The populations of JoCo’s largest cities grew in 2025. So did their housing costs
Most of Johnson County’s cities saw more people moving into their communities, according to 2025 Census data estimates.
As the largest cities in Johnson County continued to climb, so did their housing costs.
The U.S. Census Bureau released new population estimates on May 14 for every city and town in every state in the country. The annual numbers are estimates and not an exact census count, which the Census Bureau conducts every 10 years. The next census will be in 2030, unless a community requests a special census of its population before then.
In Kansas City, Missouri, the data counted an estimated 521,220 people in July 2025, according to the data, up from 516,539 in July 2024. While no city in Johnson County has hit 500,000, most are reaching new highs.
Overland Park, Johnson County’s largest city, crept further above 200,000 in 2025, with estimates counting 203,677 people — a nearly 3% increase from 2020’s 197,835 residents. Data shows Olathe in second place, with 150,025 people in 2025, a near 6% increase from 141,549 in 2020.
In third place, Shawnee sits close to 70,000 people, with 69,848 people according to 2025 estimates — a 3.5% increase from 67,453 in 2020. Lenexa is just behind, with 60,506 residents, according to 2025 estimates; in 2020 Lenexa had 57,528 people.
The jump in Johnson County housing costs
Many residents in Johnson County cities are grappling with ever-increasing housing prices.
Last year, the county reported that more than 90% of its housing stock went up in value, with average home prices sitting at $500,000. However, most of the new homes in Johnson County are custom homes, pushing the average selling price to $785,000.
A home is considered attainable at $300,000 or less. It’s often a target for first-time buyers or folks looking to downsize into smaller homes, but their availability in Johnson County keeps shrinking. In 2024, Johnson County classified less than 25,0000 homes as attainable. In 2018, more than 100,000 homes were $300,000 or less.
Overland Park homes’ average appraised value in 2025 sat at $528,006, but the average sale price was $608,583, according to Johnson County appraisal data, representing an $80,000 jump. In 2020, average appraised home values in Overland Park were $357,894 and sold at $429, 861.
Despite being the county’s fourth-largest city, Lenexa has the second-highest average home values — with 2025 appraised values sitting at $493,287, a jump from $328,922 in 2020, according to appraisal data. Lenexa’s average sale price in 2025 sat at $572,572. In 2020, the average sale price was $394,934
In Olathe, the 2025 average appraised value was $437,657 and $498,270 average sale price, according to appraisal data. In 2020, the average appraised value was $291,160 and sale price was $351,342. Shawnee’s average home value in 2025 sat at $422,527 and an average sale price of $506,725 — a jump from $288,433 in value and $331,397 in sale price.
Politics and addressing the need for housing
Housing discussions have shaped much of Johnson County’s city politics and debates in recent years — with several candidates who promised creating more housing and embracing growth winning seats in their prospective City Council races last November.
Now, many cities have embarked on projects to help develop housing.
Overland Park is looking at amending its policies to streamline certain housing projects or open up the possibility to develop accessory dwelling units or duplexes in areas that have been historically single-family neighborhoods.
Olathe and Lenexa have both recently approved affordable housing projects with Habitat for Humanity to help build homes under $300,000. Shawnee has approved new townhomes and apartments in its downtown and could eye building more housing to breathe life into a long-stagnant entertainment district.
