Shawnee County, KS

County

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2024 Population

178,025

US Senator

Jerry Moran

Republican Party

US Senator

Roger Marshall

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

39.4

0.505% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

12.7%

2.91% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$67,104

1.61% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$180,900

6.16% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

83,664

1.18% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Shawnee County, KS reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.4% of the residents in Shawnee County, KS are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Shawnee County, KS are Washburn University (1,404 degrees awarded in 2023), Washburn Institute of Technology (805 degrees), and Rasmussen University-Kansas (256 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Shawnee County, KS was $180,900, and the homeownership rate was 66.8%.

Most people in Shawnee County, KS drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 17.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Shawnee County, KS was 2 cars per household.

Shawnee County, KS borders Douglas County, KS, Jackson County, KS, Jefferson County, KS, Osage County, KS, Pottawatomie County, KS, and Wabaunsee County, KS.

United States Kansas Topeka, KS

Population & Diversity

Shawnee County, KS is home to a population of 178k people, from which 97.4% are citizens. As of 2024, 4.09% of Shawnee County, KS residents were born outside of the country (7.28k people).

In 2024, there were 10.8 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (126k people) in Shawnee County, KS than any other race or ethnicity. There were 11.7k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 9.77k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.4%

2024 Citizenship

97.5%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 97.4% of Shawnee County, KS residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Shawnee County, KS was 97.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Shawnee County, KS compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Shawnee County, KS

White (Non-Hispanic)
126k ± 715
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
11.7k ± 790
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
9.77k ± 867

13.8%

Hispanic Population

24.6k people

13.8% of the people in Shawnee County, KS are hispanic (24.6k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Shawnee County, KS as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Kansas.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
83,075 ± 6,976 people
India
12,929 ± 2,785 people
Vietnam
10,325 ± 2,490 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Kansas was Mexico, the natal country of 83,075 Kansas residents, followed by India with 12,929 and Vietnam with 10,325.

Foreign-Born Population

4.09%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

7.28k people

4.17%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

7.43k people

As of 2024, 4.09% of Shawnee County, KS residents (7.28k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Shawnee County, KS was 4.17%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Shawnee County, KS compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
3,958 ± 517
Gulf War (2001-)
2,978 ± 429
Gulf War (1990s)
1,450 ± 249

Shawnee County, KS has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.33 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Shawnee County, KS.

Economy

The economy of Shawnee County, KS employs 83.7k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Shawnee County, KS were Health Care & Social Assistance (14,158 people), Public Administration (8,369 people), and Manufacturing (8,021 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($81,984), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($68,143), and Finance & Insurance ($61,158).

Employment

Occupations

83.7k

2024 Value

± 2,352

−1.18%

1 Year decline

± 3.92%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Shawnee County, KS declined at a rate of −1.18%, from 84.7k employees to 83.7k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Shawnee County, KS, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (9,460 people), Management Occupations (7,853 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (6,654 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Shawnee County, KS.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Kansas.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Kansas (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

83.7k

2024 Value

± 2,352

−1.18%

1 Year decline

± 3.92%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Shawnee County, KS declined at a rate of −1.18%, from 84.7k employees to 83.7k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Shawnee County, KS, are Health Care & Social Assistance (14,158 people), Public Administration (8,369 people), and Manufacturing (8,021 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Shawnee County, KS, though some of these residents may live in Shawnee County, KS and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$52,469

Median earning men ± $1,137

$43,070

Median earning women ± $1,472

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($69,746), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($66,557), and Public Administration ($65,011).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($56,256), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($53,795), and Public Administration ($49,951).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Kansas.

Y-Axis

3.11%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.44M people employed in Kansas. This represents a 3.11% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Kansas.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

321
Health Care and Social Assistance
312
Other Services (except Public Administration)
239
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$1.07M
Health Care and Social Assistance
$545k
Finance and Insurance
$500k
Manufacturing

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Kansas went to Donald J. Trump with 57.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (41%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.23%).

Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall are the senators currently representing the state of Kansas. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Kansas is currently represented by 4 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Shawnee County, KS. Showing the available data for Kansas.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (57.2%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (41%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (1.23%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Kansas went to Donald J. Trump with 57.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (41%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.23%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Kansas for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Kansas

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Kansas.

