Relocating to suburbs (Lee's Summit, Gladstone, Parkville: fit in, apartments, low crime)

[reenee11]

My husband and I grew up in southeast Kansas(Pittsburg), but have been all over the East Coast the last 11 years. He wants to move back, but I love living in Maryland. We have a wonderful suburban town with wonderful schools and ammenities, but the housing is almost double of what it would be in Kansas. I have two children. One in third grade, and one in 7th. My husband is in construction managment, and is looking for a job, but we don't know where he will end up. I am having a major anxiety attack about moving, so I need help with information about suburbs of KC. Where are the best schools, and houses? Low crime, and good shopping? I am looking for a very family oriented area with larger lots, where there may be houses that back to trees. We would like to spend around $225,000. Do most houses have basements? Please help me feel better about this possible move!! I you would be able to speak to me personally, please E-mail me at kelseyandkaden@aol.com. Thanks!!!

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by reenee11

My husband and I grew up in southeast Kansas(Pittsburg), but have been all over the East Coast the last 11 years. He wants to move back, but I love living in Maryland. We have a wonderful suburban town with wonderful schools and ammenities, but the housing is almost double of what it would be in Kansas. I have two children. One in third grade, and one in 7th. My husband is in construction managment, and is looking for a job, but we don't know where he will end up. I am having a major anxiety attack about moving, so I need help with information about suburbs of KC. Where are the best schools, and houses? Low crime, and good shopping? I am looking for a very family oriented area with larger lots, where there may be houses that back to trees. We would like to spend around $225,000. Do most houses have basements? Please help me feel better about this possible move!! I you would be able to speak to me personally, please E-mail me at kelseyandkaden@aol.com. Thanks!!!

Welcome!

I have family in Pittsburg, KS (I bet you know my in-laws!)

I have lived in Johnson County on the KS side for nearly 20 years and we love it here. Based on your description you should definitely check it out. We have some of the best public schools in the region (arguably among the best in the nation) family oriented housing within your price range (yes, most have basements) great shopping and low crime.

Construction industry jobs are not booming right now of course, so that will likely be your biggest challenge. But I think you would love KC!

If you want to speak privately, feel free to drop me a "Direct Message"

Good luck to you!!

[sparksharp]

Just about the time I was ready to focus solely on the Northland for finding a home, I looked up the official crime stats for the zip code of two houses we were interested in up in the Northland. The crime index for that area rated a 6, when the National average is a 4. That little tidbit was a deal breaker for me and we are now strictly focusing on southern Johnson County and Leawood. The crime rate in those areas were only a 1 or 2.

By the way...the crime stats in Olatha rated a 6 on the scale too! So...Olatha is out for us as well. I feel like we're starting from scratch here! <Sigh>

[luzianne]

Another vote for Johnson County.

[TabulaRasa]

We recently bought in Lee's Summit (my own personal sole venture into suburbia in 32 years...only very rural and urban living in my past, so this is new). So far, we love it. I also work for a school that works jointly with most KC metro school districts, including LS schools, and I have no complaints about the schools, not that it's incredibly applicable to my household anyway, other than as taxpayers. My neighborhood appears to be very family-oriented, and the lots are big. Don't know the crime stats, we do have a basement, and all the shopping that I need is right there.

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by sparksharp

Just about the time I was ready to focus solely on the Northland for finding a home, I looked up the official crime stats for the zip code of two houses we were interested in up in the Northland. The crime index for that area rated a 6, when the National average is a 4. That little tidbit was a deal breaker for me and we are now strictly focusing on southern Johnson County and Leawood. The crime rate in those areas were only a 1 or 2.

By the way...the crime stats in Olatha rated a 6 on the scale too! So...Olatha is out for us as well. I feel like we're starting from scratch here! <Sigh>

I don't know where those crime stats come from. They sound way, way off.

There's crime statistics here on City-Data that I find to be much more accurate, based on all the places I've lived. The 'feel' of all those places coincide very well to their stats.
According to those, towns such as Gladstone and Parkville have crime rates just as low, if not lower in some years, than Leawood or Lenexa. Most of the Northland is very safe.
Personally, I like the Northland because it's not so crowded and congested.

[kcmo]

If you are seriously afraid to live in the Northland because you don't feel safe. I can't help you. I mean wow. I can't even fathom this. Parkville? Park Hill? Olathe? Seriously?

I don't even understand. Sounds like you really need to move to a very rural area or something if you are that freaked out.

BTW, I don't look at crime stats. Have not looked at a single crime stat since I have been looking for homes in metro DC. I find out about the areas by asking people and simply go there and getting a feel for the area. I can tell you that if I'm in an area even remotely as nice as any of Platte County, crime stats do not even come to mind. Crime stats are so misleading. If there is a lot of retail nearby it could bump crime stats, if there are some apartments it could. Good luck where ever you end up, but if you are that freaked out by things like that, south JoCo is your place. You will be happy there and fit in well .

Where ever you end up, try to enjoy the metro. You won't get shot or called a yankee.

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Sounds like you really need to move to a very rural area or something if you are that freaked out.

I was thinking New Hampshire, North Dakota, or some other place off the 'safest states' lists.
Nothing wrong with those places, but if someone's that obsessed with safety, any large American metropolitan area is simply out of the question.

[Samantha S]

sparksharp doesn't strike me as as someone who is "obsessed with safety" or "freaked out". I think you are characterizing her unfairly. (kcmo, you question the validity of her stats, but then say you don't even look at stats )

She has a choice. She can live pretty much anywhere in the metro. She wants to choose the best area for her and she's simply using crime stats as one of her measuring sticks. I agree that stats must be put into proper context, but using them seems a reasonable thing to do.

If you are completely unfamiliar in a new area and don't really know anyone, you can't go around and "feel" all of them. You have to rely on "data" because as this forum amply demonstrates, opinions are quite subjective!!!

[northbound74]

I was just pointing out that the stats sparksharp was using sounded bogus. I don't know what the scale was, I seriously doubt Olathe is 4-5 notches worse than Leawood, especially if it went from 1-10. For me, this wasn't an anti-JoCo thing, but those numbers looked a bit ridiculous. Don't assume that Johnson County is the only place every well-to-do person should even consider moving to. If that's what they're looking for, great, there's worse choices to be made.