Where are KC’s wealthiest counties? New study shows Kansas, Missouri data
The Kansas City area is home to the wealthiest county in Kansas and three of the wealthiest counties in Missouri, according to a recent study on wealth.
Financial tech company SmartAsset published a report showing the 10 wealthiest counties in Kansas and Missouri using data from property values, investment income and median income. Data sources included IRS tax statistics, Zillow and the U.S. Census.
Of the 10 counties in Missouri, five are close to St. Louis, one is near Springfield and the last is near Columbia. On the Kansas side, two of the other 10 richest counties are near the Kansas City area.
While residents in these state’s wealthiest counties make significantly more than the statewide median income, American citizens are paying more this year for groceries, utilities and other essentials, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A recent report states the overall 12-month inflation rate is 2.7%, while other categories have seen larger increases.
Here’s how the wealthiest counties ranked in SmartAsset’s study.
Wealthiest counties in Missouri
The richest county in Missouri is St. Charles County, according to SmartAsset. The median income in the county near St. Louis is $102,912, and the median home value is $321,277. The county’s investment income is $24,898, slightly lower than the state median.
No. 2 on the list is Platte County, which includes part of Kansas City. Its median income is $95,748, median home value is $340,880 and investment income is $47,766. Another county with Kansas City ties, Cass County, is No. 3, with a median income of $87,413, median home value of $294,875 and investment income of $33,008.
The fourth-richest county in Missouri is St. Louis County with a median income of $81,340, median home value of $243,643 and investment income of $83,070. Another Kansas City-area county, Clay County, is No 5, with a median income of $86,150, median home value of $274,850 and investment income of $29,520.
Jackson County ranked No. 23 and had a median income of $67,178, median home value of $211,330 and investment income of $38,239. The counties that round out the top 10 include:
- Christian County
- Lincoln County
- Warren County
- Jefferson County
- Boone County
The median income of all 10 counties in Missouri was higher than the state median of $68,920, each county’s median home value was higher than the state median of $182,331. However, not all had a higher median investment income of $27,634.
Richest counties in Kansas
Johnson County was named the wealthiest county in Kansas by SmartAsset. The report found Johnson County has a median income of $107,261, higher than Kansas’ statewide median household income of $72,639. The county’s median home value is $389,154 and its investment income is $59,162.
The second-wealthiest county in Kansas is Miami County, just south of Johnson County. Its median income is $88,000, median home value is $318,423 and investment income is $52,024. Another Kansas City-area county, Leavenworth County, ranked No. 5, with a median income of $86,906, median home value of $286,944 and an investment income of $19,022.
No. 3 is Nemaha County, two hours northwest of Kansas City. The county’s median income is $77,375, median home value is $180,514 and it has an investment income of $148,169. Pottawatomie County, two hours west of Kansas City, is No. 4, with a median income of $87,694, median home value of $273,551 and an investment income of $26,271
The counties also in the top 10 include:
- Butler County
- Jefferson County
- McPherson County
- Gray County
- Greeley County
The median of the top 10 wealthiest counties in Kansas were higher than the state median of $72,639. All but one of the county’s median home value was higher than the state median of $133,514, and four counties’ investment income were less than the state median of $26,275.
This story was originally published January 9, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
