Johnson County, the Kansas City metropolitan area's growth engine, lies at the heart of the nation and possesses all the ingredients necessary to economic growth and success. The County boasts nationally ranked schools, low crime rate, high quality neighborhoods, low cost of living, and a variety of cultural and entertainment amenities. Moreover, in Money magazine's 2010 annual best places to live, Johnson County had not just one but three cities ranked in the top 100 best places to live in America. Overland Park ranked 7th and Shawnee ranked 17th.

This high quality of life and unsurpassed business environment attracts nearly 10,000 new residents and approximately 9,500 new jobs each year. Johnson County also accounts for more than half of new businesses in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area (MSA). It is not surprising, then, that half of the Fortune 100 and one-third of the Fortune 500 firms have operations in Johnson County.

Johnson County is comprised of gently undulating terrain ranging in elevation from 742 feet above sea level near its northern border along the Kansas River to 1,130 feet in the south central part of the County. The County and its 20 incorporated cities and seven townships continue to work together to ensure that the necessary infrastructure improvements are in place to accommodate further growth. Currently, slightly under half of the 477 square miles of land in the county has been developed.

Johnson County residents tend to be rather conservative. Of the over 360,000 registered voters in the County in 2010, 48% were registered as Republicans, 22% as Democrats, and 30% were unaffiliated, reform, or libertarians.

Population

Johnson County's current population is estimated to be more than 551,468, a 16% increase since 2002, and is projected to exceed 589,000 by 2020. Johnson County accounted for over half (51%) the net population growth in the 15-county Kansas City (MSA) and 64 percent of the total growth in the state.

Approximately 90% of Johnson County residents are white, and females slightly outnumber males (51% vs. 49%). In 2006 and 2009 the median age for Johnson County residents remained the same at 36 years. By the year 2020, about one in four County residents is expected to be age 55 or over.

Housing

The Kansas City metropolitan area consistently ranks among the most affordable in the nation. According to the Business Journal rankings of the best markets for young adults Kansas City ranks 26th out of the 67 metro areas analyzed. Coldwell Banker's most recent Home Price Comparison Index listed the average cost of a 2,200 square foot, four bedroom, two and a half bathroom home in Johnson County at $230,317, substantially less than the U.S. average for a comparable home.

Income

Earnings of those working in Johnson County grew 104% between 1997 and 2007 and accounted for 36% of the total earnings of Kansas workers and 43% of earnings in the Kansas City MSA. Johnson County's per capita personal income was $54,395 in 2008, the highest in the state. The median household income in Johnson County in 2008 was $76,250.

Recreation

Johnson County residents are afforded a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Within the Kansas City Metropolitan Area there are over 50 museums and historic sites, 65,000 acres of park land, and 65 golf courses, 23 of which are in Johnson County. There are also 14 Corps of Engineers regional lakes within a three-hour drive that provide abundant opportunities for boating, water skiing, fishing, and camping.

Education

In its annual "Education Quotient" ranking of the nation's 2,800 school districts with enrollments of at least 3,300 students, Expansion Management magazine ranked Johnson County's public school districts among the best. The educational attainment of Johnson County's population ranks among the most highly educated in the nation, making the local labor pool one of the best in the United States. Of counties in the United States with populations above 500,000, Johnson County ranks first in percent of adults with at least a high school education, fourth in percent with at least a bachelor's degree, and 14th in percent with a graduate or professional degree. Ninety-six percent of Johnson County residents 25 years or older have earned at least a high school diploma, 52% have a bachelor's degree or higher compared to the national average of 28%. There are currently 29 four-year colleges and universities and 11 two-year colleges offering classes in the area.

Employment

Employment opportunities are generally good in Johnson County. The Johnson County economy has sustained an average annual job growth rate of 3%, compared to 2% in the Kansas City MSA and 2% for the United States. This corresponds to an average net increase of 9,485 new jobs per year. Unemployment in Johnson County remains below the national average, and stood at 5.6% as of May 2010.

Johnson County's unsurpassed business environment and quality of life are the fuels that power one of the Midwest's principal economic engines. Johnson County's sustained population, development, and economic growth are testament to the fundamentally superior characteristics that make up the "Johnson County Advantage," and helps explain why Johnson County ranks with some of the most dynamic local economies in the country.

Office of Institutional Research
Johnson County Community College
Compiled September 2010

Data Source: US Census, Department of Labor, County Economic Research Institute, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Johnson County Gov.org, State Library of Kansas, Economic Modeling Specialists (emsi), Money Magazine, CERI-JoCo Advantage