Livability Score

78
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities A+

There are lots of amenities close to this location.
Coffee (90) A+
Entertainment (224) A+
Food and Drink (450) A+
Fitness (50) A+
Groceries (86) A+
Parks (839) A+
Shops (630) A+
See more Kansas City amenity data

commute A+

Of all people who commute, 2.6% take public transportation in Kansas City.
Public Transit Stops (1431)
Stops & Stations
A+
Workers Taking Public Transit
2.6%
F
See more Kansas City commute data

cost of living A+

The cost of living in Kansas City is 94/100 - which is 6% higher than Missouri.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc.
A-
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax
F
See more Kansas City cost of living data

crime F

Kansas City crime rates are 6,197 per 100k, which is 119% higher than Missouri
Property Crime
4,715 crimes per 100k
F
Violent Crime
1,481 crimes per 100k
F
See more Kansas City crime data

employment C+

The median income in Kansas City is $56,179 - which is 13% higher than Missouri.
Med. Household Income
$56,179
D
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
C+
See more Kansas City employment data

health A+

There are many hospitals, police and fire stations.
Health & Safety (153)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc.
A+
Air Quality
Median Air Quality
D-
See more Kansas City health & safety data

housing A+

Kansas City home prices are $163,300 - which is 16% higher than Missouri
Home Price
$163,300
C
Home Appreciation Rate
17%
A
Home Affordability
2.9x (home price to income ratio)
A-
See more Kansas City housing data

schools C-

The Kansas City graduation rate is 86% - which is 2% higher than Missouri
School Test Scores
36%
F
High School Grad. Rates
86%
C+
Elementary Schools (171) D-
High Schools (60) A+
See more Kansas City education data

ratings F

Kansas City has an overall rating of 43% from 97 reviews.
User Reviews (37)
From AreaVibes
F
User Surveys (60)
From AreaVibes
C-
See more Kansas City user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings
Photo of Kansas City, MO
( 97 Ratings )

Living in Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Area Facts

  • Kansas City has a Livability Score of 78/100, which is considered exceptional
  • Kansas City crime rates are 119% higher than the Missouri average
  • Cost of living in Kansas City is 6% higher than the Missouri average
New Real Estate Listings in Kansas City Area
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Kansas City Reviews

Write a review about Kansas City Tell people what you like or don't like about Kansas City…
Weed here is absolutely PATHETIC as SIN. AVOID!!!!!!!!!! 1 rating By Anonymous ( Feb 27, 2023) I FUCKING HATE THIS CITY'S WEED. TOTAL AND UTTER GARBAGE.

