Seeking some Kansas City information (North Kansas City, Country Club: apartments, rent, lofts)

[j_rode]

Right now, I live in Wisconsin and will be graduating from college in a little less than a year. I've never visited Kansas City, but it intrigues me and I think I've read that it's growing (could be wrong about that).

What's the job market like? I'm majoring in Marketing, so that's obviously the field I would get into. I'd like to try to find something to do with sports or entertainment marketing, but are there many marketing jobs in the area?

What is rent like in the area? I'd like to be in a safe neighborhood and be fairly close to the downtown area. I'm not really looking for anything luxurious, just a studio/one bedroom that's fairly nice. I would estimate that I'd be making $30,000 - $35,000 a year. Is that enough to live decently in the area?

What's the nightlife like? I'm not a huge partier, but being 21 and single, I'd like to get out and meet some people.

How about pests inside apartments? Specifically spiders. I really have no problem with seeing a spider or something out in nature, but I'm really not a huge fan of them coming into the house.

Any other info that you think would help, please feel free to give it to me! I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

[northbound74]

It is growing, steadily. It isn't a boomtown, but the metro as a whole has never been in decline. There are quite a few marketing firms in the area. The economy is very diverse, making it less vulnerable to the ups and downs on Wall Street.
You'll do fine with that income, especially if you're single. KC has had a bad rap over the years for not being the greatest "singles" town, but it's improving in that area. You're best bet if you want to be around other singles is to live in the downtown/midtown corridor. Also, North Kansas City is just across the river from downtown with newer apartments there. Downtown/midtown has a lot of cool lofts and older apartments. The Country Club Plaza has several apartment options, as well. Some affordable, some not so affordable.
The nightlife scence is good in all the areas I mentioned. The new Power & Light district is great, and there's also Westport, River Market, Crossroads, and of course, the Plaza. Zona Rosa is a place you also might check out, up near the KCI airport.

[RjRobb2]

I think downtown KC would be a great place for a recent college grad. It is growing like crazy and with all the new things going on in KC I am sure marketing jobs are available. There are lots of events and what not going on downtown so I am sure promoters are hiring some people.