Help us pick the right town to move to in Kansas (for sale, homes)

[OTstuckinKS]

I have lived in the Wichita area my whole life (except school at KU). I commute to Wichita for work (about 25 min.). I see patients all over the area. I have worked in Hutchinson (and surrounding towns too).
Mulvane: My in laws live here. It is nice enough. Great little Italian place called Luciano's (people come from all over to eat there). Otherwise it has a small grocery store and a couple of other restaurants. The casino was supposed to go in on the outskirts of town but Harrah's pulled out due to the economy. Another one should take its place soon... but don't count on that. For your bigger shopping you will need to go into Derby about 5-10 minutes north. Derby has: a new "marketplace" including a Target, PetCo, Dillon's Marketplace (big grocery store- opens later this year), etc. A Kohl's, Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Walgreen's, Applebee's, Rib Crib, Village Inn, a lot of fast food places. A Hampton Inn is in construction along Rock Rd. There's a really good Rec. center and waterpark. There is also a golf course. Derby schools are not very good and housing is a bit more than Mulvane. So in other words, if you choose this area: Live in the north part of the Mulvane school district and you get the best of both worlds. Also, you can get to pretty much any area in wichita within 30-40 min max.
Chapman: No clue. Way too small for me.
Selden, Hope: Again, no clue. Could not locate them on a map if I had to.
Hutchinson: Much slower paced town than Wichita area. The people are nice and very proud of their town. The Anchor Inn Mexican Restaurant is good and as close to being in Mexico as you can get in KS. Hutchinson has a lot of the things Wichita has but in a smaller package (as already noted). It has its own hospital and medical specialists. The Cosomosphere is a great learning place for kids (we go 1-3 x per year to the IMAX theater there). The Salt Museum is actually really cool. It is family oriented and about 45min-hour from Wichita.
Shawnee Heights: KC area is great for activities but won't be very slow paced.
Concordia: too far out IMO.
Auburn-Washburn: Topeka area seems to be good. About 25 minutes to Lawrence (KU, concerts, good shops along Mass. street, etc) and within an hour of greater KC.
Piper: Don't know.
Wichita: I would try for Andover school district (much more expensive homes, but better schools) or Maize school district (many of the homes are within the Wichita city but with much better schools). We plan to move to the latter if we don't move out of state. A lot of shops and restaurants at 21st and Maize streets.
Ogden: No clue
KC Metro: I agree with the above posts. Housing is more expensive in KC but you have a lot more things to do on the weekend.
Just so you know: The weather is never constant here in KS. It changes daily and sometimes almost hourly. DO NOT buy a home without a nice basement. You will need it during the spring (for a good night sleep in bad weather) and summer (cool place to spend indoors). However, I will tell you that you will have trouble finding more beautiful sunsets anywhere.
Hope that helps.

[tinkmom3]

My husband and I raised our family in Kansas, and for the last 12 years in Topeka. I agree with an above statement that small Kansas towns are great to visit and stop by when traveling but can be extremely hard to move into and be included. They can be VERY tight knit and do not readily welcome anyone in who doesn't have the correct last name or family in that town. I have experienced exactly this and know it to be true of all small towns around the area, too.
We have LOVED Topeka and our three kids all went thru Washburn school district~~it is great. We have friends who are teachers in this district and it is where lots of local and new teachers want to work.
We are moving to the mountains of Arizona in a couple of months for a new business I am taking over, but definitely love Topeka. (have a house to sell!!!)

[prairie guy]

LastMove, I actually used to live in Jersey too and now in a small Kansas town...

How much an "urban' school can you stand? The Wichita and districts in Wyandotte county (ie Piper) can get pretty hairy, think Roselle/Linden/South Orange or even Elizabeth type schools....the Johnson County schools can be real tony, think Short Hills/Livingston or South Brunswick type districts.

The posters have given you good advice, you may not want to be in too isolated a town....I'd shoot for a 30 minute commute to a reasonable metro area, otherwise it might be too much a culture shock...Concordia might be good, it's somewhat close to the university town of Kansas State U., it depends on how much you want to drive....Mulvane is nice and close to Wichita but still sort of a small town, that's one to look at....sprawl here is nothing like Jersey sprawl, you can teach at a tiny country school district (as example, I'm thinking Bluestem, in Leon, Kansas) and still be less than 30 minutes to downtown Wichita.

If you own a home in North Jersey and sell, whereever you move, you'll live like a king. Housing is incredibly inexpensive in Kansas, and even in Johnson County you'll score a Millburn type house by selling your ordinary tract home in suburban Jersey. But....you'll likely never be able to buy again in the Jersey market, if that is your future desire.

