1st Advantage MortgageShawnee County households have a median income of $67,104 and median rent of $1,000 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Kansas before sharing details.
On this page
- Shawnee County at a glance
- Household income in Shawnee County
- How Shawnee County residents earn a living
- Housing costs in Shawnee County
- Towns and communities in Shawnee County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Shawnee County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Shawnee County
- Room for a loan payment in Shawnee County
- Four steps for Shawnee County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Kansas
- More guides for Shawnee County
- Frequently asked questions
Shawnee County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Shawnee County's population at 178,025; only 2 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 544 square miles, that is close to 327 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Topeka, KS metropolitan area. Topeka is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 125,786 people (71% of the county total).
Household income in Shawnee County
Half of Shawnee County households take in less than $67,104 a year and half take in more, 10% below the Kansas median of $74,275. That places it 39th among Kansas's 105 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Shawnee County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.2% | +2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.9% | +1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.1% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -2.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Shawnee County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. 12.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.440 here. For a borrower in Shawnee County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Shawnee County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Shawnee County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by public administration (10%). Compared with Kansas, the county leans toward public administration (10% against 5%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. Households without a car make up 7.4% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Shawnee County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Public administration | 10.0% | +5.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.6% | -2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -1.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.7% | +1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Shawnee County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,000 in Shawnee County versus $1,060 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. Home values center on $180,900, or 2.7 years of median income. 67% of Shawnee County households own their home and 33% rent.
| Cost | Shawnee County | Kansas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,000/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $180,900 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.2% | 4.0% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Shawnee County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 73% of Shawnee County residents live in one of the 7. Incomes vary by place: $57,875 at the median in Auburn, $54,318 in Rossville. Live in one of these Shawnee County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | city | 125,786 | $56,956 | $979 | 3 mi |
| Silver Lake | city | 1,553 | $56,834 | $860 | 7 mi |
| Auburn | city | 1,144 | $57,875 | $871 | 10 mi |
| Rossville | city | 1,106 | $54,318 | $930 | 12 mi |
| Tecumseh | CDP | 457 | $77,740 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Wakarusa | CDP | 209 | $58,583 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Willard | city | 67 | $65,938 | n/a | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 39 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Shawnee County; Pottawatomie County is highest at $92,325 and Douglas County lowest at $69,746.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnee County | - | $67,104 | $1,000/mo | 67% |
| Jefferson County, KS | 25 mi | $81,278 | $835/mo | 86% |
| Wabaunsee County, KS | 25 mi | $76,908 | $780/mo | 81% |
| Jackson County, KS | 26 mi | $75,215 | $814/mo | 77% |
| Douglas County, KS | 27 mi | $69,746 | $1,099/mo | 50% |
| Osage County, KS | 27 mi | $74,467 | $785/mo | 82% |
| Pottawatomie County, KS | 39 mi | $92,325 | $924/mo | 82% |
Shawnee County residents: age, schooling, coverage
32% of Shawnee County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Shawnee County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.2% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.7% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.4% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.5% |
Before borrowing in Shawnee County
What the Shawnee County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Room for a loan payment in Shawnee County
How much room does a median Shawnee County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,592 a month: gross income for a household at the Shawnee County median
- Less median rent of $1,000, which is 18% of it
- At 35%, room after rent is $957 a month
- $1,516: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Four steps for Shawnee County borrowers
Quick steps for Shawnee County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Kansas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Kansas
Shawnee County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Kansas state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Shawnee County
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Shawnee County earn?
The median is $67,104; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Shawnee County rent compare with Kansas?
$1,000 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 6% below.
Which towns does the Shawnee County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Topeka, Silver Lake, Auburn, Rossville, Tecumseh.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Shawnee County or elsewhere in Kansas, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Shawnee County?
Start with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.