Highlands Ranch to Overland Park (Denver, Fort Collins: rent, house, neighborhoods)

[gabejen]

We are relocating from Highlands Ranch to Overland Park, Kansas. Is anyone in the Highlands Ranch area familiar with the Overland Park area? In my opinion H.R. is the best place to live in the world. We have been so happy here and I am sad to leave. In researching Overland Park, it sounds a bit like our community here, aside from the fact that we will not see a mountain for miles! Just wondering if anyone has any knowledge of that area. We will know more when we visit in three weeks.

[masalamomma]

I lived in Overland Park for one year, but it was about 10 years ago. It was a nice peaceful place. Neighborhoods were nice, freeway access good. I wasn't impress at that time with the mall or the restaurant selection, but that could have improved. THere wasn't as many cultural offerings. There was a cute little downtown area, can't remember the name now, I think it started with a W.

All in all, I would say it was a tad bit boring and flat back then, but very clean and safe. I wouldn't want to live there forever, but for a year it was perfectly pleasant.

[gabejen]

Thanks for the reply. I think it's grown a lot in the last ten years. From what I've researched anyway. It was listed number 6 on the 10 Best Places to Live list. (I think Money Magazine put out the list.) Fort Collins was #1. I just can't help but wonder how we are going to adjust from our piece of heaven here in Colorado.

[masalamomma]

That's too bad. Any chance you could just rent out your house and then return to HR someday?

I have to tell you one story about Overland Park. We are a quite worldly family - have lived all over the USA and overseas. Just some background. ANyway, after we first got to Overland Park, I took the kids out for something to eat at some fast food place. All of a sudden everyone in the place was gawking out the window to one side, their faces literally pressed to the glass. I couldn't imagine what was going on.... When I finally caught a glimpse of the commotion I was mortified to see it was merely that someone had been pulled over by the police. What, are you kidding me? That was the big excitement? Anyway, like I said before, not the most exiciting place, but it could be worse I guess.

Good Luck anyway.

[midwest456]

I grew up in Johnson County KS. It's not a bad place but I am ready for something different and researching other places to live now. Overland Park is somewhat blue collar/middle class at its north end and becomes richer as you go south, especially "outside" I 435. This is also where the rapid growth is happening now. McMansions, larger super/chain stores, SUVs, white collar jobs, highly rated public schools. It is rather Anglo and Republican but is somewhat more diverse ethnically than just 10-15 years ago. From what I have read about HR it sounds like Denver's answer to Overland Park or Leawood south in Kansas. Some areas are nicer than others but nowhere in the city is that rough or dangerous.

[midwest456]

The terrain is not as scenic, definitely, but a lot of people around Kansas City take day and weekend trips down to the Ozarks, about two hours to the southeast, where there are scenic hills surrounding lakes. There are also several lakes for recreation around the metro area. you will probably find the winters milder than Denver but the summer even hotter and much more humid. My favorite KC neighborhood is Brookside in mid Kansas City MO, but of course it isn't in as nice of a school district.

[Dan6200alt]

I lived in KC area for about 3 years right after college. In fact, I got married there. I lived on the plaza the first year and Overland Park after that.

At the time, I couldn't wait to leave. Thought it was boring and flat with nothing to do but eat and shop. Its actually true; kinda boring, it is flat and not much to do but eat and shop. BUT, after living there, then NW Montana and now Denver metro, I really do appreciate KC. Its not perfect, but its actually a pretty good place to live, especially Johnson County (Overland Park). It is very similar to Highlands Ranch as far as the suburban feel.

denvers downtown is better than KC, but KC has the 'plaza' as its alternate. Its like 16th street mall, only much bigger. Its a few minutes from KC downtown. KC downtown, at least in the mid/late 90's was a little scary after dark.

The terrain is definately flatter and not much to do except go to the ozarks or sit in a corn field. But its also much greener with real live trees everywhere! Not the 1.5 standard builder landscape trees around here in south denver metro. Fall is really beautiful in KC. You really get a sense of Spring at springtime. It comes and goes too fast here in Denver. I really miss driving along Ward Parkway in the fall.

I'm a huge Broncos fan and was long before living in Kansas City or Denver, but I will give KC the nod as being the better football town. The atmoshere there is awesome for football/tailgating. Better fans if you ask me. That makes fall there that much better. (it wasn't fun being a Broncos fan while living there, however)

Weather is definately better in Denver.

Johnson Co is pretty safe (or was-assume still is) but the 'bad' areas of KC are much worse than the 'bad' areas of Denver IMO.

Great BBQ culture there. Good restaurants of all types all over.

Overall you'll like it there. Just plan on taking a few vacations to get away- at least once in winter, and once in summer.

[gabejen]

Wow! Thanks Dan! That was a wealth of information. Just what I was looking for. Thanks to everyone else as well. I am feeling less anxious about the move. I know we'll adjust eventually. I'll be even better once I can see the area for myself. Now, if I can only get over my anxiety about tornado's!