1st Advantage MortgageThe median Johnson County household earns $109,208, and 5% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Johnson County
- Paychecks and income spread in Johnson County
- Jobs and commutes in Johnson County
- Renting and owning in Johnson County
- How Johnson County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Johnson County
- Room for a loan payment in Johnson County
- Who lives in Johnson County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Johnson County
- Checklist for Johnson County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Johnson County
With an estimated 620,631 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Johnson County ranks 1st of 105 in Kansas for population. Land area is 474 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,310 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 18 places in the county (18 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Overland Park, with about 200,306 residents, or 32% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Johnson County
Johnson County households have a median income of $109,208 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 1st of 105 in Kansas.
| Income band | Share in Johnson County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 11.7% | -10.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.0% | -8.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.7% | +7.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 20.7% | +11.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 54% of Johnson County households make $100,000 or more, and 12% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 5.4%, 6 points lower than the state's 11.3%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Johnson County median.
Jobs and commutes in Johnson County
The biggest employer of Johnson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (17%). The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 17% locally and 10% for Kansas. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 70% drive to work alone and 5% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Johnson County share | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | -1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 17.2% | +7.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.9% | +4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.5% | -3.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.8% | -0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Johnson County
A typical Johnson County rental runs $1,434 a month including utilities, which is 35% above Kansas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. With a median value of $391,200, a typical Johnson County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 69%.
| Measure | Johnson County | Kansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,434/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $391,200 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.7% | 4.0% | n/a |
How Johnson County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (16 to 30 miles). Income ranges from $63,631 in Wyandotte County to $89,218 in Leavenworth County; none of these neighbors top Johnson County's median. The list crosses into Missouri, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | - | $109,208 | $1,434/mo | 69% |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 16 mi | $63,631 | $1,122/mo | 62% |
| Miami County, KS | 22 mi | $89,000 | $1,107/mo | 78% |
| Leavenworth County, KS | 24 mi | $89,218 | $1,219/mo | 69% |
| Douglas County, KS | 25 mi | $69,746 | $1,099/mo | 50% |
| Jackson County, MO | 27 mi | $68,577 | $1,197/mo | 59% |
| Cass County, MO | 30 mi | $87,535 | $1,205/mo | 76% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Johnson County
18 Census places fall mainly inside Johnson County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 609,172 residents, leaving about 2% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $73,600 in Merriam to $250,001 in Mission Hills. Rent is cheapest in Spring Hill ($1,108) and steepest in Leawood ($1,983). City guides exist for the linked Johnson County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overland Park | city | 200,306 | $104,834 | $1,515 | 7 mi |
| Olathe | city | 145,057 | $114,009 | $1,314 | 0 mi |
| Shawnee | city | 68,542 | $109,940 | $1,322 | 9 mi |
| Lenexa | city | 58,384 | $103,239 | $1,454 | 6 mi |
| Leawood | city | 33,809 | $185,625 | $1,983 | 11 mi |
| Gardner | city | 24,526 | $96,818 | $1,306 | 7 mi |
| Prairie Village | city | 22,874 | $113,530 | $1,794 | 12 mi |
| Merriam | city | 11,085 | $73,600 | $1,181 | 12 mi |
| Mission | city | 9,915 | $75,534 | $1,194 | 13 mi |
| Spring Hill | city | 9,120 | $112,428 | $1,108 | 9 mi |
| Roeland Park | city | 6,763 | $88,774 | $1,582 | 14 mi |
| De Soto | city | 6,414 | $104,000 | $1,158 | 9 mi |
| Fairway | city | 4,159 | $152,574 | $1,944 | 14 mi |
| Mission Hills | city | 3,548 | $250,001 | n/a | 14 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Johnson County
How much room does a median Johnson County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $9,101 a month: gross income for a household at the Johnson County median
- Rent at the median, $1,434, takes 16% of that
- $1,842: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 43% ceiling, about $2,479 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Johnson County's.
Who lives in Johnson County, in numbers
College graduates make up 58% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Johnson County | Kansas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 57.6% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.4% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 22.4% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.4% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 49.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.8% |
| 60+ min | 2.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Johnson County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Johnson County borrowers.
- Consolidation math. With 54% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Checklist for Johnson County applicants
Quick steps for Johnson County:
- Price the Johnson County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kansas.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Johnson County, check the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
Related local guides
City guides inside Johnson County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Johnson County?
$109,208 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,275 for Kansas. It ranks 1st of 105 in the state.
What do renters pay in Johnson County?
$1,434 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I live in a small Johnson County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Overland Park, Olathe, Shawnee, Lenexa, Leawood and 13 more.
Are Johnson County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Johnson County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kansas it is the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner.