10 Reasons Why Moving to Kansas City Is a Great Idea

Continuously ranked among the best cities in the U.S., Kansas City, MO, is known for its amazing cultural scene, top-rated colleges, affordable housing, and fabulous barbecue. Designed to have “more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than Rome”, KC offers its residents more than 150 miles of tree-lined parkways and boulevards, over 200 urban parks, and more than 200 fountains which earned the city the nickname “The City of Fountains”.

The Midwestern metropolis seems like a truly wonderful place – so, it’s no wonder that more and more people are moving to Kansas City each year.

If you too are wondering whether relocating to KC would be a good idea, you’ll be interested to know what exactly draws people to the fast-growing metropolis. What are the benefits of living in Kansas City? Why would you want to call it home?

Here are the top ten reasons to move to Kansas City to help you find out what makes the City of Fountains such a great place to live – and whether it’s the right place for you.

Low cost of living

The affordability of the area is probably the main reason why so many people move to Kansas City, MO – the Midwestern metropolis has one of the lowest costs of living in the country. (See also: 15 cheap states to move to)

Living expenses in the City of Fountains are lower than the national averages and the costs of utilities, groceries, transportation, and other everyday necessities are much cheaper than in other big cities.

Yet, it’s the housing costs that are the biggest draw to the city – here, you can buy a home for a fraction of what you’d pay in other metros.

The median home price in KC is around $155,000 – much lower than the national average of $217,000. You can buy a small home in a good neighborhood for as little as $100,000-$120,000 – and a spacious 4-bedroom house with a huge backyard will only cost you between $200,000 and $250,000.

Considering these numbers – and the low property taxes in the state – it comes as no surprise that Kansas City ranks among the “best cities to buy a house in America”.

Quite predictably, rents in the Midwestern metropolis are also cheaper than in other cities.

What all this means is that if you move to Kansas City, MO, your dream home will be truly within reach.

Good to know: Best places to live in Kansas City

One of the most important things to know before moving to Kansas City is that the metro spans two states (Kansas and Missouri) and has over 240 distinct neighborhoods – each of which has a different character and a different cost of living:

• The riverfront neighborhood River Market is the oldest district in the city, home to the historic Kansas City Farmers’ Market;
• The historic district 18th and Vine is internationally recognized as one of the points of origin of jazz music;
• Another historic neighborhood, Westport has become a major entertainment hub;
• Crossroads is the cultural heart of the city;
• Brookside is a big shopping district with numerous stores, markets, restaurants, and coffeehouses;
• The thriving Kansas City suburbs, such as Leawood, Overland Park, Olathe, Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, etc., are ideal for families with children, etc.

Living in the Plaza area or in a Johnson County suburb will certainly cost you more than living in Waldo or in a Jackson County suburb, but with such as a wide variety of urban and suburban housing options it will be easy to find the perfect new home for you in KC.

Numerous job opportunities

If the low cost of living in KCMO isn’t reason enough to move to the city, then the thriving economy in the area definitely is.

Kansas City is a major hub for agribusiness, finances, healthcare, transportation, and distribution – and it is quickly becoming the center of tech development in the Midwest.

Many major companies like Hallmark Cards, HNTB Corporation, and H&R Block are headquartered in KC, there are numerous job opportunities with up-and-coming high-tech companies, and the unemployment rate in the city is lower than the national average.

It is, therefore, only logical that Kansas City is rated as one of the top U.S. cities for jobs – as well as one of the best cities for startup success.

Related: The ultimate guide to relocating for a job; Moving to a new city without a job

Excellent educational opportunities

If you have kids, moving to Kansas City will give them great educational opportunities – there are plenty of good public schools and several excellent private schools in the area. In fact, the Blue Valley school district is one of the top school districts in the country – and one of the top reasons why so many families move to the Kansas City suburbs of Overland Park and Leawood.

What’s more, the Midwestern metropolis is home to a number of top-rated colleges and universities as well.

Related: How to find a good new school for your child after moving

Great culture

The rich culture in the area is one of the main reasons why Kansas City is great – music, arts, museums, the Midwestern metropolis has it all.

There are many awesome museums in the city – the American Jazz Museum, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, and the National WWI Museum & Memorial, to name but a few – and there is no admission fee for many of them.

Not only does KC have some of the finest art museums and galleries in the country, it has an amazing selection of performing arts venues too. Whether you like opera or ballet, musicals or rock concerts, classic plays or comedy shows, you can enjoy it all in the City of Fountains:

• ThefamousKauffman Center for the Performing Arts, home to the Kansas City Symphony and the Kansas City Ballet, is among the top performing arts centers in the world;
• There is a wonderful Music Hall and numerous theaters scattered throughout the metro;
• The Crossroads Arts District is a first-class arts district, packed with galleries, studios, clubs, and cafés and brimming with street musicians, artists, and performers of all kinds; etc.

Needless to say, the jazz scene in KC is truly impressive – there are special jazz events every week and you can enjoy live jazz music in various locations around the city every single day.

Good to know:

• The KC St. Patrick’s Day parade is one of the largest in the country, with over 200,000 spectators a year;
• Kansas City is great for sports fans – the city is home to a number of professional football, baseball, hockey, and soccer teams (the Kansas City Royals, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Mavericks, Sporting KC, etc.)

