Best area to live in/around Overland Park (Leawood, Center: daycare, homes)

[Christina011]

My family is relocating to the area for work and considering Overland Park. We are looking for good schools, a safe neighborhood and within our budget of about $300-350k. Are there any declining neighborhoods I’d need to be aware of or any other areas around there that we should consider?

Also, any recommendations for childcare/daycare? From what I’ve seen so far that is going to be the biggest cost of living increase for us.

Thanks in advance!

[rwiksell]

When considering Overland Park, be aware that, at its edges, it is indistinguishable from nearby suburbs like Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe, etc.

So in guiding your choice, it might be helpful to know where the workplace(s) will be, and what sort of commute is desired/tolerable.

Best of luck!

[AmyWildsKC]

I would agree that it would be helpful to know where you would be commuting everyday. You can be at 55th street and be in Overland Park, or you can be at 179th St and be in Overland Park. HUGE difference depending on where you will be working!

[DallastoChicagotoKC]

If you live in areas that feed into any of the following high schools, you'll probably be ok:

Blue Valley High Schools (any of them) (they are further south)
Shawnee Mission East (priciest area, closest in)
Shawnee Mission South (probably biggest diversity of income distribution of the schools listed)

There are very good Olathe schools too. Olathe borders Overland Park.

[JulieSellsHouses]

Im a realtor in Overland Park but also have lived here my whole life! The up and coming Area is the southern Overland Park area and neighborhoods and the Blue Valley schools are highly rated!

If you were ok living outside of Overland Park commuting throughout Johnson County is very easy, can get anywhere in about 15-20 mins. If so, I would highly recommend the Desoto School District (USD232)which would be homes in west Shawnee, KS specifically, not Desoto, KS really. In your price range and even under their are some fantastic homes and the Desoto schools are in the top 3% in Kansas and top 9% nationally among 28,561 schools (this was from a 2016 US News and Workd Report). The schools are a little smaller and more personable then the larger Blue Valley and Shawbee Mission school districts if that smaller community style interests you.

If west Shawnee is too far from where you will be working then I’d suggest Lenexa, KS too as the city is in the middle of a lot of developments for what they are calling City Center which will be adding many shops and things that will drive up the values of homes in the area. Best to get in now!

If you have any questions at all please feel free to message me! I love sharing my knowledge of the area