Avoid living in Kansas City, Missouri if you're a UKer like me. I moved to KCMO from Shepperton, United Kingdom in February of 2019 and now I'm moving to Chicago for better weed instead. Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic.
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Great Midwest City 3.5 rating By Adri ( Nov 19, 2021) Honestly, coming from the west coast, this city is great. No matter what style of living you need you have a neighborhood for you. The jobs are heavier in the logistics industry but that is because we are in the middle of the US. From office to field, there are jobs of any kind. ...Read More The only gripe that I have from previous experience is the need to historically segregate blacks, whites, and latinos in the metro area. Just because there are many black and latino people in certain areas doesn't mean it's the projects. Get a grip everyone. Read Less
Complete my Corruption level! 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Mar 23, 2021) In very simple terms, I can tell you that this hellish city is definitely not worth living in. Bad (really nasty at that!) reputation and really crappy cost of living. I'd stay far away from this unfortunately existing city as best as you can. What a joke. Absolute joke. ...Read More Read Less
A nightmare of epic porportions 1 rating By Anonymous ( Feb 02, 2021) As someone with a high school diploma and a college degree I have a hard time finding my inner circle in this city and because of that, I'm having to be forced to move out soon. Worst city ever next to Provo, UT. ...Read More Read Less
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Complete my Corruption level! 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Mar 23, 2021) In very simple terms, I can tell you that this hellish city is definitely not worth living in. Bad (really nasty at that!) reputation and really crappy cost of living. I'd stay far away from this unfortunately existing city as best as you can. What a joke. Absolute joke. ...Read More Read Less
A nightmare of epic porportions 1 rating By Anonymous ( Feb 02, 2021) As someone with a high school diploma and a college degree I have a hard time finding my inner circle in this city and because of that, I'm having to be forced to move out soon. Worst city ever next to Provo, UT. ...Read More Read Less
Break the ice 1 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 06, 2021) No decent person would ever live in a broken city like KCMO. Fraudulent, dishonorable and deplorable city to live in and absolutely ran by people who have a drastically lower IQ than even congressman so they don't know better; not the people' republic. ...Read More Read Less
It's going to hell in handbasket 2 rating By Anonymous ( Dec 30, 2020) All bets are off. Make your move and decide against KC for the life of you unless you're completely mentally deranged and destroyed inside. I'm permanently unapologetic about moving to this hellhole. I'm moving out soon because of the crime and offthecharts high cost of living ne ...Read More ar the volker campus and KC plazaa rea. what a joke. Read Less
Still a working city 4 rating By Anonymous ( Apr 18, 2020) I have a native of KCMO and lived in the city all my life for 45 years since 1975, and especially as a of living in cities since age 19, and most cities I have lived in the US were fantastic but now it's really sad to see that at the time of writing this post the corona virus ha ...Read More s halted the economy and some businesses have been even been plain shut down, what a sad, sad thing. It's extremely disheartening and I wish I could return to work at Il Centro near the KC country club plaza. Very frustrating that this has happened to me and my family and wish this would recovery as a city and as a country too because we can do better than this of course. Stimulus pogram working very well.. Would rate KCMO city 5 stars if I could, but We are very sad now and nothing would make me happier than to return to working as a waiter at Il Centro. Just a terrible thing we are in now. Read Less
I just want out. 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Feb 13, 2020) There's many better cities. First time I went to this putrid excuse of a city, I was immensely surprised at the snobbery and condescending attitudes of neighbors wanting me to rake leaves. Not a good way to run my life. Go bug someone else for a change please, thank so much. ...Read More Read Less
I'd Rather Live in SF Than Live in KC 1 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 13, 2020) This is a bad city. I despise this city. There's little to nothing to use with this city. Nothing good comes from people of this city. This city means nothing to me. ...Read More Read Less
Appalling city .... 1 rating By Anonymous ( Nov 30, 2019) I cannot say it enough: this place (and surrounding. suburbs) are some of the most appalling of locations I have travelled to in for ever. It's no question the people who live here aren't even in the same boat as me, but that's another debate entirely. The city factors in populat ...Read More ion of around 470,000 people here, and crime is also very high here in KCMO. I have seen house costs average but it's terrible what is offered here, housing-wise. Weather here is crappy and is not as good as LA or NYC but decent at least, and snows a lot during winter here too, primarily in December and sometimes in January, but summers are worthless and means to be extremely hot to humid here in early June to late September.

