Shawnee County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Shawnee County is located in Kansas with a total population of 178,315. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shawnee County is 39.6 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shawnee County is $66,043. This is 9% lower than the state median of $72,639. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 16% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.4%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $170,400. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $203,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Shawnee County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Shawnee County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.6%. The Asian population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

32.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Shawnee County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.5%.