Relocation
All right already, we’ve convinced you to move here. Congratulations, neighbor. You’re going to love living in the heartland. We’ve helped you pick your neighborhood, line up some festivals, locate parks and lakes, and find where to get a great meal. Now let’s move you in.
To smooth your move we’ve divided this chapter into topics of major interest to those planning—or just contemplating—a move to Kansas City: Neighborhoods and Real Estate will help you decide where you want to live. Once you’ve settled on a location, Getting Started will help you get hooked up to utilities. Getting Legal provides basic information about licenses you’ll need, and Getting to Know You introduces those little nice-to-know services in town.
Whatever your reasons for making the move, welcome to Kansas City! The listings are in Kansas City, Missouri, unless otherwise noted.
1. Belton
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: A sleepy little town that has seen remarkable growth lately as families move south to get nice homes for far less than in town, Belton has its own school district and a population of around 24,000. It’s a bit of a drive to the airport (about 45 minutes), but you can be on the Plaza in about 20 minutes. Homes tend to be traditional and cost from $60,000 to more than $1 million for mansions sitting on enormous estates.
2. Lake Winnebago
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: Ah, this is the life! Although some people simply maintain a vacation home here, most choose the resort-type amenities every day. Yet even with its Lake of the Ozarks feel, it’s just 30 minutes from downtown. Housing options are attractive, diverse, and amazingly affordable when compared with resort-caliber cities across the nation. Students attend the highly rated Lee’s Summit school district, and health care and shopping options are all within easy reach. About 900 lucky folks live here, and there’s always room on the lake for one more boat. Homes range from $90,000 to more than $350,000.
3. Raymore
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: Known as a small rural farm community years ago, recently Raymore has had the greatest percentage of population increase of any Kansas City suburb. The population numbers around 8,000 right now, but the growth will continue. Close to Belton, you can expect the same 20-minute drive to the Plaza. Or you can stay home and have a cookout with your neighbors; this is a friendly place. Home prices range from $60,000 to $500,000.
4. Gladstone
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: Sometimes referred to as Happy Rock, this community of some 27,200 is about 10 square miles in area and is completely surrounded by Kansas City North. It’s a great place for families, thanks to its proximity to Smithville Lake, Worlds of Fun, and Oceans of Fun. The airport is just 20 minutes away. Homes tend to be ranch or traditional and cost $60,000 to $400,000.
5. Liberty
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: Historic charm, small-town spirit, and recreational amenities galore appeal to families living in this 27-square-mile city. Its population is on a steady incline (an 18 percent increase each decade since 1940), yet Liberty has a friendly, country town appeal. As one of Missouri’s oldest settlements, Liberty is home to a number of well-preserved original structures like the Jesse James Bank. But families won’t need to rob a bank to live here; home prices are favorable. You can choose anything from renovated older homes in quiet neighborhoods for $100,000 to country estates on sprawling acreage for $1 million or more.
6. North Kansas City
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: Boasting a large and diverse economic base, North Kansas City is home to more than a thousand businesses that include some of the world’s leading corporations. Yet neighborhoods offer the peace and relaxation of well-kept homes set on tree-lined streets. A highly developed park system offers ball fields, playgrounds, swimming, tennis, and walking trails. And its 5,000 residents can find a full calendar of professional sports events, plus entertainment and shopping at the nearby River Market and Country Club Plaza. Housing options run the gamut from small starter homes to nice-size family homes ranging from $75,000 to well over $1 million.
7. Blue Springs
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: The original pioneers found this area to be the ideal stopover due to the abundance of clear, clean water from a nearby spring at the mouth of the Little Blue River. Water is still quite a draw for this community. Lake Jacomo and Longview Lake are nearby, and you’ll have your choice of 14 city parks. Three golf courses mean there’s no waiting for tee times. About 50,000 lucky people make their homes here and send their children to AAA-rated Blue Springs schools.Home prices can still be a bargain, beginning at $80,000, but can easily escalate to $1 million or more for estates on spectacular lands. Bring your horses.
8. Grandview
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: Situated on the southern edge of Jackson County, Grandview’s residents value a stable neighborhood environment yet enjoy the convenience of major interstates a few miles north. A major intersection, the Grandview Triangle, has been redesigned to make commuting a piece of cake. About 25,000 people live in Grandview, and houses range from $45,000 to around $200,000.
9. Independence
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: One of our most vibrant historical areas, this is a great place to visit and an even better place to live. After all, it was good enough for Harry S. Truman. About 111,000 people can proudly say the buck stops here, and it can for you, too, for $50,000 to $300,000.Besides offering a wealth of historical sites, Independence is close to downtown, the Plaza, and the airport. Travel to each is around 15 to 20 minutes.
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
11. Lake Lotawana
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: Ideally situated just 20 miles from downtown Kansas City, this lake community offers both summer and year-round homes centered on a sparkling 600-acre lake. It’s the perfect backdrop for magnificent waterfront estates. Its 2,200 residents enjoy a vacation-like lifestyle and needn’t spend a million dollars to achieve it. Small bungalows and lake cabins are still available for less than $100,000, but there are also showplaces that cost $1 million or more.
12. Lake Tapawingo
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: Just west of Blue Springs and close to the urban amenities of Lee’s Summit and Kansas City, this small lake community provides a tranquil setting. The lake itself is small, which is how the 890 or so residents like it: no loud motorboats to break the peaceful sound of children playing Red Rover at dusk. Although you’ll still see small cottages dotting the rolling wooded landscape, homeowners with real buying power have discovered this beauty and have built magnificent lakeside estates worth well over $1 million.
13. Lee’S Summit
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: Located in eastern Jackson County, Lee’s Summit is the third largest city in Missouri based on geographic size. With more than 90 subdivisions, it’s also the fastest growing community in the Kansas City area. Families love it here thanks to an award-winning school district and plenty of recreational opportunities at nearby Longview Lake and Lake Jacomo. Arrowhead Stadium is a 15-minute drive. You’ll see a wide variety of architectural styles in the neighborhoods, from traditional to contemporary. Expect to pay from $80,000 to $1 million, which would get you a palatial home on a golf course.
14. Raytown
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: When Raytown was incorporated in the 1950s, it had a population of 850 in a 2-mile-square land area. Today it has grown to 12 square miles and a population of 31,850. It’s close to some of the area’s most beautiful lakes, including Blue Springs, Longview, and Lake Jacomo. Home prices are very reasonable here. You’ll see bungalows, ranches, Victorians, and traditionals ranging from $60,000 to more than $250,000.
15. Parkville
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Relocation
Description: Nestled in the natural beauty of wooded hills and the limestone bluffs of the Missouri River, this is a highly desirable area. It’s home to Park University, and its historic downtown area is filled with antiques shops, restaurants, and art galleries. A nature center and riverside park add to its charm. Parkville affords an extraordinary view of the Kansas City, Missouri, skyline. To get there takes only 15 minutes, and the airport is a pleasant 15-minute drive. About 5,500 people live here, and the architecture varies from traditional to historic.