The Town FilesShawnee, Kansas
City in Johnson County · population 67,311 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $359,700
- Household income
- $109,940
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 39.0
Shawnee is a city of 67,311 people in Johnson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $359,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more upscale than 94% of Kansas towns, more vibrant than 93% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Kansas towns.
How Shawnee ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Shawnee is worth $359,700, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $109,940, which is more affordable than 7% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $1,322 a month. 73.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shawnee | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $359,700 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $1,322 | $815 |
| Median household income | $109,940 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 73.7% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shawnee
| People | Shawnee | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.1% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.5% | — |
| Work from home | 21.4% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Shawnee
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 17.7°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shawnee since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 28, 2019 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 400 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on March 13, 2024.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4747: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| November 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4347: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| December 12, 2007 | Severe Storm | EM-3282: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 370,992 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,090 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Shawnee itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Shawnee
18 public schools with 10,877 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnee Mission Northwest High | 9-12 | 1,619 | 16.7 |
| Mill Valley High School | 9-12 | 1,383 | 16.9 |
| Trailridge Middle | 7-8 | 744 | 15.2 |
| Hocker Grove Middle | 7-8 | 736 | 15.7 |
| Monticello Trails Middle School | 6-8 | 684 | 15.9 |
| Clear Creek Elem | PK-5 | 503 | 14.8 |
| Shawanoe Elem | PK-6 | 502 | 15.2 |
| Mill Creek Elem | PK-6 | 497 | 17.1 |
| Ray Marsh Elem | PK-6 | 478 | 17.7 |
| Riverview Elementary | PK-5 | 457 | 13.8 |
| Prairie Ridge Elementary School | PK-5 | 455 | 14.7 |
| Mize Elementary School | PK-5 | 453 | 13.3 |
Towns near Shawnee
- Lenexa, KS3.6 mi · 57,434 people · home $394,900
- Edwardsville, KS4.3 mi · 4,717 people · home $216,400
- Bonner Springs, KS5.3 mi · 7,837 people · home $247,200
- Merriam, KS6.0 mi · 11,098 people · home $263,300
- Mission, KS8.0 mi · 9,954 people · home $289,100
- Kansas City, KS8.0 mi · 156,607 people · home $167,400
- Roeland Park, KS9.1 mi · 6,871 people · home $276,200
- Prairie Village, KS9.3 mi · 22,957 people · home $435,700
Shawnee questions
Is Shawnee, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shawnee scores better for retirees than 29% of Kansas towns and quieter than 13%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Shawnee?
The median owner-occupied home in Shawnee is valued at $359,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $109,940, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,322 a month.
What is the weather like in Shawnee?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 17.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 17.4 inches of snow.
Does Shawnee get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shawnee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 28, 2019. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)