All in all, I honestly do not recommend moving or living here AT ALL. The reviews speak for itself as ones this one. I am so thrilled to leave this place and the people in it need to also get a better attitude and start being respectful to people who are not originally from here whether on sidewalks or on streets or in car rides, in about 15% popularity and on average is very low key bad. Read Less
I feel sorry for this city 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Oct 11, 2019) Nothing to do, worse than other cities in the whole nation, can achieve nothing. EXTREMELY Rude and trashy trashy trashy garbage rat’s ass people (who don’t have a shred of sense?), boring attractions, garbage places to eat at. Boring. It’ll be fun to get out of this cuntho ...Read More le. Read Less
Underrated City to live in 3.5 rating By Anonymous ( Oct 10, 2019) To clarify, I live in the suburbs of the city. I don't actually live in the city itself, so take my assessments with a grain of salt. Yes, our city isn't perfect. Crime is rising, homelessness is also very prominent, and we are smack-dab in the middle of the Heartland, which isn' ...Read More t the most exciting place. However, this city also has some gems. Crown Center Plaza is a fantastic place to shop and dine. Downtown itself has nooks and crannies and a growing scene among millenials. The Nelson-Atkins and surrounding museums offer plentiful visits at stunning art, and the city market has a hodge-podge of culture on Sundays. As for our problems, we have a few, but they aren't as bad as other cities. We have violent hoods and crime, but not as bad as St. Louis, Detroit, and Baltimore. We're crummy, but not as bad as Wichita, Birmingham, and Jackson. Every bad thing in this city pales in comparison to other areas in our country, and the suburbs outside are pretty affordable if you know where to look. This may be bias in the fact that I have lived here my entire life, but I enjoy being a citizen of KC. Go Chiefs! Read Less
Do- nothing city. 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Oct 05, 2019) I have lived for 23 years here unfortunately and I don’t like it here, I want to move from here. But I am sure that the majority will stay here, but I’m moving because the losers who live here are not good people and I’m stuck with this city for a long time. Can’t wait to ...Read More move to Michigan. Read Less
Get Me AWAY From here! Here's how come. 1 rating By Anonymous ( Sep 26, 2019) If this city doesn't satisfy you, you have options. 1: Get a job and suffocate yourself to death with the many various boring and useless job "opportunities" this garbage hole has to offer and there's nothing fun about them, 2: Please clean yr streets and highways, theyre in bad ...Read More shape, 3: get a better mortage and retirement plan. Piss poor job, Kc. Read Less
Not Muslim- Friendly 1 rating By Anonymous ( Sep 25, 2019) I have lived in KC. Nothing new. But then I found out that you cannot live here if you're a Muslim from Somalia because ARE BANNED. KC is a joke. I'm excited to move out here very soon. Racist and religious hate city. ...Read More Read Less
Lame to the lame 1 rating By Anonymous ( Sep 24, 2019) I’ve lived here a little over 2 years now. The only good thing about it is lots of jobs. The highways are easy to get around too. But if you are like me and want beautiful parks; think again. The meth here and homeless has taken over the parks leaving them trashed, unsafe and s ...Read More ketchy. The parks here are nothing short of a disappointment. Restaurants are a dissapointment as well just chains unless your downtown. People aren’t friendly here. It’s waaaaaay to hot and the winter is still very cold and you get ice storms that freeze rain to your windshield. I really can’t say anything good about this place except that I am making money to move. Read Less
THE WORST CITY IN USA!!! 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Sep 24, 2019) WORST PLACE I HAVE EVER BEEN TO THE CITIZENS LOOK LIKE GARBAGE NO SENSE OF HOW TO DRESS PROPERLY AND NO CARE DONE BY THE CITIZENS EITHER. SO UNSANITARY! ...Read More Read Less
Please Seek Jesus... 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Sep 24, 2019) As far as I am sure, this city is not a good city to live in. It's not for the best people to live in, and it's not a very good city to live in. ...Read More Read Less
You're Not Half The City Los Angeles Is 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Sep 23, 2019) I have lived here in Kansas City MO for around i 6 years so far and it's for honest impressions, not a fun place to live in. I'm not ever living here again ...Read More Read Less
Don't move here. You've been warned. Crude, worthless people 1 rating By Anonymous ( Sep 23, 2019) Let me make this clear: if you move here, and you are a woman looking for a man, just know: no man would ever go out with you, no man would give you their phone number, no man would take you to the movies, no man would ever chat with you online, you will never have another man to ...Read More support or care for you. Read Less
Boring, rundown city 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Sep 07, 2019) Old city. Why people move here is beyond me it’s a bad decision on your part you should move out of here , A yawner city. ...Read More Read Less
Kansas City is a mix review 3 rating By Anonymous ( Aug 19, 2019) I repeat do not live in the City. My advice live on the cities outside of Kansas City. Raytown independence blue springs Lee’s summit belton raymore north kc Liberty ETC. the only good thing about living here is it’s very CHEAP living houses, renting, buying. The average hous ...Read More e is 100k. Famous for bbq royals and chiefs. What I don’t like is the people. If your lazy and have a attitude you have a job people “favoritism” and people will make fun of you for having money! like it’s a crime to work over 40 hours a week and having nice things. Also you can’t go ANYWHERE anymore without someone getting shot at every event and even family fun festivities/carnivals is not save In KC anymore. My advice is to stay in your lane, leave people alone and live somewhere that’s going to be comfortable for you and your family. If you make good hard working money don’t live in the “city” live cities outside of it. Read Less
RUBBISH BIN KANSAS CITY! STAY AWAY! 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Aug 16, 2019) I AM HAPPY TO SAY....AFTER I HAVE LIVED IN THIS CITY FOR OVER 5 YEARS....I WILL BE LEAVING THIS IS A CITY OF BROKEN PROMISES AND STUPID PEOPLE WHO CORRUPT THEIR CITY AND AIM TO RUIN IT AS WELL DO NOT EVER EVER MOVE HERE THE PEOPLE ARE VERY LOW IQ, FORCING YOU AND HAVE A THORN STU ...Read More CK IN THEIR REAR-END FOR NO REASON AND HAVE NO SENSE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES THEY LIVE NEARBY MY PATIENCE HAS WORN THIN WITH THIS CITY. DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS PLACE PLEASE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN HARASSED AT THE COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA AND CROWN CENTER TWICE AND WILL NOT BE RETURNING THERE AGAIN FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. DOWN WITH KANSAS CITY! TRASH AND RUBBISH BIN!

