So what is KC, KS like?

[bremjen]

Hi-

I am having a VERY hard time deciding whether or not to re-locate to KC from Wisconsin. I visited the Overland Park and Olathe areas and was very impressed. I have a daughter who will be a junior in high school next year. I am worried she will not accept the change. What are the schools like? Size? She would like to join a soccer club too. Any suggestions?

[GraniteStater]

Have you looked at other areas of the metro area as well? The "northland" of KCMO in Clay and Platte counties have more affordable housing prices overall, especially in Clay. If you are choosing Johnson County and want a more urban established feel I would look at neighborhoods north of I-435. The school districts are Olathe, Blue Valley, and Shawnee Mission. In terms of diversity Olathe and Shawnee Mission would have more compared with Blue Valley. What is your price range?

Originally Posted by bremjen

Hi-

I am having a VERY hard time deciding whether or not to re-locate to KC from Wisconsin. I visited the Overland Park and Olathe areas and was very impressed. I have a daughter who will be a junior in high school next year. I am worried she will not accept the change. What are the schools like? Size? She would like to join a soccer club too. Any suggestions?

[gwander]

Based on the interests you mentioned, you may want to look at some of the areas that form that edge the Kansas City metro area. Harrisonville Missouri or Paola Kansas to the south, Lecompton Kansas to the west. Smithville Lake or Kearney Missouri to the north. Odessa or Lexington Missouri to the East.

[kybo61]

KC, Kansas (Wyandotte County) is not especially rural, although there are some very nice parks, riding stables, and fishing lakes. The eastern half of the county is older homes (75-100 years old), big trees, big lots. East of 27th street there is a lot of urban blight and crime, which gives WyCo its unfairly deserved bad rep. You cannot legally own a pit bull or more than 2 dogs in WyCo. Leavenworth County (to the west) is nice, Leavenworth has a lot of affordable housing and open ground. Pit bull dogs are prohibited in the town of Lansing but not elsewhere. If you don't like snobby people, avoid Lansing and the newer parts of Bonner Springs. You might even consider going further north, like to Atchison. Taxes are fairly reasonable here in KC. My property is an 830 sf bungalow on a half acre and my taxes are $780 a year. Missouri taxes are slightly lower. It's not that windy here. I lived in SE Wyoming and THAT'S windy, 70 mph in the winter. There isn't much snow here though it can get quite cold. We'd love to have you!