County · Kansas
Shawnee County, Kansas
Shawnee County, Kansas. Shawnee County had 178,607 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.2% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. It holds 19 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs, 12 towns and townships and 2 census-designated) and 46 census tracts. GEOID 20177.
Shawnee County is one of the 5 counties of the Topeka, KS metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
178,607
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 178,909 · ACS 2020-2024: 178,025
Median household income
$67,104
±$2,304 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275
Median home value
$180,900
±$4,873 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200
Median gross rent
$1,000
±$30 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060
How many people live in Shawnee County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 178,909 residents in Shawnee County. The Census Bureau estimates 178,607 for July 1, 2025, down 0.2% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 178,025 over 544 square miles of land.
| Measure | Shawnee County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 178,025 | 2,947,197 | +173 |
| Households | 75,458±597 | 1,174,060 | +3,191 |
| Average household size | 2.29±0.02 | 2.44 | −0.10 |
| Housing units | 81,075±125 | 1,293,635 | +1,063 |
Shawnee County's population since 2000
From 169,871 in 2000 to 178,607 in 2025: up 5.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Shawnee County?
Shawnee County holds 19 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 12 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Topeka with 125,795 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Topeka | 126,587 | $56,956 |
|---|---|---|
| Soldier Township | 15,109 | $99,994 |
| Mission Township, Shawnee County | 10,055 | $121,565 |
| Tecumseh Township | 7,753 | $109,856 |
| Williamsport Township | 4,244 | $56,471 |
| Auburn Township | 3,312 | $89,023 |
| Monmouth Township | 3,185 | $106,143 |
| Silver Lake Township | 1,942 | $57,097 |
| Rossville Township | 1,882 | $63,462 |
| Dover Township | 1,677 | $112,679 |
| Menoken TownshipGEOID 2017745850 | 1,638 | $119,792 |
| Silver Lake | 1,345 | $56,834 |
| Auburn | 1,273 | $57,875 |
| Rossville | 1,105 | $54,318 |
| Topeka TownshipGEOID 2017771025 | 791 | $108,576 |
| Grove Township, Shawnee CountyGEOID 2017729075 | 734 | $130,096 |
| TecumsehGEOID 2070075 | 696 | $77,740 |
| WakarusaGEOID 2074425 | 242 | $58,583 |
| WillardGEOID 2079250 | 74 | $65,938 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Shawnee County?
The median resident of Shawnee County is 39.4 years old; 23.1% are under 18 and 19.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 71.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 13.8%. 4.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Shawnee County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4±0.3 | 37.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.1%±0.1 pts | 23.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.4%±0.1 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.8% | 13.6% | +1.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 71.0%±0.4 pts | 72.7% | −2.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.6%±0.4 pts | 5.2% | −1.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.3%±0.2 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.3%±0.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.1%±0.4 pts | 7.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.1%±0.6 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.0%±0.6 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 15.7%±0.7 pts | 13.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.6%±0.6 pts | 8.8% | +1.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.3%±0.5 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 32.2%±1.1 pts | 35.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.4%±0.8 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5%±0.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Shawnee County earn?
Half of Shawnee County's 75,458 households earn less than $67,104 a year (±$2,304), against $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 it was $69,857 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Shawnee County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,104±$2,304 | $74,275 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $88,163±$1,896 | $100,417 | – |
| Per capita income | $37,908±$783 | $40,978 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.7%±0.9 pts | 11.3% | +1.3 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.0%±1.9 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.0%±0.9 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.4%±0.9 pts | 90.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Shawnee County?
Owners occupy 66.8% of Shawnee County's occupied homes and renters 33.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $180,900 by its owner (±$4,873). The median renter pays $1,000 a month including utilities, and 36.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Shawnee County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $180,900±$4,873 | $217,200 | +$17,833 |
| Median gross rent | $1,000±$30 | $1,060 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.4%±2.8 pts | 34.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,474±$30 | $1,689 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 66.8%±1.3 pts | 67.2% | +2.4 pts |
| Housing units | 81,075±125 | 1,293,635 | +1,063 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4%±0.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.9%±1.6 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.0%±1.0 pts | 71.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.2%±0.5 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8%±0.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 13.4%±0.9 pts | 15.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Shawnee County building?
Builders took permits for 464 new housing units across Shawnee County in 2025 (162 single-family), 2.6 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Shawnee County get to work?
77.1% of Shawnee County's workers drive alone and 11.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.1%.
| Measure | Shawnee County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.6%±0.8 pts | 66.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1%±0.6 pts | 3.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 77.1%±1.1 pts | 75.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.8%±0.8 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3%±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.6%±0.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.2%±0.9 pts | 11.8% | +8.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.9 min±0.6 | 19.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Shawnee County's census tracts?
Shawnee County is divided into 46 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $28,552 (Tract 40) to $132,919 (Tract 36.05).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Shawnee County compare with Kansas's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 3rd of 105 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 25th of 105 |
| Residents per square mile | 4th of 105 |
| Median household income | 39th of 105 |
| Median home value | 18th of 105 |
| Median gross rent | 12th of 104 |
| Poverty rate | 33rd of 102 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10th of 105 |
| Median age | 69th of 105 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Shawnee County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.