RANK #228 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 10 KS · POP 178,025
1YR FORECAST: +3.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +21%
Shawnee County, Kansas, is distinguished by Lake Shawnee, a prominent recreational area drawing over a million visitors annually for activities like boating, fishing, and golf, alongside its extensive trail system and Ted Ensley Gardens. Located in northeast Kansas, with Topeka as its county seat and the state capital, the county offers a blend of urban amenities and rolling prairie landscapes. Commutes within the county are generally manageable, and public transportation options like Topeka Metro serve the area. The community maintains a balance between suburban comfort and access to larger city resources.
Life in Shawnee County offers a cost of living below the national average, with diverse housing options. The county is home to highly rated public schools across several districts, including Auburn-Washburn and Seaman, making it attractive to families. Outdoor recreation is a significant aspect of the lifestyle, with numerous parks and over 60 miles of trails. Recent economic developments include investments in commercial and retail facilities, as well as multi-family housing projects, reflecting ongoing growth and efforts to address housing needs.
Shawnee County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.1% YoY, population -0.2%, wages +5.6%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 5.0x 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Shawnee County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Shawnee Battery/Storage
Undisclosed
|
$150M | Planned |
|
KC2 Data Center (7801 Nieman Road)
Netrality Data Centers
|
$100M | Operating |
|
Midland Rehabilitation Project
City of Shawnee
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Harmony at Clear Creek (Residential)
Material Capital Partners
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Hidden Creek Reserve Townhomes
Undisclosed
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Westbrooke Green Shopping Center Redevelopment
Westbrooke Partners LLC
|
$50M | 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 77/100, Shawnee County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +3.2%, and median household income stands at $67,104 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in KS.
By national standards, Shawnee County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $180,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,000/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Shawnee County are hiring — job growth of +3.2% — but the population is close to flat (-0.2% YoY). Home values moved +0.1% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.73% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Shawnee County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.