DUMB CITY FULL OF STUPID AND INCREASINGLY STUPID PEOPLE HARASSING YOU FOR THEIR OWN BENEFITS! STAY FAR AWAY, THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION, MATES! GREETINGS FROM NATIVE, WILLIAM B., OF MANCHESTER, UK! Read Less
You better be doing some actual research on this city before moving here 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Aug 14, 2019) It's as the title states. This entire city isn't a good city to visit on a case-by-case basis. While I witness good parts of this city, I equally won't support this city for its lack of effortless people who won't get off their lazy ass and actually work for Pete's sakes! ...Read More Read Less
Wrong city to live in for raising a family, and forget the civilians and people 1 rating By neighb00rmat3 ( Aug 13, 2019) A very poor city. We lived in Baltimore, MD for a few decades and moved to KC for retirement. I found out that the people of this city are some of the most deplorable and useless people ever. Some extremely rude and uneducated people too. Would not recommend living here. We chose ...Read More to move to Salt Lake City, UT. Read Less
A Good Place 3 rating By FrasierID ( Aug 01, 2019) There are indeed better cities I've been to, but KC, Missouri is, in my mind, a pretty solid place. The land isn't particularly interesting...not much water and no mountains, but the place seems to have some good bakeries and restaurants as well as a few good cultural amenities. ...Read More I'd like to try their BBQ the next time I'm there. The airport is oddly laid out, but I kinda like it in terms of getting past checkpoints. One of the commenters on this page seems to have issues that go far beyond those relating to KC. Lighten up, whoever you are, and Go Chiefs. Read Less
Kansas City Is A Mixed Bag 3 rating By jv409 ( Mar 17, 2018) I lived in Kansas City, Missouri north of the river for about ten years. It's a great place but there are issues with both increasing crime, and police misconduct. Somebody broke into my car as soon as my wife and I moved here. This was at a nice apartment complex. In addition, t ...Read More wo police officers showed up at my apartment in 2007 screaming and yelling in the middle of the afternoon. I was working in my home office. When I opened the door they just marched on in without a warrant, assaulted me and pushed me around. Based on what they said, an estranged relative of mine paid them to go to my apartment to harass and/or harm me. Of course they could have lied. No I'm not some big bad criminal who needs to be harassed. Fortunately I wasn't seriously injured, although the incident did occur just weeks after I had major surgery. It could have turned out much worse. I did report it to (other) authorities. As far as I know, the officers were never held accountable in any way. Every lawyer I contacted refused to help me; some even suggested the incident was my fault. Don't count on being able to get a lawyer in the US for anything. Many will simply refuse to work for you. They won't care if you've got money or not. Some are just lazy. My father was a lawyer/judge, and a really bad person. He was violent, abusive, and abandoned me when I was a kid. A judge.Kansas City is more affordable than most large cities in the US. There's plenty of entertainment: all kinds of great restaurants, music, and pro sports. And first-class healthcare. Most people in this part of the country are pleasant, non-confrontational, and they mind their own business. Too cold in the winter though. Better have a vehicle good in ice and snow during the winter months. Read Less
Mixed Feelings About KC 3 rating By murman ( Jan 29, 2018) Kansas City has some attributes in terms of architecture and food, but like many older established cities, it is a rather closed city in terms of the social scene. If you are not from here, it can be a challenge to fit in and find your social circle. There is a lot of old mone ...Read More y here which adds to the cultural and philanthropic scene. Winters are cold (but relatively short). Summers can be unbearably humid from June-Sept. St Patrick's Day is a big event given the predominance of Irish-Americans here. Unless you like the woods or man-made lakes, their are not any natural attractions that you can day trip to. Read Less
BBQ and Things to Do 4 rating By camjohn00 ( May 18, 2017) We lived in Kansas City, MO for 5 years and moved out in 2014. We still miss many of the things there, others we don't. I was surprised by the negative reviews here until I read reviews on other cities in which I've lived, and then I realized people usually only review if they ...Read More have a bone to pick with a place. That's why I'm writing this. I saw some things about "uneducated" and "closed minded" or "prejudice". I see that about a lot of cities and often it's by people from CA. I suppose if you go around town naked and consider it prejudice or closed minded when people do a double take, then KCMO is prejudice and this isn't the place for you. Otherwise people don't seem to care much what your lifestyle, race or whatever is. Most people have more important things to think about than that. My coworker who is homosexual didn't have any beef with the place. We've lived on in Ohio, Florida, Washington, Arizona and over seas, and I didn't find it closed minded or uneducated in KCMO. I think that is often from people who are very proud of their BA degree in underwater basket weaving and simply cannot tolerate people who don't have that degree. I am an MD, and some of the smartest people I've ever known didn't go to college at all.On that note I will say that Truman Hospital is scary. I worked there as a doctor for 5 years, and told my colleagues I wanted a tattoo telling the EMS to take me anywhere but Truman if I'm sick. There is good medical care available in the area, but it's not found at Truman. Maybe it was the contrast with Phoenix, from which we had just moved, but people in KCMO seem very friendly and kind. Our neighbors came and helped us move a piano up some stairs the day we moved in. That was the first time we met them. We love the BBQ in KCMO. We've never found its equal anywhere