KS or MO side safer and more affordable for a single mom? (Kansas City: apartment)

[movingagain2012]

PLEASE HELP! WE NEED TO MOVE SOMEWHERE IMMEDIATELY!
Hi everyone,

We are in a weekly rental while looking for a 'normal' monthly rental asap in the western MO or eastern KS area.

I am looking to find a rental house, duplex or even a one-bedroom apartment with at least a washer/dryer connection (or washer/dryer inside the home/apartment) in a safe affordable area. I would prefer to limit my rent per month to $525 max (not including utilities). I am a single mom with two kids and dragging them to the laundromat or even an on-premises laundry area is just not very feasible. I am not really a city person but I guess if we had to live more in a congested area we could if necessary as long as it was safe.

It seems that almost all of Johnson County is out due to high rental costs and/or they usually don't include w/d connections or w/dryers. Our last apartment was only $440/mo. for a 2BR including a dishwasher, full-size w/d in the apartment, disposal, etc. - but obviously the cost of living in our previous states (TN and AR) was cheaper.

Schools are not as much of a concern (but good ones would be nice) since we homeschool, and our doctor will probably be around the Overland Park area. Eventually I would like to buy a small farmhouse on about 5-10 acres within driving distance (to Target, health food stores, fast food places, Walmart, Lowe's, etc.), but for now we have to rent somewhere.

Is there anything safe and affordable on the KS side within driving distance to stores, or should we look more on the MO side? We need to find somewhere as soon as possible!!

Thank you!

[movingagain2012]

I forgot to add that I will be working from home so will need DSL, but this seems available pretty much everywhere around here.

Thanks!

[luzianne]

My experience:

Kansas: Safer
Missouri: More affordable

Rent is usually cheaper in the Gardner area, so I think I would look there first if I were you. It's also further away from the main part of the city, so might fit you well. Maybe Olathe. I'd check Craigslist and if you find something but don't know about the neighborhood, you could come here and ask. http://kansascity.craigslist.org/apa/

[GSXRScott]

What luz said. Cheaper in MO and lower property taxes. Schools are worse in MO. Kansas side is just nicer though not including KCK. I guess if you dont care how run down your city looks you could live in Raytown. Really anywhere out in the boonies on either side is going to be dirt cheap.

[Mathguy]

City-data has a wealth of comparative information on it's site that should help you reach a reasonable decision for you family.

I would suggest looking through the various criteria by city across the entire metro and then narrowing down your decision based on that.

Especially since you homeschool, that take an important consideration from the mix.

Best of luck!`

[AmericnGrl]

Kansas I consider safer than Missouri and I have lived in both. Of course you can find trouble anywhere but I would choose Kansas. I bought a house in Kansas City Missouri 20 yrs ago but now the neighborhood is going to hell and I'm going back to Kansas.