I'd suggest that if you can fly out here and drive around small towns within reasonable driving distance of a "destination big city"...ie wichita, lawrence, KC, or Manhattan. You have to define that distance. Then you could teach at a small town school and still be comfortable heading to the "big city" when you desire. Another positive...except for the KC region, traffic is not really a problem, certainly nothing by Jersey standards. Good luck!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by prairie guy

If you own a home in North Jersey and sell, whereever you move, you'll live like a king. Housing is incredibly inexpensive in Kansas, and even in Johnson County you'll score a Millburn type house by selling your ordinary tract home in suburban Jersey. But....you'll likely never be able to buy again in the Jersey market, if that is your future desire.

!

This is one of the problems that was made apparent by the mortgage meltdown and the real estate disaster we are in right now. Some areas of the US rapidly appreciated in value and took a big fall while other areas hardly ever appreciated. I think if the market does start improving in a few years you will start seeing huge price differentials in some metro areas compared with others. This can be a problem for those that relocate often to various cities that have such wide price ranges for housing.
In Kansas, a state with very cheap housing prices, it is a double edge sword. Housing values never appreciate very much at all, but if you have to relocate to other more expensive areas of the US for a new job it can be more of a challenge.

[KansasKris]

Tinkmom3,

Now I'm jealous! About 5 years ago, I almost bought a business in Sedona....I really wanted to move there, but the timing just wasn't right.

Good luck on your move!

[John Cady]

Greetings to everyone here in Kansas. My wife and I are looking at relocating in the next few months, mainly because the cost of living in Maryland - especially Baltimore - is out of control. My wife is originally from Caney in Montgomery County; I am not a Kansas native, but have been there numerous times to visit my in-laws.

Can anyone help us in our efforts to find a decent town and employment? I have sent resumes and applications on my own, and via networks like CareerBuilder.Com, but no success so far. I am retired military with a pretty good background in electrical and mechanical work. I also do a good bit of writing on the side, and am interested in pursuing that as a career as well. I would like to move to either Manhattan or Wichita since there are military installations in those communities; however, my wife has discussed moving to Caney.

If anyone knows of possible leads, please hit me via PM and let me know where I can send my resume and other info.

Thanks in advance, John

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by John Cady

Greetings to everyone here in Kansas. My wife and I are looking at relocating in the next few months, mainly because the cost of living in Maryland - especially Baltimore - is out of control. My wife is originally from Caney in Montgomery County; I am not a Kansas native, but have been there numerous times to visit my in-laws.

Can anyone help us in our efforts to find a decent town and employment? I have sent resumes and applications on my own, and via networks like CareerBuilder.Com, but no success so far. I am retired military with a pretty good background in electrical and mechanical work. I also do a good bit of writing on the side, and am interested in pursuing that as a career as well. I would like to move to either Manhattan or Wichita since there are military installations in those communities; however, my wife has discussed moving to Caney.

If anyone knows of possible leads, please hit me via PM and let me know where I can send my resume and other info.

Thanks in advance, John

You might also consider looking around Tulsa - that would probably give you a few more opportunities as well as keep you close to the relatives in Caney.

[straw hat]

In small towns everyone knows everyone else, and their business. Also they know who has owned, and lived in, your house since the day it was built even if it was built in the 1800’s. When you drive down the street people will refer to you as those new people in town. My husband and I lived in this town for two years before we weren’t the new folks in town. The economy is slowing down across the country. However teachers and nurses will be able to find employment. The schools in Kansas are good, some are better than good. Big towns have more crime sad but true.

[tflowers]

I agree with most of the posters' responses. One word of warning ... To the best of my knowledge, Chapman was recently taken out by a tornado ... and before that, it was a flood. I wouldn't move to Chapman ... no way. I lived in Topeka for nearly 3 years and hated it. It seemed like everyone was going to Kansas City for any fun or for major shopping.
I agree with the narrow-mindedness of many of the small Kansas towns. I have had my share of experiences. I have lived in Kansas for 24 years, and I don't like it. I have lived in several other places that are much nicer.
The winters are long and cold, so I will be moving to Arizona when the time is right.
If you are moving here, I would recommend that you look online at the price of homes. (Check realtor.com or a similar site.) The homes here are not nearly as inexpensive as some have claimed. It all depends on what you are used to ... what your point of reference is. Since the housing market is in a shambles, many homes in other areas are much nicer and less expensive than homes here.
You will likely find that the taxes in Kansas are higher than what you are currently paying. I live in Johnson County, and my real estate property taxes have gone up 15% in the 3 years that I have owned this house. They are now talking about a huge deficit in the state finances, so we will likely see big increases in the income taxes and sales taxes which are already higher than neighboring states.
I live in Mission, and I do like the small-town feel here. I personally know members of the City Council. I like the idea of having our own downtown area with small shops and personal service.
I hope this adds more balance to the discussion.

[Richard Gould]

I would really recommend Concordia it is smaller (6,000) which has alot of services. It has a nice junior college, great downtown, and historic neighborhoods. Located on a four lane hwy it is really pretty easy to get to Wichita, KC, or Lincoln, Ne. Very friendly people and a great school system.