986/100k.
- What is the weather like in Shawnee County?
- Shawnee County averages 80°F in July and 30°F in January, with 37.6 in of annual precipitation and about 271 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Shawnee County?
- Public-school quality in Shawnee County is about average, scoring better than 45% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Shawnee County?
- The average one-way commute in Shawnee County is 18 min.
Other counties in Kansas
Explore Kansas
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)