else. We learned to smoke pork while there, and we still do it.KCMO was a great place for our young family. There is a lot to do for families around the metro area. We haven't yet lived in a place with that much to do for families. The train station is amazing around Christmas time, as is Hallmark. The Deanna Rose farm is really fun in the summer. There are seemingly weekly festivals throughout the summer that are great for all ages.Like many cities, the crime and such is regional. I would never dare live in the downtown area. I would never send my kids to Kansas City Schools. We lived in the North, and the Parkhill School District is award winning. We were very happy with our school. The freeway and road system, at least from the North, is GREAT. I had three main ways to commute to work and never had to worry much about traffic. I've not had that in any other place I've lived. The thunderstorms are really impressive and will knock you out of bed at times. I do miss that. However, I don't miss the threat of tornadoes. We only had one even come close to the city while we were there.The weather in general is something I didn't like about KCMO. The summers are very hot and humid. The winters are a bitter wet cold leaving something to be desired in snow removal. The spring seems to come and go without anyone realizing it happened. However, the fall is excellent and fairly long. Overall, I'd live in KCMO again in a heartbeat if not for the weather and if they had a mountain or two near by. Read Less
Poor Customer Service 0.5 rating By CMI ( Mar 31, 2017) My spouse and I visited the Denton facility as a contender. My spouse is a firefighter and Quinton told us ALL fees would be waived. He was pushy and pressured us to fill out an application FREE OF CHARGE. He assured us there would be NO loss in applying. The only stipulation was ...Read More that we would have 48 hours to sign the lease. We chose to go with a different facility. We received a statement from Christian for $500.00 and a threat to send it to collections if not paid although the fee was never agreed on. I called the manager, Jim, to express my concern and to have the statement removed as it was not discussed in our meeting. He became very hostile and rude then proceeded to hang up on me when I asked for his supervisor's contact information. I called back to get the name and contact of corporate and he still refused to provide me with the information needed to resolve the issue. We were scammed as future residents so I can only imagine the "fees" and treatment actual residents have to endure throughout their contractual term. The employees lack in customer service skills and experience. My goal is to fairly warn other before being scammed, lied to, and mistreated by the Denton staff. Read Less
Trashy Kansas City 1 rating By Siksfore ( Feb 22, 2017) The highways is got to be the trashiest place I have ever seen. I unfortunately live here and it seems that the City just dont send people out to get it cleaned up. But the worst part of it is the people that keep littering. I would not move here and when I retire I cant wait to ...Read More leave this disgusting Kansas City. Read Less
ONE OF THE WORST CITIES 1 rating By HEARTLIGHTSPIRIT ( Oct 03, 2016) I'VE BEEN TO 44 STATES AND LIVED IN 5 STATES AND TIJUANA, MX. AND KCMO IS ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE WORST PLACES TO LIVE. THE ONLY THING KCMO HAS GOING FOR IT IS THE COST OF LIVING, BUT IT WILL NOT SPARE YOU FROM ANYTHING ELSE. THE GRADES THIS CITY GETS ARE ALL WELL DESERVED. IT'S NOT ...Read More A VERY NICE PLACE TO LIVE FOR ANYONE HERE AND THE WEATHER WHEN IT'S NOT WINTER IS WARM TO HOT, VERY MUGGY AND HUMID AND RAINS WITH FLOODING QUITE A LOT HERE. THE PEOPLE ARE VERY QUICK TO JUDGE OTHERS AND ARE EXTREMELY INTOLERANT. THIS PLACE MADE ME THINK ABOUT ACTUALLY MOVING BACK TO TIJUANA, MX. Read Less
Kansas City Crime is worse than Los Angeles 3 rating By Denise Kerr ( May 25, 2016) I've lived in the Northland Kansas City area since 1961, with the exception of 11 years away living in San Joaquin Valley California. I also lived in a 10-story Brownstone apartment building in Downtown KC near Case Park. As well as apartments up north near Zona Rosa Shopping d ...Read More istrict. I also lived in houses in Gladstone, Liberty and North Coves area (all part of the KC Metropolitan areas). No matter which location I lived, I experienced some crime (vehicle broken into and stereo stolen, theft of items from patio, mentally ill men in the park across from my apartments, had a neighbor break down my apartment door splitting the door frame claiming he was drunk and fell into the door, apartment broken into with all jewelry and electronics stolen and they stayed long enough to eat food from my fridge and use my husbands electric razor to shave, my sister lived in an apartment and found her cat hung by the neck one morning). If you use this site to compare crime in Kansas City, MO to crime in Los Angeles, CA population over 3 million you will find that Kansas City has higher crime than LA. It's my home town, there are a lot of fun things to do (attractions, dining, concerts, sporting events, Worlds of Fun, live theater, museums). I love Kansas City because I was born and raised here. However that being said; I plan on retiring within the next 5 years and I do have plans on moving out of city and maybe even out of state someplace with a lower crime rate. That's why I am here on areavibes.com to look for a safer area to live. Read Less
The sweet sounds and flavors of Kansas Cty, MO 4 rating By Anonymous ( Dec 19, 2014) I have lived in Kansas City, M.O. for 25 years and I love the camaraderie of my adopted hometown. I lived elsewhere in Ohio, but relocated to Kansas City for better employment prospects. I will soon be retiring from a great company but will remain in K.C. for the incredible atmos ...Read More phere, great food and the amazing views of the Missouri River. Local schools are good with high graduation rates. The real estate is reasonably priced for an urban area. You can find a rental for less than $700.00 a month and even nice houses are around $140,000.