Plenty of recreational and entertainment options

Considering the amazing cultural and sports scene in the area, it’s certain that you will never be bored when living in Kansas City. You can always go to a concert, see a play or a show at the Starlight Theater or the Folly Theater, listen to live jazz music at the Blue Room Jazz Club or the Green Lady Lounge, watch a pro match at one of the numerous city stadiums, etc.

Yet, that’s not all – there is much more to do in Kansas City, MO. You can have a stroll through one of the city’s many parks, visit the Kansas City Zoo (ranked number one in the nation for African animals exhibits and extremely popular for its chimpanzees and kangaroos), enjoy a day at Crown Center complex, have tons of fun at the Worlds of Fun theme park or the Oceans of Fun water park, take your family to LEGOLAND Discovery Center, catch a show in the planetarium, explore the interactive Science City exhibit, etc.

The KC nightlife is not to be underestimated either! There is an entire city block filled with restaurants, bars, and night clubs (the Power & Light District’s KCLive!) and a giant entertainment complex (Chicken N Pickle) where you can have fun all night long.

There is never a lack of excitement and entertainment in KCMO!

Friendly people

When thinking of moving to KC, you will certainly be wondering about the people you’re going to meet there.

With over 2 million people, the Kansas City metropolitan area is one of the biggest metros in the Midwest. Though predominantly white and African-American, Kansas City’s population includes big refugee and immigrant communities and has become truly multicultural.

The atmosphere in the city is lively and welcoming – and people are quite friendly. Midwesterners are generally known as open and reliable, but Kansas City residents are extremely nice and always ready to help. Everyone takes the time to introduce themselves, chat, and show newcomers around.

The community spirit is very strong – neighbors throw block parties, coworkers go out together, and celebrations are shared and enjoyed together. First Friday, which takes place in the Crossroads district each month, is a fine example of the spirit of camaraderie that permeates the city.

Must-read: How to make friends after moving

Wonderful fountains

With its rich historic heritage, numerous fascinating attractions, lush green parks, flowing jazz music, family-friendly vibe, and beautiful houses, Kansas City seems like a dream place – and the wonderful fountains scattered throughout the metro only add to the impression.

There is a reason why KC is called the City of Fountains – there are more than 200 charming water features in the city, gracing parks, plazas, courtyards, and boulevards.

Large and small, intricate and simple, classic and futuristic, KC fountains are a sight to behold!

Scrumptious barbecue

Implausible as it may sound, the KC barbecue alone is reason enough to move to the city. 

Named the BBQ capital of the U.S., Kansas City offers some of the best barbecue in the country. The number of BBQ joints in the metro is absolutely ridiculous – and each one is more delicious than the other. Every newcomer must sample the fabulous ribs at Arthur Bryant’s and the pulled pork sandwiches at Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, but just about every barbecue place in the city is truly remarkable. It’s no wonder Travel & Leisure magazine ranked Kansas City #1 in the country for barbecue.

It’s not just the barbecue, though – the entire food and drink scene in KC is outstanding. There are many great restaurants in the city (the Mexican ones are particularly worth mentioning), awesome craft beer places (the famous Boulevard Brewery is a standout), and chic cafés.

You’ll never go hungry – or thirsty – in Kansas City!

Numerous farmers’ markets

While still on the topic of food, the abundant fresh produce in the area deserves a special mention – and ranks among the top reasons to move to Kansas City.

There are more than 30 farmers’ markets in KC, ranging from small places selling locally grown fruits and vegetables to big markets with more than a hundred vendors offering everything from organic produce to homemade soaps and flowers. (The City Market in the River Market District is one of the largest farmers’ markets in the Midwest.)

Some of the farmers’ markets in the city are open not only on weekends but mid-week too.

Short commute

Still wondering why move to Kansas City? You can get between any two points in the city within 20 minutes.

Traffic is not a problem in the Midwestern metropolis – you can be anywhere in the metro in less than half an hour. Even if you live in the suburbs, you won’t spend a lot of time on your way to work – Kansas City has an average commute time of 23 minutes, which is the fifth shortest commute time in the country.

Yet, you’re definitely going to need a car when living in Kansas City – the metro area is nearly 315 square miles and public transportation is not well developed. There is a decent bus system downtown, but buses do not service the outlying areas, so you can’t do without a car.

Good to know:

• Kansas City has more than 151 miles of inter-connected, multi-lane boulevards, lined with trees and dotted with fountains;
• The Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is extremely convenient – it’s easy to navigate, has a reputation for short waits, and offers flights to numerous destinations around the country and around the world.

More useful information about the Kansas City area:

Official website of Kansas City, Missouri

Official tourism site of Kansas City

So, is Kansas City a good place to live? Considering that the city tops the lists of the best cities in the country for so many indexes, KC seems like a really great place to call home.

Whether it’s the right place for you, though, depends on what you’re looking for in a city. You need to consider what KC has to offer and whether it aligns with your lifestyle, interests and goals, needs and preferences, so you can find a definitive answer to the question “Should I move to Kansas City?”

If you decide that moving to KC is the right step for you, use an effective moving checklist to organize your forthcoming relocation in the best way possible and consider hiring reputable Kansas City movers to take care of your belongings. When you’re properly prepared and have trustworthy moving partners by your side, your relocation is guaranteed to go smoothly and successfully.

May your new life in the City of Fountains turn out to be everything you ever wanted!