The Town Files

Shawnee County, Kansas

178,025 people. The median home is worth $180,900 (typical Kansas town: $128,200) and the median household earns $67,104.

Towns in Shawnee County

Towns in Shawnee County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Topeka126,587$144,200$56,95638.0

People and housing

Shawnee CountyTypical Kansas town
Median home value$180,900$128,200
Median rent$1,000$815
Median household income$67,104$63,857
Median age39.438.5
Bachelor's degree or higher32.2%24.0%
Below the poverty line12.7%10.6%

Jobs and pay

99,247 jobs in 2024, average pay $60,096 a year.

Largest industries in Shawnee CountyHealth care & social assistan…17,852 jobs · $63,597Retail8,599 jobs · $34,473Manufacturing8,198 jobs · $70,765Hotels & restaurants7,236 jobs · $21,642Administrative & support6,037 jobs · $45,716Finance & insurance5,437 jobs · $98,526
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Shawnee County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 2.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 1,268 storm events in Shawnee County from 1996 to 2026, with 8 deaths.

Storm events in Shawnee County by type since 1996Hail452Heat14Flood29Drought11Tornado17High Wind19Lightning27Heavy Snow18Flash Flood96Winter Storm43
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Shawnee County has been included in 17 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 28, 2024Winter StormDR-4774: Severe Winter Storm
March 29, 2020BiologicalDR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3481: Covid-19
March 9, 2010Severe StormDR-1885: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm
February 1, 2008Severe StormDR-1741: Severe Winter Storms
December 12, 2007Severe StormEM-3282: Severe Winter Storms
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).