If you want to mix an arts mecca with a food fair you know where to come. My town has an interesting history in native culture, colonial exploration and American history. All over town, you see markers and historical plaques with anecdotes and trivia telling about important local events. We have a style of barbeque that can't be beat. If you walk through the city, you will be enchanted by all the beautiful fountains as you hear sweet jazz from the live music clubs that are on every corner of downtown. The malls are nothing special but they are clean.

Kansas City's major drawbacks are the weather and the crime. Missouri is on the edge of " Tornado Alley", but we have pretty good procedures for when the storms come along. Winters have unpredictable snow. Summer has unpredictable floods. The city itself has a fairly high crime rate per capita but it is not violent crime, and is still lower than many other major cities. Read Less
Great city to raise a family 4 rating By joshlove ( Jun 30, 2014) Kansas City is a great town to raise a family, good schools (in most areas), safe, lots of family attractions, and nice people. I was born and raised here, and live here a significant amount of my adult life. I've lived in the Northland area (highly recommended) and also in Ove ...Read More rland Park (southern suburb). Both are great areas with lots to do and see. In the Northland I recommend the Parkville area - beautiful parks, nice downtown area, and easy to reach other parts of the city (downtown, airport, etc.) The Overland Park area contains a lot of shops and restaurants, with a lot of businesses (Sprint, Garmin, etc.) Read Less
Kansas City, MO: An overlooked tourist attraction? 3.5 rating By Anonymous ( Nov 24, 2011) I have lived in Kansas City for my entire life and I don't think I could ask for a better city to live in. This city is the reason that I became such a rabid sports fan, even if the teams don't merit such praise, living in Kansas City means it is almost a requirement to be a fan ...Read More of sports. When I talk to people about Kansas City, a common response is that there isn't any attractions that really stand out. Sure, Kansas City is the city of fountains, but most cities have a defining tourist attraction that shows the world what it is. Does that make Kansas City a less desirable tourist attraction?

