SELLSTATE HEARTLAND REALTY • KC'S HOME TEAM

Where Should I Live in Kansas City?

Compare Kansas City Communities Based on What Matters to You

Kansas City isn't one housing market or one type of community. Compare urban neighborhoods, established suburbs, newer developments, acreage, condos, ranch homes, new construction and communities on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas state line.

THE SHORT ANSWER

What Part of Kansas City Should You Live In?

The answer depends on your budget, commute, preferred home style, lot size, ownership costs and the things you want to be close to.

Kansas City's metro area stretches across Missouri and Kansas and includes urban neighborhoods, established suburban communities, newer developments, small cities, lake communities and rural areas.

Don't start by asking, "What's the best suburb?"

Start by asking, "What do I need from the place where I live?" Once you answer that question, it becomes much easier to identify the Kansas City communities worth exploring.

START WITH WHAT YOU WANT

What Kind of Kansas City Home Are You Looking For?

Property type can be one of the fastest ways to narrow a very large metro into a manageable home search.

Urban Living

Buyers interested in condos, lofts, entertainment districts or closer proximity to downtown may explore Downtown Kansas City, River Market, Crossroads, Midtown and nearby urban neighborhoods.

Older Homes & Character

If established neighborhoods and older architecture appeal to you, consider areas such as Brookside, Waldo, Midtown, Northeast Kansas City, Independence, Prairie Village and other established communities.

Newer Homes

Buyers looking for newer subdivisions frequently explore portions of Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, the Northland, Liberty, Raymore, Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee, Gardner and Spring Hill.

Acreage & Larger Lots

Buyers who want more land may expand their search toward the outer metro and surrounding communities in Jackson, Cass, Clay, Platte, Johnson and nearby counties.

Ranch & One-Level Homes

Ranch homes can be found throughout the metro, including established communities as well as newer maintenance-provided and patio-home developments.

Large Garages & Workshops

Buyers needing three-car garages, detached garages, workshops or room for recreational vehicles may find more choices by expanding into suburban and larger-lot areas.

COMPARE THE METRO

Kansas City Areas to Consider

Think of Kansas City as a collection of smaller real estate markets rather than one giant market.

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City itself covers a very large geographic area. Housing ranges from downtown condos and historic neighborhoods to suburban subdivisions and newer development farther north and south.

May appeal to buyers looking for:
Urban neighborhoods Historic homes Condos & lofts Northland housing New construction

Eastern Jackson County

Independence, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit, Grain Valley and surrounding areas offer everything from older homes to established subdivisions, larger properties and new construction.

Communities to explore:
Independence Blue Springs Lee's Summit Grain Valley Oak Grove Lone Jack

The Northland

North of the Missouri River, buyers will find portions of Kansas City along with communities in Clay and Platte counties. Housing includes established neighborhoods, suburban subdivisions and substantial newer development.

Communities to explore:
Liberty Gladstone Parkville Platte City Smithville Kearney

South Kansas City & Cass County

Southern portions of the metro include established neighborhoods, newer developments, suburban housing and areas where buyers may find larger lots as they move farther from the urban core.

Communities to explore:
Grandview Belton Raymore Peculiar Pleasant Hill

Johnson County, Kansas

Johnson County offers a large range of housing, from established neighborhoods and ranch homes to townhomes, luxury properties, newer subdivisions and new construction.

Communities to explore:
Overland Park Olathe Lenexa Shawnee Leawood Prairie Village Gardner Spring Hill

Kansas City, Kansas & Western Metro

The western side of the metro includes established neighborhoods, newer development and communities stretching farther west toward larger-lot and suburban housing.

Communities to explore:
Kansas City, KS Piper Bonner Springs Basehor Edwardsville
WANT TO BE CLOSER TO THE CITY?

Kansas City Neighborhoods to Explore

Kansas City includes many distinct neighborhoods and districts. Housing options and neighborhood characteristics vary substantially, so buyers should evaluate each area individually.

Downtown
River Market
Crossroads
Westside
Westport
Midtown
Country Club Plaza
Brookside
Waldo
Northeast KC
South KC
WANT SOMETHING NEWER?

Where Can You Find New Construction Around Kansas City?

New-home development is spread throughout the metro rather than concentrated in one single city.

Buyers often find newer subdivisions and construction opportunities in Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, the Kansas City Northland, Liberty, Raymore, Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee, Gardner, Spring Hill and surrounding areas.

NEED MORE ROOM?

What If You Want Acreage Near Kansas City?

Buyers looking for one acre, five acres or more often need to expand the geographic search beyond the densest portions of the metro.

Acreage searches may include outer portions of Jackson, Cass, Clay, Platte, Johnson and Wyandotte counties along with nearby communities outside the core metro.

Acreage requires additional due diligence.

