RANK #321 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 10 KS · POP 120,302
1YR FORECAST: +1.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
Douglas County, Kansas, stands out for its unique blend of academic energy and historical significance, largely centered around its most populous city, Lawrence. Home to the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence provides a dynamic atmosphere with a walkable downtown featuring shops, restaurants, and music venues. Located in northeast Kansas, approximately 41 miles west of Kansas City, the county offers a commute that connects residents to larger metropolitan areas while maintaining a distinct community feel. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore Clinton State Park, offering camping, fishing, and trails, or enjoy other county parks like Lone Star Lake Park, which provides opportunities for picnicking, swimming, and boating.
Life in Douglas County balances academic and cultural pursuits with access to natural spaces. The public schools in Douglas County are highly rated, contributing to its appeal for families. Commute options within Lawrence include fixed-route bus services, with additional paratransit and on-demand options available. The county's economy benefits from its educational institutions and its position between two metropolitan areas. Recent economic developments show growth in sectors such as data centers, energy, and infrastructure, attracting a skilled workforce. The local food economy also plays a role, with a focus on local producers and food-related businesses.
Douglas County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.3% YoY, population +0.6%, wages +2.8%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 13.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Data Center Campus (Flint Commerce Center)
Undisclosed (developer)
|
$700M | Proposed |
|
Kansas Sky Energy Center (159 MW Solar Farm)
Savion (developer), Evergy (owner/operator)
|
$159M | Planned |
|
Judicial and Law Enforcement Center (JLEC) Expansion & Public Safety Building
Douglas County
|
$89M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 68/100, Douglas County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $69,746 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in KS.
Douglas County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $309,400 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,099/month on average.
Douglas County's population is growing — up +0.6% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.3%). Home values shifted +3.3% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
In significant numbers — 6.55% of Douglas County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.