I don't think so at all. Since I live in Kansas City, I might be a little bias, but I think what makes Kansas City so special is that it has a lot of attractive areas to visit that go under the radar, as well as the kindness of the population as a whole. Sports are the life of Kansas City, and if you're a sports fan of the Royals, Chiefs, or one of the college teams, you are treated like family by fellow fans. Nothing beats going to Arrowhead Stadium to root on the Chiefs with 80,000 other fans just like yourself. Other popular attractions include Worlds of Fun, the Harry S. Truman Exhibit, and the Negro League Museum. There are plenty of other attractions, but these are the ones that will stay with you for a lifetime.

One of the most popular tourist spots in the world exists in the suburbs of Kansas City, and only during the holiday season. Every year on Thanksgiving Night, the Plaza Lighting ceremony will take place with thousands of people waiting for the whole city to light up in celebration of the Christmas season. When I had the pleasure of going, it was one of the most magical experiences I had ever encountered, and couldn't trade it for anything. With the attractions, sporting events, and the people of Kansas City, I couldn't imagine a better place to live. Read Less
Kansas City - Barbecue, Baseball, and Beyond 4.5 rating By Anonymous ( Apr 30, 2010) Kansas City is barbecue and baseball. But it offers so much more. I've lived in KC for 11 years and have come to know the city and the surrounding area pretty well.

Sports are a big part of the city. You can watch the Kansas City Chiefs (football), the Kansas City Royals (baseba
...Read More ll), the Kansas City Wizards (soccer), Kansas City T-Bones (minor league baseball), and the Kansas City Brigade (arena football). The area offers lots of recreational sporting opportunities. Youth soccer, outdoor and indoor, is a huge deal. Two indoor ice rinks offer hockey leagues and ice skating programs. One shopping area near downtown, the Crown Center, has an outdoor ice rink open during the winter. In addition to the organized sports, recreational sports lovers will find many parks and lakes to enjoy.

Although the sports garner lots of attention, Kansas City offers many great attractions. A new performing arts center is under construction near the downtown. It will house the symphony, opera, and ballet, all of which are thriving in the city. Many Broadway shows make stops in Kansas City. And the Sprint Center, an arena in downtown, attracts major pop, rock, and country stars. Taylor Swift, ACDC, Pearl Jam, Cirque de Soleil all have made stops or will soon perform at the Sprint Center. One of my favorite Kansas City offerings is the Kansas City Repertory Theater. Last Christmas, it stage the first musical adaptation of "A Christmas Story" that was thoroughly unique and entertaining. My whole family, even my kids, really enjoyed it. The KC Rep stages many productions that are innovative and somewhat risky. I like that about the company.

