Johnson County
MO · Pop. 54,331 · Suburban County
Johnson County is a suburban county in Missouri, spanning 829 square miles with 54,331 residents at a density of 65.5 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on hay, soybeans, corn. A median home price of $221,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.68% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 182-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.8°F and average winter lows of 21.1°F. Annual rainfall averages 42.9 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Western Missouri Medical Center is 5.1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.6% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.68% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 96.6% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Western Missouri Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 5.1 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on hay, soybeans, corn means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- A low unemployment rate of 4% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- Flood risk is high, so low-lying parcels deserve careful evaluation before purchase.
At a glance
Johnson County, MO is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 80/100
- Median home price
- $221k
- Property tax
- 0.68%
- Growing season
- 182 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 42.9"
- Broadband
- 96.6%
- Nearest hospital
- Western Missouri Medical Center, 5.1 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Johnson County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Johnson County?
- Johnson County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 182-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.8°F, and average winter lows of 21.1°F. The established crops are hay, soybeans, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $221,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.68%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 96.6% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Western Missouri Medical Center is 5.1 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
Explore Missouri Resources
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LandWatch
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Missouri
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The closest counties to Johnson County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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