Communities › Johnson County › De Soto, KS 66018
De Soto, Kansas
A river town of about 7,000 people on the western edge of Johnson County, now home to Panasonic’s EV battery plant and one of the fastest-changing housing markets in the metro.
What’s new in De SotoProperty taxesSubdivisionsDe Soto schools (USD 232)
- Gold · Graduation
- Silver · Academically prepared for postsecondary
- Silver · Postsecondary effectiveness
De Soto is a Johnson County, Kansas city of about 7,083 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, July 2025 estimate). Single-family homes sold for a typical $488,500, about $201 per square foot, in 2024–2026 MLS sales, with typical annual property taxes near $5,940. The 2026 city mill levy is 12.94, homes are served by De Soto USD 232, and Panasonic’s EV battery plant opened here in 2025.
Homes for sale
De Soto homes for sale right now
Live from the MLS. On the left, the lowest-priced home for sale (and the lowest rent) in De Soto at this moment; it changes on its own as listings come and go. On the right, everything for sale on the map.
Updated live from the MLS
Lowest-priced home for sale in De Soto
The lowest-priced De Soto listing shows here, updated automatically.
Updated live from the MLS
Homes for rent in De Soto
See them before they hit the market
Coming soon in De Soto
Map view
Every De Soto listing on the map
Start with a De Soto search:
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What’s new in De Soto
What the city is approving, building and planning
Pulled from council agendas, city ordinances and local news. We update this block as new items hit the agenda.
Oct 2026
Comprehensive Plan 2057 is taking public input
The city is collecting resident ideas, online and in person, for a new plan to guide De Soto’s next 30 years of land use and growth. Whatever this plan says is where future zoning decisions start.
Upcoming
Council & planning meetings
City Council meets Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. The Planning Commission, where rezonings and new plats are heard first, meets Tuesday, Oct. 27.
2026
Limestone: 102 homes, 350 apartments and a hotel at K-10 & Kill Creek
The city approved incentives for GRATA Development’s $225 million mixed-use project at the first De Soto exit from Kansas City, with phased construction expected to begin in 2026.
2025–2026
New housing incentive districts
The council created Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts for Arbor Ridge and for Kill Creek & K-10, plus a Community Improvement District at Kill Creek & K-10 (Ordinances 2662–2664).
Announced May 2025
Merck Animal Health: an $895 million expansion
Merck is expanding its existing plant at 35500 W. 91st St.: an $860 million, 200,000-square-foot manufacturing addition for animal vaccines and biologics, plus $35 million in lab upgrades. The plan calls for about 2,500 construction jobs and 200-plus permanent jobs on top of the roughly 300 people already working there, with production targeted for 2030. The City Council approved industrial revenue bonds carrying an 85%, 10-year property tax abatement for each of four phases. Planners tabled the site plan in November 2025 over parking, fire lanes and construction traffic.
2026
Industrial rezoning on Energy Way
Ordinance 2684 rezoned land at the southwest corner of Energy Way and Lexington Avenue from rural (RUR) to light industrial (M-1). If you are looking at homes nearby, factor that in.
Apr 2026
Six-year capital plan adopted
The 2026–2031 capital improvement plan includes the 83rd Street corridor and a proposed community center.
2025–2026
Panasonic-funded infrastructure
About $229 million in roads, water, sewer and fire-safety projects tied to the Panasonic agreement were slated to be done or nearly done by early 2026. A separate four-building data center campus is planned through about 2035.
2026
Street sealing program
The city’s 2026 pavement preservation program is wrapping up, including streets in the Oak Country neighborhood.
Historical property tax
De Soto property taxes: rate history & 10 years of real bills
For 2026, De Soto’s city mill levy is 12.94 mills, down from 19.80 in 2024. The city says its share is roughly 10% of a typical property tax bill; the county, school district, fire district and state make up the rest. Yes, the rate went down. No, that doesn’t guarantee your bill did, since rising appraisals can outpace a lower rate.
| Tax year | City of De Soto mill levy | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19.80 mills | — |
| 2025 | 13.77 mills | -30%, the largest cut in city history |
| 2026 | 12.94 mills | -6% |
10 years of real tax bills
Median property tax on De Soto homes that sold, 2016–2026
What buyers actually inherited: the full annual tax bill (city, county, school and all other levies) on single-family homes sold each year. Effective rate = tax ÷ sale price.
