How would you rate the overall quality of life in the Kansas City Area? (St. Louis: new home, neighborhood)

[kcmo]

It does seem like KC has done well in keeping a lot more industrial jobs than many cities. The Fairfax district is thriving, the east bottoms and even west bottoms are expanding and doing well and there are no massive empty factories complexes in KC. StL has closed at least one assembly plant. KC did lose the overhaul base, but a new company is picking up much of the slack.

MoKan, you might find this interesting.

This is from this years KC Biz Journal:

Top area manufactures:

GM Plant (KCK) 4000
Ford Plant (Claycomo) 3800
Garmin (Olathe) 2746
TKC Small Caliber Lake City (Independence) 2700
Honeywell Nuclear weapons plant (SKC) 2500
Bayer (Shawnee) 1000
Peterson Manufacturing (Grandview) 852
Harley Davidson Plant (Northland) 800
Thermo Fisher Scientific (Lenexa) 600
BlueScope Steel (KCMO) 500
SPX Cooling Tech (Overland Park) 500
Caravan Ingredients (Lenexa) 406
Ash Grove Cement (Overland Park) 400
Fike Corp (Blue Springs) 370
Sanofi-Aventis (SKC) 340

As you can see, pretty much all across the metro.

[xenokc]

I checked BLS.gov for white/blue collar employment of various metros..

Here's white collar leaning, which includes Information, Pro Services, Finance, Education, Govt...

san diego 55.0%
denver 54.6%
kc 54.0%
msp 53.8%
cleveland 53.6%
stl 51.2%
cincy 50.3%
indy 49.8%
houston 48.9%



Here's blue collar leaning.. Construction, Manufacturing, Trade, Transportation, Utilities...

houston 39.7%
indy 35.5% ???
cincy 34.9%
cleveland 33.2%
stl 32.9%
kc 32.3%
msp 32.1%
denver 30.3%
san diego 27.9%

The rest is the service industry like retail, restaurants, hotels, casinos, etc.

If you just talk manufacturing, KC is below avg but if you include light industrial and transportation, KC is average. Surprised to see Indy has so much blue collar leaning. But I'm not sure how BLS tracks jobs. IE, a transportation or utility company has many white collar office jobs.

[tzeb]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

KC doesn't receive a large amount of transplants OUTSIDE of the Plains/Midwest. I think it would probably be somewhat hard for many coastal residents to adjust to all the differences of KC in a short period of time. It usually takes a period of transition.

After three years in Houston, the OP will find the biggest difference -- he may welcome it -- is KC's smaller size. Fewer people live in the whole nine county area around KC than live in just the city of Houston proper. Also, the density of KC's population is low. From day one, the OP will notice how much less traffic there is to contend with, how much easier it is to drive across town. Basic population numbers:

KC's Shifting Population, by County

The other obvious difference is that KC's four-season climate is unlike Houston's. The OP may welcome that too.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by tzeb

After three years in Houston, the OP will find the biggest difference -- he may welcome it -- is KC's smaller size. Fewer people live in the whole nine county area around KC than live in just the city of Houston proper. Also, the density of KC's population is low. From day one, the OP will notice how much less traffic there is to contend with, how much easier it is to drive across town. Basic population numbers:

KC's Shifting Population, by County

The other obvious difference is that KC's four-season climate is unlike Houston's. The OP may welcome that too.

Yes, the OP might like that KC is a more "manageable" size compared to Houston. In terms of population density, I typically prefer counties of around 300 or fewer people per square mile. KC has counties that have that range, but typically rare in bigger metros.

[tzeb]

Workers here do all right on average. I'm surprised Indianapolis comes out that much lower than KC:

from Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey

Mean Hourly Earnings, All Civilian Workers (Full Time)

26.13 Minneapolis-St. Paul-St. Cloud, MN (Jun 2010)
25.81 Denver-Aurora-Boulder, CO (Jul 2010)
25.14 Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, TX (Dec 2009)
25.11 Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City, IL-IN-WI (Oct 2010)
24.75 Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA (Apr 2010)
23.20 Kansas City, MO-KS (Aug 2010)
22.63 St. Louis, MO-IL (Jul 2010)
22.54 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (May 2010)
22.52 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (Mar 2010)
22.31 Columbus-Marion-Chillicothe, OH (Mar 2010)
19.80 Indianapolis-Anderson-Columbus, IN (Jan 2010)
19.08 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX (Nov 2010)
18.32 Oklahoma City, OK (Feb 2010)

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by tzeb

Workers here do all right on average. I'm surprised Indianapolis comes out that much lower than KC:

from Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey

Mean Hourly Earnings, All Civilian Workers (Full Time)

26.13 Minneapolis-St. Paul-St. Cloud, MN (Jun 2010)
25.81 Denver-Aurora-Boulder, CO (Jul 2010)
25.14 Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, TX (Dec 2009)
25.11 Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City, IL-IN-WI (Oct 2010)
24.75 Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA (Apr 2010)
23.20 Kansas City, MO-KS (Aug 2010)
22.63 St. Louis, MO-IL (Jul 2010)
22.54 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (May 2010)
22.52 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (Mar 2010)
22.31 Columbus-Marion-Chillicothe, OH (Mar 2010)
19.80 Indianapolis-Anderson-Columbus, IN (Jan 2010)
19.08 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX (Nov 2010)
18.32 Oklahoma City, OK (Feb 2010)

I'll have to look at the breakdown of all other metros. SINCE WHEN is Chillicothe, OH or Marion, OH part of the Columbus, OH metro? That makes absolutely no sense.

