Kansas or Missouri? (Kansas City, Lee's Summit, Jackson: HOA, house, transfer)

[Chridon]

Hello,

I am considering taking a transfer that will move me to the KC area. My job will be on the Kansas side along 635 between I35 and I70. I am wondering what would be the better choice for an area to live in. Which towns would give me good living conditions but also a somewhat-easy drive to work in the morning.

I am in my early 30s and have a family, so I will need those taken into account with where we live. I don't mind city living - I've lived and worked in both the DFW area and Phoenix. But I prefer to not live on a 1/8th or 1/6th parcel in a house that takes up almost the whole property. I don't mind so called cookie-cutter neighborhoods though, as long as there isn't some HOA deciding whether I can have stones or woodchips in my flower beds.

I also wonder what the tax implications are for living in MO and working in KS? Is there a benefit or significant drawback to doing that?

Thanks
-C

[Samantha S]

Tax implications are insignificant.

For family, I recommend Johnson County on the KS side for the best public schools. Shawnee Mission or Blue Valley Dsitricts, but DeSoto is also good and you might find some newer neighborhoods that you like around Johnson Drive between 435 and K-7.

Best of luck to you and Welcome!

[TabulaRasa]

Much of Kansas City's metro has significantly larger lots/yards than I've experienced in other metros I've lived in, but my residential experience has been strictly in city neighborhoods and in the Missouri-side suburb of Lee's Summit (nice place, great schools, but makes little sense if you're working in KS - we do it, and my SO works in Olathe, KS, but he has a lot of telecommuting opportunities; most people wouldn't make the drive). Tax situation's a nonissue, it's that insignificant. Not sure about the HOA situation in various KS suburbs, myself. I'd imagine it's a big issue in some, not so much in others.

We are in our early 30s, as well, and although we don't have kids, we've found the 'burbs on either side of the state line to be very family-oriented, and by and large to have excellent schools (I work in education, in a position allows me face time with districts all over the metro, so I've got a decent background knowledge of many of the districts). The city itself has plenty to do for families, as well, but you'll run into the ever-present issue of the public schools in a couple of the urban districts being pretty deplorable. People with families seldom seem to choose KCMO proper unless they are committed to doing private/parochial school, or unless they live in a part of the city served by some of the better-run districts.

[kcmo]

635 and I-70 is very accessible to both Platte and Johnson County. I would take a serious look at both and just go with the one you like. JoCo has been mentioned, so I will give some insight on Platte.

Basically anything along the I-29 corridor from 635 to 152. You have Parkville, and several lake communities and smaller towns like Platte Woods mixed in, but it's mostly Kansas City, MO.

Really nice topography, good schools, parks and community centers, great shopping and very close to 635 and 70.

There is plenty in those two counties or you can go out further to Clay, Jackson etc if you can put up with a longer commute.