Quality of Life

Education

An excellent public education system continues to be a high priority for the City of Lenexa. The city is served by three of the top K-12 school districts in the State of Kansas: DeSoto USD #232, Olathe USD #233, and Shawnee Mission USD #512.
The number of Lenexa residents with high school diplomas and bachelor’s degrees continues to exceed the national average.
Lenexa is also home to St. James Academy, a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Kansas City.
For more information on the three K-12 public school districts, visit these websites:

Recent achievements among the three K-12 districts

The following represent achievements reported individually by the school districts:

  • Five seniors nominated to U.S. military academies
  • Perfect ACT scorer
  • Named Best School District in Kansas by MSN Money and StartClass 11th Best in Nation
  • Highest ACT scores in seven years
  • Elementary school receives $10,000 STEM grant
  • Education Foundation receives Top 50 national ranking
  • Teachers receive presidential awards for excellence in mathematics and science
  • SAT scores beat state and national averages

Public Safety

There is a well-founded sense of security living in Lenexa. With an incredibly low crime rate, a focus on homeland security, and award winning police and fire departments, you can always sleep safely in Lenexa.

Police Department
The City of Lenexa has a well-trained and professional police department with an outstanding reputation in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Our police department consistently and continuously receives high satisfaction marks for its progressive and professional policing style from the residential and business communities of Lenexa. Pairing technological advances in areas such as communications, investigations and crime reporting with sound policing procedures and tactics, the Lenexa Police Department maintains the high level of proficiency our community has enjoyed for decades. The Lenexa Police Department provides basic and specialized services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Specialized units include School Resource, Crime Prevention, Traffic Safety and Animal Control, among others. Lenexa’s officers and staff work in partnership with the community to protect and serve with honor, integrity and professionalism.

Fire Department
The Lenexa Fire Department has earned full accreditation status awarded by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, Inc. (CFAI). Lenexa is the only department in Kansas to have achieved accredited agency status, and it is one of only 66 fire departments in the world to have attained this acknowledgment of excellence in fire service.
http://www.ci.lenexa.ks.us/fire/index.html

Cost of Living

Living in Lenexa is far less expensive than many areas across the rest of the United States. Here, the hard earned dollar is easily stretched so you can afford to provide for yourself and family.

Home Price Comparison
The cost of a 2,200 square foot home in Johnson County with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a 2-car garage is over $62,000 less than the national average.

The Kansas City metro area ranks 16th in affordability based on a study done by the National Association of Home Builders- one of only two metros with a population in excess of one million to rank in the top 30.

Average Work Trip Commute
The average commute for a Johnson County resident is 20 minutes. For many Lenexa residents its even less since they work where they live; the population of Lenexa doubles in size each workday with its employment base.

With over 120 freeway lane miles per 1,000 residents, the Kansas City metro doubles the national US average of 58.

Per Capita Income
Johnson County residents make roughly $41,500 per capita in personal income. This is far and away above the national US average of $28, 500.