Still Growing with Distinction
Located in Johnson County, the City of Leawood proudly boasts that the area is “growing with distinction”, and they have their residents to thank. With nearly 33,000 residents, Leawood is one of the fastest growing cities in Kansas; they are some of the hardest working and highly educated people in the nation, and that translates into higher incomes.
Bonus for Business
Business is growing rapidly in Leawood, thanks to the work ethic of employees, as well as the location of the city. Being in the central time zone, Leawood organizations have more hours each day to conduct business on both coasts; they also use the advantage of the central location to serve wider markets, as Kansas City is the only major metropolitan area within 250 miles of the geographic, population, and production centers of the U.S.
The median age of residents is 44.8 years old, which means Leawood holds a population that is firmly rooted in its prime earning and workplace achievement years and is an ideal demographic for local businesses seeking to grow.
Incomes & Home Values on the Rise
The average gross annual income of a household in Leawood is $152,308. Home values in Leawood are some of the highest in Johnson County, with the average value of homes appraising at $427,525.
Education as a Priority
Many Leawood residents take pride in their education and make it a top priority, which may explain why the area has one of the strongest educational bases in the nation.
The City of Leawood falls in the boundaries of two school districts, Blue Valley School District and Shawnee Mission School District. Each year Newsweek magazine ranks America’s Best High Schools based on the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge (AICE) tests given each year by the schools, divided by their number of graduating seniors. In 2012, five Blue Valley high schools were named to a list of America’s top public high schools compiled by Newsweek. The schools accounted for five of seven Kansas high schools making the list.
A majority of Leawood’s high school graduates pursue higher education and have access to several universities and community colleges.
Community Growing Steadily
As a growing city, Leawood continues to contribute to Johnson County. The county is one of the leading local economies in the Midwest, making it a premier business location in the nation. This explains why over the past decade the county’s population has grown to 544,000. Major U.S. cities such as Cincinnati, Miami, and neighboring St. Louis have fewer residents than Johnson County.
Located in this very successful county, Leawood’s future growth potential shows no signs of slowing. Together, city and county governments carefully plan to ensure that the necessary infrastructure improvements are in place to accommodate the new residents and businesses making their way to the community.
Leawood’s growth is something to be proud of, and residents and business operators work every day to keep our community moving in the right direction.
Source: CERI 2011-Leawood Trade Area Profile, Newsweek.com, U.S. Census Bureau