I am looking at MPLS for a relocation possibility. I like the fact that wages are high there overall along with all the other good quality of life aspects.

[CrownVic95]

Originally Posted by xenokc

As an 'atheist' (I don't call myself one - I don't believe in flying unicorns but don't call myself an 'aflyingunicornist') who leans libertarian (not either democrat or republican anyway) and knows of many in KC who are as well, I'd have to disagree.

KC has bible belt people as many cities do, but I don't think it dominates - moreso than W Coast but not nearly to the degree of Texas or the South. There are many Catholics/Episcopalians and not very active but somewhat religious people in KC. KC is somewhere in the middle politically. The city core is hard hard core blue while the rest of the metro has mostly mainstream reds and some hard core reds. Keep in mind that about 45% of JoCo/Overland Park (considered traditionally Reagan/Bush country) voted for Obama.

I would compare JoCo/OP to Orange County in LA. JoCo is highly educated, top 12 educated counties in US with Bachelors and top 20 with more advanced degrees. KCMO is more like a Midwest city with grand old hoods, blue collars areas to old money to middle of road burbs to city culture/amenities, but leans West in terms of how laid back the people are.

If you want a last turn o century home, you'll find many in KCMO that the SW and West can't really compare to. KC is literally a city that is in the middle and has representation/influences from all corners of the US.

This line is worth a rep

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by tzeb

Workers here do all right on average. I'm surprised Indianapolis comes out that much lower than KC:

from Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey

Mean Hourly Earnings, All Civilian Workers (Full Time)

26.13 Minneapolis-St. Paul-St. Cloud, MN (Jun 2010)
25.81 Denver-Aurora-Boulder, CO (Jul 2010)
25.14 Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, TX (Dec 2009)
25.11 Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City, IL-IN-WI (Oct 2010)
24.75 Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA (Apr 2010)
23.20 Kansas City, MO-KS (Aug 2010)
22.63 St. Louis, MO-IL (Jul 2010)
22.54 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (May 2010)
22.52 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (Mar 2010)
22.31 Columbus-Marion-Chillicothe, OH (Mar 2010)
19.80 Indianapolis-Anderson-Columbus, IN (Jan 2010)
19.08 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX (Nov 2010)
18.32 Oklahoma City, OK (Feb 2010)

Those numbers seem pretty inflated considering it states "mean hourly earnings, all civilian workers (full time)." The fact that mean hourly earnings in Omaha- Council Bluffs are higher than KC has to tell you quite a bit right there.

[northbound74]

[How would you compare K.C. to where you currently live or have moved here from?

Transplants, what do you think about the area now that you're here in K.C.- was it a good move for you and would you do it again? Where did you move from? Those who have left KC, what do you miss about the area, and are you happier elsewhere now that you moved

I was a transplant, lived there a few years, then left. In hindsight, I would have still moved there I guess, but would not have tried to settle down in KC. The town grew stale after about a year. That's just me, though. Some people like it quite well and stick around. I would never move back under any circumstances. The only things I miss are the free art museums, and maybe a restaurant or two. On the other hand, where I live now has restaurants and other things KC simply can't or doesn't offer.

Both of us grew up Catholic, but don't attend church on a regular basis and when we do we go to a great Episcopal church in Houston -- How would you describe the overall culture and politics in K.C?

KC isn't the Bible Belt, but is headquarters to a few denominations. It seems more diverse religiously than other places I'm familiar with.

Sports - how would you rate the area for indoor/outdoor sports and recreation for adults & children?

Outdoor recreation isn't Kansas City's strong point. It just isn't an outdoorsy culture at all.
There are some bicycle trails, but not nearly as many as there could be. I can't imagine there being much in the way of mountain biking, but the Ozarks are a few hours away.

[b]Weather - I know it gets hot and humid there in the summer,(not nearly as hot as Texas) does anyone get bad seasonal allergies, (Houston is tough on allergies) What are the summer months like, & how much heavy snowfall does the area get in the winter months? What type of activities do people do in the winter to keep themselves busy and entertained (especially if you have young children

Summers are shorter, but can get just as hot. There usually is a break in the heat from time to time.
I had allergies there I had never experienced before.
KC isn't a heavy snowfall kind of place usually.
20 inches is average for the whole winter. It normally melts between snows. A few events of 1-3 inches with maybe one or two storms that leave 6-8 inches. Last year was not typical.
Investing in a lot of winter activity gear would be a waste of money. Maybe a sled for the snow.
There will be a few warm-enough days in the winter to get outside like you would in warmer months.
People who have spent their whole lives in warmer climates view KC as a part of the frozen tundra. People up north envision it as being a warm weather city. It's neither.
There are several good community centers in the area and also some indoor amusement type places.

[tzeb]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Those numbers seem pretty inflated considering it states "mean hourly earnings, all civilian workers (full time)." The fact that mean hourly earnings in Omaha- Council Bluffs are higher than KC has to tell you quite a bit right there.

BLS comes up with numbers based on their surveys. As with other government statistics, you can't rely on the published results with 100% certainty. BLS states that "Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees. They include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and hazard pay. Excluded are premium pay for overtime, vacations, holidays, nonproduction bonuses, and tips. The mean is computed by totaling the pay of all workers and dividing by the number of workers, weighted by hours." The OP is considering either KC or Columbus -- the numbers indicate the relative standing of various cities including those two.