Jerry Moran

Senator from Kansas

Assumed office on January 3, 2011

Roger Marshall

Senator from Kansas

Assumed office on January 3, 2021

Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall are the senators currently representing Kansas.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Kansas over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Shawnee County, KS awarded 2,484 degrees. The student population of Shawnee County, KS in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 2,885 male students and 4,330 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Shawnee County, KS are White (1,555 and 64.3%), Hispanic or Latino (274 and 11.3%), Unknown (228 and 9.43%), and Black or African American (200 and 8.27%).

The largest universities in Shawnee County, KS by number of degrees awarded are Washburn University (1,404 and 56.5%), Washburn Institute of Technology (805 and 32.4%), and Rasmussen University-Kansas (256 and 10.3%).

The most popular majors in Shawnee County, KS are Registered Nursing (318 and 12.8%), Nursing Assistant & Patient Care Assistant (126 and 5.07%), and Liberal Arts & Sciences (109 and 4.39%).

The median tuition cost in Shawnee County, KS for a public four year colleges is $9,464 for in-state students and $20,468 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

Measure

In 2023 in Shawnee County, KS, the percentage of applicants admitted was 40.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 77.3%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 7,215 (40% men and 60% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 7,215 students enrolled in Shawnee County, KS, 40% men and 60% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 4,466 records, of which 59.7% were women and 40.3% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Other Health & Medical Administrative Services
45 degrees awarded
General Psychology
44 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
174 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Shawnee County, KS was Other Health & Medical Administrative Services with 45 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Shawnee County, KS according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Washburn University
1,404 degrees awarded
Washburn Institute of Technology
805 degrees awarded
Rasmussen University-Kansas
256 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Washburn University with 1,404 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 965 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Shawnee County, KS, which is 0.635 times less than the 1,519 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,555 degrees mean that there were 5.68 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 274 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Private for-profit, 4-year or above ($13,137) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,978) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, less-than 2-year ($1,200) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Shawnee County, KS was $180,900 in 2024, which is 0.544 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $170,400 to $180,900, a 6.16% increase. The homeownership rate in Shawnee County, KS is 66.8%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Shawnee County, KS have an average commute time of 17.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Shawnee County, KS is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 13.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Shawnee County, KS. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.485%.

Housing

Property

$180,900

Median Property Value 2024

±$4,873

$50,393

Median Property Taxes

±$1,712

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Shawnee County, KS the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Shawnee County, KS compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

66.8%

Homeownership

2024

61.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 66.8% of the housing units in Shawnee County, KS were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 67%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Shawnee County, KS compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$67,104

Median Household Income

± $2,304

75.5k

Number of Households

± 2,272

In 2024, the median household income of the 75.5k households in Shawnee County, KS grew to $67,104 from the previous year's value of $66,043.

The following chart displays the households in Shawnee County, KS distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Shawnee County, KS is from Kansas.

0.458

2023 Wage GINI in Kansas

0.462

2022 Wage GINI in Kansas

In 2023, the income inequality in Kansas was 0.458 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.893% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Kansas was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Kansas in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Kansas across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (77.1%)
Worked At Home (11.2%)
Carpooled (8.77%)

In 2024, 77.1% of workers in Shawnee County, KS drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (11.2%) and those who carpooled to work (8.77%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

17.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Shawnee County, KS have a shorter commute time (17.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 0.974% of the workforce in Shawnee County, KS have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Shawnee County, KS compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Shawnee County, KS distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Shawnee County, KS have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 13.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Shawnee County, KS. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.485%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

12.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Shawnee County, KS (22.1k out of 174k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Shawnee County, KS is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 13.4% of the children was living in poverty in Shawnee County, KS. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 10.9%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 444 in Shawnee County, KS. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 6.21 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

91.4% of the population of Shawnee County, KS has health coverage, with 50.1% on employee plans, 12.1% on Medicaid, 13.9% on Medicare, 13.4% on non-group plans, and 1.92% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Shawnee County, KS see 1,371 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,371 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1467 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 257 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.8% were men and 51.2% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,371 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Shawnee County, KS

Primary care physicians in Shawnee County, KS see an average of 1,371 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,371 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Shawnee County, KS in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.8% under 18 years, 19.2% between 18 and 34 years, 36.9% between 35 and 64 years, and 19.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.8% were men and 51.2% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

8.65%

Uninsured

50.1%

Employer Coverage

12.1%

Medicaid

13.9%

Medicare

13.4%

Non-Group

1.92%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Shawnee County, KS grew by 4.62% from 8.26% to 8.65%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Shawnee County, KS changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 67.8 in Shawnee County, KS.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Shawnee County, KS.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 40% in Shawnee County, KS.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Shawnee County, KS.