Any differences between rural towns outside KC versus STL (Kansas City: for rent, homes)

[edujop]

I am looking to relocate from the Boise area to a more affordable area for renters. I have an offer from a childhood friend. He lives in Nevada, MO which is a rural town South of Kansas City. (I am originally from Illinois, by the way). He lives on a nice piece of land and said I can use his camper as my home base while I look around. Rents in that area do seem to be affordable. But it got me thinking how this area compares to say a rural town outside of St. Louis (of equal size and equal distance to the big city). Are there any striking differences between those two locales (culture, weather, cost of living, etc). It seems that both sides of the state are scenic.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by edujop

I am looking to relocate from the Boise area to a more affordable area for renters. I have an offer from a childhood friend. He lives in Nevada, MO which is a rural town South of Kansas City. (I am originally from Illinois, by the way). He lives on a nice piece of land and said I can use his camper as my home base while I look around. Rents in that area do seem to be affordable. But it got me thinking how this area compares to say a rural town outside of St. Louis (of equal size and equal distance to the big city). Are there any striking differences between those two locales (culture, weather, cost of living, etc). It seems that both sides of the state are scenic.

Nevada is a very poor area that really isn't anywhere close to KC. If you can work remotely it might be decent, but it is mostly an aging area with lots of rural issues that plague declining places. Rent prices are rising everywhere, perhaps look 30-45 minutes out from KC or STL if not looking remotely, closer to more job opportunities.

[edujop]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Nevada is a very poor area that really isn't anywhere close to KC. If you can work remotely it might be decent, but it is mostly an aging area with lots of rural issues that plague declining places. Rent prices are rising everywhere, perhaps look 30-45 minutes out from KC or STL if not looking remotely, closer to more job opportunities.

I guess it's a hard question to answer about rural towns on the West side of the state versus rural towns on the East side of the side. Probably both about the same.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by edujop

I guess it's a hard question to answer about rural towns on the West side of the state versus rural towns on the East side of the side. Probably both about the same.

Actually, Nevada area is more of an agricultural area with some woods. Closer to STL and the eastern 1/2 of the state along and south of I-70, it is more tree covered and hilly overall other than the far rural SE portion that is the Mississippi Delta.

[Okey Dokie]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Actually, Nevada area is more of an agricultural area with some woods. Closer to STL and the eastern 1/2 of the state along and south of I-70, it is more tree covered and hilly overall other than the far rural SE portion that is the Mississippi Delta.

I don’t see how any possible argument could be made that Nevada is closer to St. Louis then it is to Kansas City.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Okey Dokie

I don’t see how any possible argument could be made that Nevada is closer to St. Louis then it is to Kansas City.

I never stated that, it was not a well phrased sentence. I suggested to the OP they should be closer to either KC or STL if they aren't working remotely if they desire lower rent prices. Nevada offers zero for a scenario like that.

[CrazedCamper]

St. Louis is right next to the Ozarks. Kansas City is not.

[ShowMeBryan]

Short answer: there are no real differences among small towns close to K.C. or St. Louis.

As others have pointed out, though, Nevada is not anywhere close to K.C. It's a 2-hour drive. Your next closest bigger city is actually Joplin, MO, pop. ~50K, about an hour away (Nevada is about ~12K, IIRC). I grew up in Joplin and had family in Nevada. There isn't a lot going for Nevada right now. 3M has a large facility there. Nevada does have the famous White Grill which has been around a LONG time and is the best place in town for a burger or similar.

Going south of Joplin you'll start getting into the Ozarks which can be pretty. Or you can go east of Nevada on US-54 until you start hitting the major lakes.

[sub]

Agreed that the differences aren't huge.

Kansas City: surrounded on all sides by cow pastures and cornfields, though not far from the fringes of the Ozarks with the Lakes and whatnot. Culturally, the towns are more agriculture-influenced.

St. Louis: split between the same agriculture stuff but also borders the Ozarks to the south/southwest. Also to the south is more deep-south-delta agriculture which feels a little different than the plains.
The Ozarks have a backwoods culture... I want to say hillbilly but some might be offended by that. I have family there so it's not intended to be offensive, just don't know a better word for it.

Again, the differences aren't much, but there are nuances.
Both areas are scenic in their own ways.
The weather and cost of living aren't going to be all that different at all. Generally, the further north into Missouri you go the more likely you're going to see snow each winter. The southern parts see more ice it seems. The summers are all-around hot.

My experience with it is very limited, but the town of Nevada seems nice enough. I like the tidy, grid layout with the town square and all that. Not a bad looking town as I recall.
Like a lot of places in that part of the country, it's seen better days and probably has struggled with the meth issue. It's been very much a state-wide problem, but isn't hard to avoid for the average person.

The nice thing about KC is that you can get very close to the city for dirt cheap. St. Louis is probably the same way.
We took that for granted when we lived there, not realizing not all places have a discount for living in the boonies.

[Floorist]

I have lived in Nevada (nah vay dah) off and on all my life. Not much going on here, but it is laid back and relaxed. And it is a short drive to Joplin. On a day trip, Kansas City, Springfield and Branson are easy targets.
And lots of casinos within an hour south of here. We have two colleges here and another 20 miles to the west. Then in Joplin they are building a new medical school, plus Missouri Southern State University... 45 miles SW of here is Pittsburg State University, Kansas. We have a modern up to date public school system and a nice hospital. Homes prices are reasonable. We have several large public parks, three of which have a lake.