"Going to Kansas City" (song) (St. Louis, Independence: apartments, crime rates)

[Stevie]

I live in Iowa right now and have since I was born. I'm 18 and I'm thinking of leaving the state for a bigger city than what Iowa has to offer, generally in the Midwest. Right now I'm going for Kansas City, but I don't know a whole lot about the city yet. Chicago is too big and too cold, Minneapolis is too rich and too cold, Omaha, well, lets just say it's not much bigger than Des Moines. I don't know anything about Indianapolis or Milwaukee (and frankly I don't care). St. Louis sounds kind of nice but right now I'm looking into Kansas City. Another reason I’m rooting for Kansas City is because I’m a big Chiefs fan. It's also the second closest big city to Des Moines right next to Omaha. I already know the job market in Kansas City is decent. I would just like to know mainly about the way the city works, things I have to get used to. For instance if certain parts of the city have high crime rates, I would want to know which parts of the city so I could avoid them or just make sure my car doors are locked when I pass through. If you live in Kansas City or have lived there or just know a lot about it I would like to know more about it as well. Thank You!

[christina0001]

lol My husband and I are moving to Kansas City at the end of the summer, and it was initially his idea...and I strongly suspect he was at least partially motivated by the fact the Chiefs are there. We've now attended Chiefs and Royals games. The Chiefs game was great - the fans are so loyal, so LOUD, and very friendly. The Royals game was brutal - the fans were cruel and the Royals really stunk. My husband loves underdog teams, and I like to yell, so it was good fun also.
Having only been there a couple of times, I could not tell you which area are safe and which are not. If safety is a concern, you may want to also consider living in outlying suburbs than in the city itself. From what we saw, the 'burbs around KC were very nice. Also, the cheapest apartments are generally in the worst parts of town.

[Versatile]

Stay away from the older sections except the Westport area. Get an apartment in the suburbs and lock your doors all the time(just be smart).
Plenty of stuff for someone your age to do in Kansas City and the surrounding area. Easy commute for you to go home. Kansas City is the type of area that you need a automobile to fully benefit from the amenities.

[SteveO813]

I grew up in Independence (suburb of KC). Personally, I wouldn't necessarily want to live in Kansas City itself. In my opinion, downtown KC as a whole isn't very pretty to look at, and can be unsafe in certain areas. There are some areas that are gorgeous, and perfectly safe, but they can also be pricey. If it were me, I would look more at the surrounding areas (Lee's Summit would be my choice), which have easy access to downtown and all its amenities.

Although I'll probably be moving away soon, I'm excited to see the changes that will take place in Kansas City within the next few years. The major one I'm thinking of is the Sprint Center, which should be finished sometime this year, which will be home to the Kansas City Brigade (Arena Football), and possibly the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins (the owner is considering relocating). Another area you might find interesting is the Country Club Plaza/Crown Center area. It's an upscale shopping/dining area, with lots of beautiful architecture and fountains. It can be pricey, but it's a nice place to take the lady out for dinner once in a while.

Like I said, you might want to check into Lee's Summit. The area where my fiance's mom lives is right off of Highway 291. A five minute drive takes you to 39th Street, which includes Independence Center (shopping mall), AMC 20 (movie theater), and many other stores and restaraunts. A quick 10-15 minute drive down I-70 takes you to the Truman Sports Complex, home to the Chiefs and Royals.

I hope this post helps somewhat. I'm certainly no expert, but I can give you the perspective of a young (21) resident of KC. If you have any more questions, or you're unclear about something, don't hesitate to ask. We Steves have to stick together.

Go Chiefs!

[Stevie]

I appreciate the advice and information you've all given me.