I have to say one of the real treasures of Kansas City is the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The museum is world famous for its Chinese art collection. I know very little about Chinese art, and that collection is now why I go to the Nelson. The museum and its new Bloch building offer many types of art from ancient to modern. The museum has an amazing sculpture garden, which is a delightful way to spend the evening. It hosts several traveling exhibits throughout the year. Last year, I took my kids to see the George Segal exhibit. He was a sculptor who focused on street scenes. The museum offered workshops in which my kids could see how he created his sculptures. The Nelson also offers great school tours free of charge and many art programs for kids. The museum is free. But you do usually have to pay for special exhibits.

You can find plenty to do in Kansas City. I've only mentioned a few. Read Less

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Compare Kansas City, MO Livability

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      Kansas City, MO

      Kansas City is the largest city in Missouri and its metropolitan area includes some of the most beautiful suburbs in the United States. Its population and job industry has consistently grown throughout the decades and that will only continue as more individuals and families move in from rural areas and larger cities. Its suburbs include some very large corporate headquarters and that has fueled the local economy immensely.

      Kansas City is known for a vibrant history and certain aspects like its jazz music scene have remained a popular attraction to this day. UNESCO has even named Kansas City a "City of Music", cementing its status as a cultural center. This rich culture has helped make Kansas City a worthy tourist destination and a great place to live.

      For those hoping to start or relocate a family, Kansas City has plenty of public schools to choose from for educating your children. It is also the home of the University of Missouri - Kansas City, Kansas City Art Institute and other higher education institutions. Its attractions include plenty of parks and museums, including Swope Park and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. If shopping is your hobby, you can find a large number of stores in Zona Rosa Town Center or Crown Center. There is something for everyone to find in this beautiful city.

      Public transportation is a great, low budget option and connects Kansas City to all of its main suburbs. There are also great highway systems which don't experience much traffic compared to other large cities in the United States. Biking is possible, although Kansas City isn't very well known for this mode of travel. The Kansas City International Airport will connect you to any other major city and has some excellent rates for locations all around the world.

      In terms of living cost, Kansas City is a bit below average for a city of its size, with the average rent being only around $1,000 per month. Other costs are comparable to most of the United States. The minimum wage is currently $9.45, which is better than the suburban neighbors in Kansas State but not very good for a large city. Most people will not have too much trouble living comfortably in this city, although having an education and access to a higher paying job would certainly be beneficial.

      Kansas City is an excellent option for those interested in music or a nice place to raise a family. It has a great mix of recreational activities depending on your hobbies, making the city great for people of all ages. If you decide to move here, you will likely be met with open arms and feel at home in no time.

      A+ Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Kansas City? Yes, there are lots of amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park
      Ilus W. Davis Park
      UMB Greenspace
      Rooftop Park
      Rooftop Park
      Barney Allis Plaza
      Kemp Park
      SoHo Lofts Dog Park Area

      Entertainment

      National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
      T-Mobile Center
      Kansas City Live!
      Mosaic Ultra Lounge
      Kansas City Repertory Theatre Copaken Stage
      The Box Gallery
      The Midland
      Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

      Food & Drink

      Zoo Bar
      Subway
      Prohibition Hall
      Curry In A Hurry
      Jimmy John's
      Johnny's Tavern
      Howl at the Moon
      Pizza Bar

      A+ Commute

      Is public transit available in Kansas City? Of all people who commute, 2.6% take public transportation in Kansas City.
      Drive to Work
      80%

      4% higher than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      3%

      3% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      2%

      1% lower than the US average

      B- Health & Safety

      Is Kansas City a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are some hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Two Rivers Behavioral Health System
      Research Medical Center
      Children's Mercy Hospital
      Saint Lukes
      Saint Joseph Medical Center
      Saint Luke's North
      Kindred Hospital Northland
      Crittenton Childrens Center

      Pharmacies

      Costco Pharmacy
      CVS Pharmacy
      CVS Pharmacy
      CVS Pharmacy
      Hy-Vee Pharmacy
      Walgreens
      CVS Pharmacy
      Walgreens

      Doctors

      Sabates Eye Center
      Barry Road Dental Group
      Mosaic Life Care at Shoal Creek
      Ottis Family Chiropractic
      Facial Surgery Group
      I Got Your Back
      KC North Spine and Joint Center
      J Edward Kendrick and Associates