UCS has released its fact sheet noting the census' 5 Year Estimates on Poverty in Johnson County Cities. More than 34,000 Johnson County residents, 6.2% of the population, live below the federal poverty level, according to 5-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Thousands more earn just enough to avoid the technical definition of poverty, which was $11,770 for an individual and $20,090 for a family of three in 2015. Since 2007, poverty growth has outpaced population growth by nearly four times. If poverty was a city, it would be the 5th largest city in Johnson County.

UCS uses 5-year estimates to track poverty in local cities, because the Census Bureau provides only 5-year estimates (rather than 1-year estimates) for jurisdictions with fewer than 20,000 people. Based on those estimates, every city in the county has experienced an increase in the number of poor since 2009. 

 

While poverty can be found throughout Johnson County, mapping analysis conducted by Mid America Regional Council (MARC) indicates that poverty is greater in certain geographic locations. Census tracts with relatively higher poverty rates are located in the Northeast suburbs, the county seat of Olathe, urban communities along the I-35 corridor, and the rural areas of Edgerton and De Soto.