See the numbers
| Year sold | Median annual tax | Median sale price | Effective rate | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $2,752 | $220,000 | 1.40% | 21 |
| 2017 | $3,203 | $250,000 | 1.41% | 77 |
| 2018 | $2,768 | $274,750 | 1.36% | 68 |
| 2019 | $4,200 | $322,475 | 1.42% | 68 |
| 2020 | $4,500 | $329,950 | 1.43% | 75 |
| 2021 | $4,500 | $337,388 | 1.22% | 85 |
| 2022 | $4,644 | $404,950 | 1.15% | 88 |
| 2023 | $5,973 | $475,000 | 1.28% | 79 |
| 2024 | $6,331 | $475,000 | 1.27% | 69 |
| 2025 | $5,825 | $509,500 | 1.23% | 81 |
| 2026 | $5,844 | $484,500 | 1.28% | 70 |
Active builders in De Soto: Harding Homes, Cottage Creek Homes, L/M Homes, Elite KC. Compare builders across the metro →
Last updated October 14, 2026 · Compare all metro cities · How we calculate this
Source: Heartland MLS closed single-family sales in De Soto, KS, 2016–2026 (YTD), as compiled by Wingman Real Estate. Tax figures are as reported in MLS at sale and may reflect the prior tax year; new construction can show land-only taxes. Not a tax quote.
10-year lookback
Price per square foot, subdivision by subdivision
Median sale price per finished square foot for single-family homes in each De Soto subdivision, by year sold. Darker gold means pricier per foot. Scroll sideways on a phone.
| Subdivision | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Woods45 sales | · | · | · | · | $136 | $157 | $198 | $228 | $212 | $224 | $240 | +76%2020–26 |
| Arbor Ridge139 sales | · | $221 | $151 | $159 | $150 | $168 | $194 | $213 | $209 | $232 | $226 | +2%2017–26 |
| Parker Heights26 sales | · | · | · | · | · | $186 | $151 | · | $209 | $195 | $224 | +20%2021–26 |
| Rik Mar Estates9 sales | · | · | $130 | · | · | · | $217 | · | · | · | · | +67%2018–22 |
| DeMeadows Estates68 sales | · | $113 | $123 | $101 | $144 | $147 | $142 | $186 | $202 | $222 | $206 | +82%2017–26 |
| Cedar Junction Estates8 sales | · | $111 | · | · | · | · | · | $258 | · | · | $202 | +82%2017–26 |
| Possum Creek23 sales | · | · | · | · | $162 | $166 | $176 | · | · | · | $198 | +22%2020–26 |
| Oak Manor Estates16 sales | · | · | $107 | $151 | $148 | $220 | · | · | · | $218 | $198 | +85%2018–26 |
| Timber Lake35 sales | $112 | · | $107 | $115 | $117 | $149 | $166 | $176 | · | $171 | $188 | +68%2016–26 |
| Oak Country Estates38 sales | · | $104 | $115 | $140 | $130 | $171 | $147 | · | · | $194 | $179 | +72%2017–26 |
| Cherished Oaks22 sales | · | $121 | · | $155 | $139 | $145 | · | · | $163 | $179 | · | +48%2017–25 |
| West Meadows10 sales | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | $186 | · | $168 | · | -10%2023–25 |
| Brook West Estates19 sales | · | $130 | $140 | · | $147 | · | · | $199 | · | $156 | · | +20%2017–25 |
| Timber Trails42 sales | · | $109 | $104 | $113 | · | $131 | $129 | $140 | $156 | $185 | $155 | +42%2017–26 |
| Cedar Ridge West17 sales | · | · | · | $113 | $110 | $144 | $131 | $199 | · | · | $154 | +36%2019–26 |
Source: Heartland MLS closed single-family sales, 2016 through October 14, 2026, compiled by Wingman Real Estate – The Shopper Team. A year is shown only when at least two homes sold; subdivisions with fewer than 8 total sales are left out. Small neighborhoods can swing a lot year to year. Methodology.
De Soto subdivisions
22 neighborhoods, each with its own rules
HOA or no HOA, acreage or city lot, brand-new or broken in. Each guide covers covenants, builders and what’s for sale now.
Moving in
De Soto utility providers
Who to call to turn things on. Water, sewer, trash and recycling come on one monthly city bill; electric and gas are separate.
City of De Soto Utility Billing
City Hall, 32905 W 84th St · $30 connection fee for new water accounts
Water District No. 7
Serves parts of the area outside the city system
Honey Creek Disposal (city contract)
Billed on your city utility statement
Source: City of De Soto, checked October 15, 2026. Providers can vary by address; confirm before closing. Help paying utilities: Johnson County Aging & Human Services, (913) 715-6653.
Local guide
Where to eat, shop and see a doctor
Restaurants, groceries, doctors, dentists, vets, 55+ resources and parks in De Soto.
Living in De Soto
From ammunition plant town to battery plant town
A little history
De Soto was platted in 1857 along the Kansas River and named for explorer Hernando de Soto. The Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant brought a population boom during World War II, and in 1998 the city annexed Clearview City, the plant’s former housing area.
Where people work
Panasonic Energy’s EV battery plant at Astra Enterprise Park, on the former Sunflower site, is the big new employer. Merck Animal Health, already about 300 people strong on 91st Street, is adding 200-plus jobs with an $895 million expansion due to start production in 2030. The Census Bureau puts the mean commute at about 27.5 minutes.