Depending on the property, buyers may need to investigate zoning, surveys, easements, access, utilities, wells, septic systems, soil conditions, outbuildings and intended property use.

DON'T IGNORE THE DAILY DRIVE

Let Your Commute Help Narrow the Search

Kansas City's metro area covers a lot of ground. If you regularly commute to an office, hospital, airport, university, industrial center or another workplace, use that location as one of your search filters.

✓ Where will you work?
✓ How many days each week will you commute?
✓ What time of day will you usually travel?
✓ Do you need convenient interstate access?
✓ How often will you travel to Kansas City International Airport?
THE QUESTION EVERY RELOCATING BUYER ASKS

Kansas or Missouri: Which Side Should You Choose?

Don't choose based simply on a state line. Compare the actual homes, cities and neighborhoods that meet your criteria.

✓ Home price
✓ Property taxes
✓ Home age and style
✓ Commute
✓ HOA and maintenance expenses
✓ Available inventory
✓ Your long-term plans
RESEARCH WHAT MATTERS TO YOU

What About Schools, Crime, Taxes and Future Development?

Buyers should independently investigate community information that is important to their decision using reliable sources.

Your agent can help identify properties and provide available resources, but buyers should verify matters such as school boundaries, school information, crime statistics, property taxes, zoning, planned development, utility services and transportation directly with appropriate sources.

Good relocation strategy: Narrow the metro to three or four areas using objective criteria, then spend time exploring those communities before making your final decision.

TURN THE METRO INTO A SEARCH

Build Your Kansas City Home Search

1. Set your comfortable price range.
2. Choose your maximum commute or geographic range.
3. Identify your required home features.
4. Decide whether home age matters.
5. Choose your preferred lot size.
6. Compare total ownership expenses.
7. Create an MLS search across the communities that survive those filters.
KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I live in Kansas City?

Start with your budget, commute, preferred property type, desired lot size and the places you need to access regularly. Those factors can help narrow Kansas City's large metro area into a smaller group of communities worth investigating.

Is it better to live in Kansas or Missouri?

Neither side is automatically better for every buyer. Compare specific properties and communities based on housing costs, taxes, commute, home style, inventory and your individual plans.

Where can I find newer homes around Kansas City?

Newer development can be found throughout the metro, including portions of Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, the Northland, Liberty, Raymore, Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee, Gardner, Spring Hill and other growing areas.

Where can I find older homes with character?

Older housing can be found in many established areas including Brookside, Waldo, Midtown, Northeast Kansas City, Independence, Prairie Village and numerous older neighborhoods across the metro.

Where can I find homes with acreage near Kansas City?

Acreage becomes more common as buyers expand outward from the metro's densest areas. Searches may include outer portions of Jackson, Cass, Clay, Platte, Johnson, Wyandotte and surrounding counties.

Where can I find condos or lofts in Kansas City?

Buyers can find condo and loft opportunities in Downtown Kansas City, River Market, Crossroads and other urban areas, along with condominium developments elsewhere throughout the metro.

Where should I look if I want a ranch-style house?

Ranch homes are spread throughout Kansas City's established neighborhoods and suburban communities. Newer patio-home and maintenance-provided developments may also offer one-level floor plans.

Where can I find new construction in Kansas City?

New construction is available across multiple Missouri and Kansas communities. Availability changes frequently, so a search based on current MLS inventory and active developments is more useful than relying on a static list.

Should I choose a city before I start looking at houses?

Not necessarily. In many cases, it makes sense to identify several communities that fit your criteria and compare actual available homes before narrowing the search further.

Can a real estate agent tell me which neighborhood is best?

A real estate agent can help you compare properties and communities using objective factors such as price, inventory, commute, property characteristics and location. Buyers should independently evaluate subjective community factors and information such as schools or crime using appropriate sources.

KC'S HOME TEAM

Let Sellstate Heartland Realty Help Narrow Your Search

Sellstate Heartland Realty works with buyers throughout the Kansas City metro on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas state line.

Instead of giving you a generic list of places you should live, we can help turn your budget, commute, property preferences and priorities into a focused search across communities that actually fit your needs.

You can compare the actual homes available in several areas and decide which communities make sense for you.

FIND YOUR PART OF KANSAS CITY

Tell Us What You're Looking For

Give us your budget, commute, preferred home style, lot size and must-have features. We'll help turn the entire Kansas City metro into a much smaller group of homes and communities worth exploring.

Sellstate Heartland Realty
KC's Home Team in Real Estate
19310 E 50th Ter S, Suite E
Independence, MO 64055

This page is provided for general real estate and relocation information. Community descriptions are not intended to rank, rate or steer buyers toward or away from any area. Buyers should independently evaluate communities and verify information important to their decisions, including schools, school boundaries, crime statistics, taxes, zoning, transportation, utilities, future development and property-specific matters.