RANK #785 / 1001 NAT · #10 / 10 KS · POP 620,631
1YR FORECAST: +1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Overland Park, a prominent city within Johnson County, Kansas, is often among the first places locals mention. Johnson County itself is the most populous county in Kansas, situated in the northeastern part of the state, bordering Kansas City, Missouri. Commuting to Kansas City is common, with various RideKC public transportation options available, including fixed-route bus services and micro transit. The community offers a blend of suburban and rural lifestyles. The Johnson County Park and Recreation District manages over 10,000 acres, providing numerous parks, trails, and nature centers like Ernie Miller Nature Center, which offer environmental education and outdoor activities.
Life in Johnson County is characterized by a high quality of life, with residents reporting strong satisfaction with the area as a place to live, work, and raise children. The public school districts, such as Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission, are highly rated. The economy is experiencing growth, with recent developments in commercial and residential real estate, industrial sectors, and manufacturing. The county's location along the I-35 corridor supports its role as a regional hub for industrial activity.
Johnson County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.8% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.4x — 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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
De Soto Data Center Campus ("Project Pilot")
Mount Sunflower Properties LLC (managed by Beale Infrastructure)
|
$3,100M | Proposed |
|
Southern Meadows Master-Planned Community
Unknown
|
$600M | Under Construction |
|
West Gardner Solar Project
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$320M | Proposed |
|
Johnson County Health Services Building
Johnson County Government
|
$114M | Planning Stage |
|
New Century Commerce Center Development
Johnson County, VanTrust Real Estate
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 21/100, Johnson County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $109,208 combined with job growth of +0.4% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Johnson County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $391,200 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,434/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Johnson County's population is growing — up +0.9% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.4%). Home values shifted +4.8% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
Not particularly — 1.68% of Johnson County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.