Westwood-ks-cityhall, 2008
Westwood’s story
Westwood in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2008.
Explore the history →
WestwoodKS
A town of 1,720.
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Quint2724 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,720
2025 Census estimate · −1.5% since 2020
Typical home
$439K
+7.2% in a year
Household income
$118K
median
Median age
35.9
years
Jobs based here
2,079
A job hub
Is Westwood a good place to live?
Westwood’s best subject grades are an A+ for incomes and health and an A for walkability; its weakest is a D for cost of living. 77% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Westwood, above both Kansas’ towns (29%) and U.S. towns (29%). On walkability, just 1 of Kansas’ 372 towns do better. Westwood's police reported 3 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025, a higher rate per resident than 88% of U.S. towns. Westwood has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Westwood stand out
Where Westwood beats most towns.
32 measures vs. Kansas
24 better6 too close to call2 worse
| Widest gap | Westwood | KS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 3.1% | 11.3% |
HealthA+
Healthier than 97% of U.S. towns
Beats KS on 24 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on 2
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here2,079
Residents who work855
Work
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 96% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 92% of U.S. towns
3.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
A growing town
Westwood has grown 14% since 2010
1,506 counted in 2010 and 1,750 in 2020; an estimated 1,720 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Westwood grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Kansas), ordered by how far Westwood is from typical.
Jobs & incomeA+Open →HealthUniversity of Kansas Hospital 1.3 miles awayA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 14.7 of 20; 0% of households have no carAOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $439K, 5.3 years of the Kansas City metro’s $83K median household incomeDOpen →SafetyDOpen →SchoolsA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 37% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 0% conserved landC+Open →HistoryBOpen →Civic life4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 88° summer afternoons, 11″ of snow–Open →Housing market70 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.9–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 48 attractions →Arrowhead Stadium and 36 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Westwood. Close and well known come first.
Big draw7 mi Stadium & arenaArrowhead Stadium
7 mi Stadium & arenaKauffman Stadium
11 mi Park & preserveSubTropolis
4 mi Stadium & arenaT-Mobile Center
2 mi MuseumThe Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
6 mi Stadium & arenaCPKC StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Arrowhead Stadium: Ichabod, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Kauffman Stadium: Mysteryman28, Public domain · SubTropolis: ErgoSum88, Public domain · T-Mobile Center: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: User:Charvex, Public domain · CPKC Stadium: elisfkc2, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Westwood: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Westwood, and how to reach them.
PowerEvergy13.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWater District 1 of Johnson CoNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offMidwest Recycling Center, 5 miOpenStreetMap
SchoolsShawnee Mission Public Schools Unified School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Kansas you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereJohnson County Election CommissionerJohnson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code6620566205 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Westwood.
HousingCost of living grade D
The median rent in Westwood is higher than in most of Kansas or the rest of the country
Westwood’s median rent is $1,921 a month, above both the Kansas town median ($975 a month) and the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). Typical home values rose 7.2% in the year to September 2026. 81% of households own their home in Westwood.
$439KZillow home value
| Westwood | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,921 a month | $975 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 81% | 72% | 73% |
Typical home value
Westwood$439K
Kansas$246K
Market temperature
70
days on market
+7.2%
value change, 1 year
5
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA−
On state tests, Westwood’s schools beat 84% of Kansas districts
Its public schools are run by Shawnee Mission Pub School. Its two schools are below.
84%of KS districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westwood View ElemLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 321 | A+ |
| Shawnee Mission Christian School PrivateLargest high schoolGrades K–12 | Grades K–12 | 154 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within KS on state tests and graduation
HealthA+
Fewer of Westwood’s adults report frequent physical distress than in the typical Kansas or U.S. town
8.6% of Westwood adults report frequent physical distress. Only 3 of the 151 Kansas towns we compare have a lower share of adults who say their health is fair or poor than Westwood. 13% of Westwood adults report frequent mental distress.
97%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| Westwood | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 8.6% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 17% | 17% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 8.5% | 15% | 14% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 31% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Kansas
24 better6 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Westwood | KS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 3.1% | 11.3% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 6% | 13% |
| More binge drinkers | 19.1% | 16.3% |
University of Kansas Hospital
1.3 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
With 2.4 jobs for every working resident, Westwood draws in 2,064 commuters
Most working residents leave Westwood for work: only 2% work in town. The median household income in Westwood is $118,000. Since 2013, Westwood has added 1,311 jobs, to 2,079 in 2023.
2%work in town
| Westwood | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $118,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 1.9% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.8% | 15% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Westwood2%
Kansas City28%
Overland Park18%
Kansas City14%
Lenexa7%
7 mi
median commute distance
2,079
jobs based in Westwood
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 92% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyD
For safety, Westwood earns a D
Westwood’s property crime rate is 28.6 per 1,000 residents. Westwood reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 88% report less.
12%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
| Westwood | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 28.6 per 1,000 residents | 11 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.8 per 1,000 residents | 2.5 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Westwood1.8
Kansas4.8
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Westwood28.6
Kansas19.2
U.S.15.5
12th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
3
violent crimes reported in 2025
49
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers in Westwood
Westwood has chilly winters and warm summers. Only 10 of the 152 Kansas towns we compare have a lower July high than Westwood.
11″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–42°
Spring45–65°
Summer67–86°
Fall46–67°
Nov 2
typical first frost
Apr 4
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Low risk in Westwood, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 63% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 5 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Westwood.
37risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
5
paid flood claims since 1979
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0.4%conserved
| Westwood | Kansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.4% | 2.1% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
0.4%
conserved · 1 of 259 acres
0.1 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Joe D. Dennis Park | 0.1 mi | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Westwood
19pages on Westwood
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 84% of KS districts · 2 schoolsSafetyD1.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA+Better than KS on 24 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD$439K typical home · up 7.2% in a yearWork & commuteA+$118K median household income · 2,079 jobs hereNatural hazardsBFEMA risk higher than 37% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
21 within 15 miles of the center of Westwood
University of Missouri-Kansas CityUniversity or college · Public · Kansas City, MO1.8 mi$12,587 in-state tuitionKansas City Art InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Kansas City, MO1.8 mi$44,550 tuitionMetropolitan Community College-Kansas CityCommunity college · Public · Kansas City, MO2.5 mi$3,630 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Westwood residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.
A job hub
Every workday, about 2,064 people come to Westwood for work
Where Westwood’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,079jobs based in Westwood
2%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Westwood
City in Kansas, United States
Westwood is a city in northeastern Johnson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,750. It is the second most densely populated city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 951 ft
- Area code
- 913
Westwood’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Westwood.
FairwayRoeland ParkWestwood HillsWestwood
How the neighbors grade
| Town | KS rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westwood | — | — | D | D | A− | A+ |
| Fairway | #11 | A | D | — | A− | A+ |
| Roeland Park | #46 | B+ | C− | C− | A− | A |
| Westwood Hills | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Westwood has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Fairway reports no FBI crime data of its own. Westwood Hills isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Westwood with a neighbor →
Questions about Westwood
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Westwood, KS expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.