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Johnson County, KS

RANK #276 / 996  ·  POP 610,742  ·  KS

PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.7%

Johnson County combines solid growth with real affordability — a rare combination.

[01] Why Johnson County?

Overland Park, a prominent city within Johnson County, Kansas, is often among the first places locals mention. Johnson County itself is the most populous county in Kansas, situated in the northeastern part of the state, bordering Kansas City, Missouri. Commuting to Kansas City is common, with various RideKC public transportation options available, including fixed-route bus services and micro transit. The community offers a blend of suburban and rural lifestyles. The Johnson County Park and Recreation District manages over 10,000 acres, providing numerous parks, trails, and nature centers like Ernie Miller Nature Center, which offer environmental education and outdoor activities.

Life in Johnson County is characterized by a high quality of life, with residents reporting strong satisfaction with the area as a place to live, work, and raise children. The public school districts, such as Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission, are highly rated. The economy is experiencing growth, with recent developments in commercial and residential real estate, industrial sectors, and manufacturing. The county's location along the I-35 corridor supports its role as a regional hub for industrial activity.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
3.9x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
-0.0%

Contracting economy

Home Prices
+4.2%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
-1.7

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
17x

Above national median (13x)

Housing looks undervalued at 3.9x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Johnson County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
610,742
+0.92% YoY
Median Household Income
$103,644
Median Home Value
$343,300
+4.25% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,312
Average Annual Pay
$75,090
+5.2% YoY
Employment
370,992
+0.3% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3019
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.04%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$460,000
Days on Market
30
Active market
Months of Supply
2.1
Seller's market
Listings w/ Price Drops
20.1%
Building Permits (2024)
2,714
Single-Family Permits
1,733

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$4,184M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
De Soto Data Center Campus ("Project Pilot")
Mount Sunflower Properties LLC (managed by Beale Infrastructure)
$3,100M Proposed
Southern Meadows Master-Planned Community
Unknown
$600M Under Construction
West Gardner Solar Project
NextEra Energy Resources
$320M Proposed
Johnson County Health Services Building
Johnson County Government
$114M Planning Stage
New Century Commerce Center Development
Johnson County, VanTrust Real Estate
$50M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth -0.0% 7 percentile
Population Growth +0.9% 69 percentile
Income Growth +7.9% 35 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.0% 58 percentile
Home Price Change +4.2% 85 percentile
Rent Growth +1.7% 30 percentile
Price/Rent 17x 20 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Johnson County, KS a good place to move to?

Johnson County has a Boom Town Index score of 72/100, ranking #276 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.3% and a median household income of $103,644, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Johnson County affordable?

The median home value in Johnson County is $343,300 with median rent at $1,312/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3019, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Johnson County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.9% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.3%. Home values changed +4.2% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Johnson County?

Yes — 2.04% of Johnson County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Jefferson County, WI 82 Chippewa County, WI 82 Cass County, MO 82 Cumberland County, NJ 82 Cuyahoga County, OH 82 Clinton County, NY 82 York County, PA 82 Etowah County, AL 82