Parks & outdoors
Kill Creek Park, one of Johnson County’s largest parks, has a lake and trails just southeast of town. Miller Memorial Park and the riverfront are in town.
De Soto FAQ
De Soto, KS: the questions people ask most
Is De Soto, KS a good place to live?
De Soto is a Kansas River town of about 7,083 people in western Johnson County, with its own school district (USD 232), a city pool, a public golf course, and a K-10 commute of roughly 15 miles to Lawrence or Olathe. It is also changing fast: Panasonic’s EV battery plant opened in July 2025 and data center campuses are underway nearby, so expect new homes, new jobs and more traffic than the town is used to. See what’s for sale in De Soto.
What county is De Soto, KS in?
De Soto is in Johnson County, Kansas, on the county’s far western edge along the Kansas River (ZIP code 66018). That means Johnson County services, county property tax levies and county parks such as Kill Creek Park. Compare Johnson County cities.
What is the population of De Soto, KS?
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated De Soto’s population at 7,083 as of July 1, 2025. With the Panasonic plant and new subdivisions coming online, that number is expected to keep climbing.
How much do homes cost in De Soto, KS?
The median single-family sale price in De Soto was $488,500 for homes sold from January 2024 through October 2026 (220 sales), about $201 per finished square foot. About 12% of recent sales were homes built within the last two years, from builders including Harding Homes, Cottage Creek Homes, L/M Homes and Elite KC. See live prices by subdivision.
What are property taxes in De Soto, KS?
Homes that sold in De Soto from 2024 to 2026 paid a median of $5,940 a year in property tax, an effective rate of about 1.27% of the sale price. The City of De Soto’s own mill levy is 12.94 mills for 2026, down from 13.77 in 2025 and 19.80 in 2024; county, school and other levies are added on top. Your exact bill depends on the county appraisal.
What school district is De Soto, KS in?
De Soto is served by De Soto USD 232, which also covers parts of Shawnee, Lenexa and Olathe. In 2025 the district received Kansans Can Star Recognition awards: Gold for graduation and Silver for postsecondary readiness and effectiveness. Boundaries can split neighborhoods, so confirm by address. See USD 232 schools.
What is the Panasonic plant in De Soto, KS?
It is Panasonic Energy’s $4 billion electric-vehicle battery plant, which opened in De Soto in July 2025. The plant had about 1,400 employees in early 2026, working toward a target of about 4,000 jobs. It is the main reason so many new homes and apartments are being planned in and around De Soto.
Is there a data center in De Soto, KS?
Yes. Beale Infrastructure has broken ground on a data center campus in De Soto, and Digital Realty has proposed a second campus that is not yet approved. As of October 2026, Digital Realty’s proposal included a $1,000-a-year payment to De Soto households for 10 years. Follow the KC Metro Data Center Watch.
Do I need a permit for a shed or fence in De Soto, KS?
Yes. The City of De Soto requires a residential permit for fences, sheds and other accessory buildings, decks, pools, and retaining walls taller than 4 feet. Applications need a plot plan showing the project’s location, and sheds need construction drawings. Call Building Inspection at 913-586-5252 for fees and setbacks. If the home is in an HOA, its covenants can add rules on top of the city’s. Check HOA and city rules.
Do most homes in De Soto, KS have an HOA?
No. About 25% of recent De Soto sales had HOA dues, with median dues of about $100 a year. Several established neighborhoods, including Cherokee Woods, Parker Heights and Possum Creek, have no HOA at all. Filter De Soto neighborhoods by HOA.
What is there to do in De Soto, KS?
De Soto has a city aquatic center, a public 18-hole golf course, and Kill Creek Park a few miles southeast. The De Soto Aquatic Center (32907 W. 84th St.) is open Memorial Day to Labor Day with slides, diving boards and lap lanes. Oak Country Golf Course (8800 Scott Dr.) is a public, par-66 course. Kill Creek Park has a swimming beach, a marina and more than 12 miles of trails. Bring sunscreen; Kansas summers don’t negotiate.
Is there senior living in De Soto, KS?
Yes. Hillside Village in De Soto offers assisted living and skilled nursing, with 65 units. For homes with one-level living or low-maintenance townhomes, see Country Village Townhomes, where exterior maintenance is provided.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts · City of De Soto, Property Taxes & Mill Levy · City of De Soto, Residential Permits · De Soto Aquatic Center · Lawrence Journal-World, Feb. 2026 · KCTV5, Oct. 2026 · KCUR, July 2026 · Johnson County Park & Recreation · Oak Country Golf Course · REBusiness, Aug. 2024 · Heartland MLS closed sales, Jan. 2024–Oct. 2026 · Kansas State Department of Education, 2025 Kansans Can Star Recognition.
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