Kansas City, MO


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Kansas City, MO

About Kansas City, MO

Kansas City, Missouri is a vibrant destination with plenty of activities and attractions for all. Take an adventure through the city's historic downtown district or explore the many outdoor recreation opportunities at Swope Park. Visit the Kansas City Zoo or take a wild ride at Worlds of Fun amusement park. With excellent cultural offerings, varied cuisine, and bustling nightlife, Kansas City has something to offer everyone! Large-city complex - Missouri-Kansas border, on the Missouri River.

State: Missouri
County: Jackson County
Metro Area: Kansas City Metro Area
City: Kansas City
Zip Codes: 64118, 64152, 64119, 64138, 64151, 64114, 64134, 64155, 64131, 64130, 47 total
Cost of Living:
Time zone: Central Standard Time (CST)
Elevation: 1014 ft above sea level

Kansas City is a large, prosperous, self-sufficient and culturally rich city located astride the Missouri River. The downtown area and most of the population are on the older Missouri side, filled with shaded neighborhoods and mixed development. For the past 20 years the big growth has been on the Kansas side to the southwest in suburbs like Overland Park, Lenexa, and Shawnee.

Once grittier and more industrial, the Kansas or “KCK” side is changing its image fast. The combined city grew up as an agricultural center that provided commercial and industrial support to the vast agricultural area to the west. Food processing is still a major industry, but diverse industries such as greeting cards (Hallmark), telecommunications, publishing, and automobile manufacturers have also set up shop. The area is centrally located to all U.S. markets and has a good business climate.

The attractive downtown boasts museums and architectural attractions, including modern buildings and restorations of older sites such as the 1914 Union Station. More recently, a major urban redevelopment and renewal effort has taken hold, anchored by a new Federal Reserve and IRS complex expected to employ 7,000 and a new headquarters for financial services giant H&R Block, plus a new entertainment district. These developments and more renovations of attractive older buildings are adding life to the area, and there is also a significant push towards residential units in the city.

KC has a cultural history more interesting that most: a mix of migrated workers from the Southeast and local customs led to fame in barbecue ribs and blues music, both available in abundance. Although well known for its restaurants, clubs, and live music, professional sports, particularly the NFL Chiefs and the MLB Royals, are also important. Locals share a strong sense of civic pride and the belief that the area is a well-kept secret. On the downside, “Westward expansion” takes on a whole new meaning here. One estimate holds that the average person has more “room”—over 85,000 feet—in this metropolitan area than anywhere else in the country.

Availability of cheap land, particularly to the west, and few geographic barriers have created some sprawl problems. The highway system is extensive but generally adequate and commute times are acceptable so far, but the future bears watching. Intercity transport benefits from the presence of discount airlines and the central location. Home prices are moderate, and excellent values and family-style living can be found in older city neighborhoods and in the “big three” suburbs to the west.

The area is located on a broad river plain at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas rivers. Surrounding terrain is flat to gently rolling with mixed deciduous woods around the city center and open prairie to the west. The climate is continental with no natural topographic obstructions to prevent free weather flow from all directions. Summer has warm days and mild nights with moderate humidity; occasional heat waves bring higher temperatures and humidity for a week or two each summer. Winters are not severely cold but occasional cold snaps do occur. Heavy snowfalls are uncommon. Spring is wet with rapid weather fluctuations and autumn is mild and sunny. First freeze is mid-October, last is mid-April.

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Kansas City Cost of Living

Diverse economy, entertainment, and attractive downtown make Kansas City a great place to live.

$222,100
-52.2% lower than avg
$60,042
-15.0% lower than avg
7.5 / 5.7
Comfort Index
summer/winter
Kansas City Crime
65.4 / 100
Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low) to 100 (high). US average: 35.4
Minimum annual income
To live comfortably in Kansas City, Missouri
$42,480
for a family
$41,600
for a single person
Pros & Cons of Kansas City
   Diverse economy
Growth & sprawl
   Entertainment
Uninteresting physical setting
   Attractive downtown
Crime rates
Reviews for Kansas City
    See all (83)

I was born and raised in the Kansas City area and have moved and come back twice. Kansas City has a lot to do, prices are very reasonable, and how can you beat having a  More
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KC has seriously grown over the last 20 years, specifically the downtown area. The city as a whole has become a more inviting place for younger generations as well with  More
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Over 3 years ago
I have lived in Kansas City my entire life. I've also lived in other states. Yes, there are bad guys/gals that live here. Can you name a big city that is  More
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