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Living in
Shawnee.
About
Life in Shawnee
If you're considering Shawnee, you're looking at a solidly middle-to-upper-class Kansas City suburb that appeals heavily to families and established professionals. The median household income of $110,000 and median home value around $360,000 put it in an accessible but not bargain territory — you're paying for stability and good schools rather than cutting-edge development. The job market is decent with 3.5% unemployment, and the 21.7-minute average commute to jobs in the broader metro area is manageable if you work in Kansas City proper.
Shawnee at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Foreign-Born
8.5%
Broadband Internet
95.8%
of households
Population Growth
+3.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Shawnee: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Shawnee, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (18.0%), and 5.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
15.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.8%
of households
Married Couples
58.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.55
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% above KS average
Rent, home values, and income in Shawnee
In Shawnee, rent runs 25% above the KS average, and home values are 66% above the KS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
36.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,105
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
73.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $423,555 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KS
Unemployment in Shawnee and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Shawnee is close to the KS average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Shawnee Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Kansas City, MO-KS metro area
Commute22.3 min avg
How Shawnee residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Shawnee, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Medium hub5.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 31% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Shawnee runs 31% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
227.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,378.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Shawnee Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Johnson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Johnson County, which includes Shawnee, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $110,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 17 | Hail | $100,000 |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2018 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Johnson County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Johnson County, which includes Shawnee, is typically good — 250 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
250
per year
Moderate Days
112
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Johnson County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Shawnee has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.8"
Annual Snowfall
17.4"
Hot Days/Year
34
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
127
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
91
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 18°F | 1.18" |
| Feb | 43°F | 22°F | 1.62" |
| Mar | 55°F | 31°F | 2.49" |
| Apr | 65°F | 42°F | 4.03" |
| May | 73°F | 53°F | 5.17" |
| Jun | 83°F | 64°F | 5.51" |
| Jul | 87°F | 67°F | 4.51" |
| Aug | 86°F | 65°F | 4.50" |
| Sep | 78°F | 57°F | 4.31" |
| Oct | 67°F | 44°F | 3.42" |
| Nov | 54°F | 32°F | 2.17" |
| Dec | 42°F | 22°F | 1.62" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Shawnee
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Shawnee's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventhealth Shawnee Mission
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Shawnee Mission
Minimally Invasive Surgery Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 6.6 mi away · Lenexa
Overland Park Reg Med Ctr
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7 mi away · Overland Park
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Shawnee
Shawnee's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 53.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
53.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Shawnee (within 15 miles)
Johnson County Community College
7.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 11,332 students · in-state tuition $2,424 · 31% graduate · median earnings $49,934 (10 yrs after entry)
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
12.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 10,649 students · in-state tuition $3,630 · 22% graduate · median earnings $44,475 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Missouri-Kansas City
12.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,817 students · in-state tuition $13,216 · 58% graduate · median earnings $63,110 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,580 students · in-state tuition $46,270 · 77% graduate · median earnings $73,697 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,312 students · in-state tuition $41,540 · 49% graduate · median earnings $59,717 (10 yrs after entry)
MidAmerica Nazarene University
9.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 983 students · in-state tuition $38,620 · 69% graduate · median earnings $70,804 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Harry S Truman National Historic Site, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Shawnee
Shawnee has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Harry S Truman National Historic Site (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Harry S Truman National Historic Site
National Historic Site
17 mi awayBrown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
National Historical Park
47 mi awayFort Scott National Historic Site
National Historic Site
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in Shawnee
Monticello Library
22435 W. 66th St., Shawnee
Shawnee Library
13811 Johnson Drive, Shawnee
Cities Near Shawnee
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Shawnee?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Shawnee FAQ
Is Shawnee, Kansas affordable?⌄
Shawnee's median rent is $1,322/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $109,940/year. Median home value is $359,700.
Is Shawnee, Kansas safe?⌄
Shawnee's violent crime rate was 228 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1378 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Shawnee, Kansas?⌄
Shawnee has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Shawnee, Kansas?⌄
The cost of living in Shawnee is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,322/month and median household income is $109,940/year. The median home value is $359,700. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Shawnee, Kansas?⌄
The average commute in Shawnee is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from