Overview of Kansas City Neighborhoods
Between its vibrant jazz scene and its thriving arts community, it’s easy to see why Kansas City might be the best place to settle down, especially since it offers a variety of neighborhoods that would suit different lifestyles and budgets.
Accommodating a population of 509,000 people, the city has a range of housing options whether it’s affordable starter homes for young families or luxury estates. Kansas City neighborhoods are also known to have cultural attractions, historic homes, and modern amenities, so the lack of character is out of the question.
Best Neighborhoods for Families
Waldo
The neighborhood provides the allure of a small-town feel and is known for its affordable housing. It’s one of the ideal locations for a family because of its tree-lined streets, allowing for many family-friendly activities. To add to the small-town appeal, Waldo has its own annual Fall Festival, where its residents can participate in the celebration of live music, food trucks, rides for children, and more every September 21st.
Brookside
The popularity of the Kansas City neighborhood paved the way for a variety of housing types, including mid-century modern homes. Families can enjoy the local restaurants and shops as well as mingle with the locale. The historic neighborhood has been around since the 1920s, so there won’t be a shortage of attractions and other popular destinations among the locals, including coffee shops and bakeries.
Leawood
A more highly walkable neighborhood, Leawood has a suburban atmosphere with plenty of housing options. Furthermore, it is in the range of excellent public schools, making it a great place for families with kids and teens. Residents have easy access to shopping locations with the open-air mall Town Center Plaza having more than 90 retail stores to browse in. Leawood City Park has several courts and fields for sports like tennis, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and more.
Downtown Kansas City Neighborhoods
Downtown neighborhoods located in Kansas City present a more urban feel due to their walkable streets and apartments in close proximity to local food places and places of culture, especially in River Market. Its heart lies in the lively art scene featuring galleries, studios, and performance spaces in the area, especially around Kansas City’s creative neighborhood, the Crossroads Arts District.
People with an appreciation for history will marvel at the vintage buildings and historic mansions located in Quality Hill, especially the popular destination, the Money Museum as well as the National World War I Museum, which can be found in Crown Center. River Market can be a popular area for young professionals since apartments can be more appealing than housing in their current lifestyle.
Suburban Neighborhoods
As for the suburbs, which are the perfect place for families, Mission Lake is a quiet neighborhood just south of Downtown Kansas City, providing easy access to popular areas. The neighborhood is known for being a safe place to live in with its friendly community.
Armour Hills, on the other hand, offers more housing options including Tudor and Colonial homes, which display Spanish-inspired architecture. It’s just as charming as Hyde Park, which is also one of the historically rich neighborhoods in Kansas City.
Safety and Crime Rates
While a big city usually calls for trouble, Kansas City has a low crime rate compared to other major cities in the country, especially neighborhoods like Leawood and Mission Lake.
There have already been many initiatives that contribute to improving public safety, such as increased police presence in neighborhoods and community programs, making it safe to walk the street, and convenient to stroll around with family and friends. This can be an essential factor in housing options, especially living around school districts where children are expected to have a level of freedom when going to and coming home from school.
Lifestyle and Amenities
Just as it is rich in places of culture, museums, parks, and restaurants, Kansas City offers a thriving food scene, given its dining districts such as the Country Club Plaza and other local vendors in the area. Locally owned shops and boutiques can be found around Brookside and Volker, but it’s hardly the only place where unique shops exist within Kansas City, Missouri.
Every neighborhood located in the city has its own unique products and entertainment. With its rural charm and modern amenities, residents can enjoy the unique blend of the best of both worlds in Kansas City, and add to that the trails and fishing spots that can be found around the area in a mission to escape the neighborhood or modern society.
Community and Culture
One of the many things that Kansas City, Missouri is known for is its art scene, the place is brimming with vibrant expressions of art from artists. The diverse locale just adds to the variety of creativity exhibited in the city. All of it can be witnessed through the numerous museums, galleries, and performance venues like parks that can be visited throughout the city.
That’s not including the local events and festivals that are hosted in each neighborhood, as well as the dining district that can be experienced around the Country Club Plaza. The sense of community sets up a great district for families, even for those who are just looking for apartments and want to absorb the culture that Kansas City has to offer, whether it’s in the form of art or lifestyle.
Conclusion
Kansas City can provide housing to a wide range of people and families with all the options, from starter homes to luxury estates. Those who prefer a more family-friendly atmosphere can look into the suburban areas where local amenities include parks and family-friendly locations. There’s also the downtown living experience where people can be closer to attractions and destinations like museums in Crown Center, malls, galleries, fields, and courts where sports are welcomed.
Both are just as safe as the others with a rich history, with the only difference being the preference in lifestyle. The friendly people in Kansas City contribute to its lower crime rate, making it perfect for a growing family, especially those who have kids and teens who intend to achieve an education within the school district, or want to be immersed in the rich art culture and of Kansas City has cultivated over the years.
There are plenty of investment opportunities throughout Kansas City, Missouri, and while that is a wonderful idea, it can be a complex venture. A professional property manager based in Kansas City like SCUDO can take care of that by assisting in property management or real estate buy & sell and protect your investment.
