Tell me about Andover (Wichita, Derby: waterpark, houses, neighborhood)

[Kandy]

Please tell me about Andover. Specifically, we are looking for a good, safe place to raise our family. Great Schools, Good shopping, Restaurants. We would be looking for a home in the $300K-$400K range in a family friendly, newer neighborhood. What is the commute like from Andover to central Wichita? Are there areas to stay away from?

We are also considering Derby. How do the two compare? Is there another suburb we should consider based on the above criteria?

Thanks for your help!

~K~

[bocifus]

Andover is pretty nice and about as safe as you can get in terms of crime.

The commute to central W is probably 10-25 depending on where exactly you are in Andover and going to Wichita and what time you are commuting etc.


Derby is certainly solid too although probably not quite as nice as Andover.

Eastern Wichita is nice and worth a look. Western Wichita and the west side burbs of Maize and Goddard might be worth checking out too.

[NZuercher]

In terms of schools and family friendly neighboorhood Andover is great. The andover schools are consistantly near the top in the annual Kansas state assesssment tests. (Tests are happening this week by the way). Belle Terre & Sagebrush are awesome neighboorhoods with homes in the $300K-$400K range--wish I could afford those areas.

As for shopping & restaurants, well, Andover itself doesn't really have much to offer. But northeast Wichita is just a few minutes away and has some of the best restuarants and shopping in the city.

Property taxes in Andover are very high. Most of that money goes into the school system and it shows in their quality. So, if you have kids I think it is worth the cost. However, if you don't have kids I might consider somewhere else where the taxes are lower.

Derby is a pretty good school district as well. However, their schools are larger and in my opinion not up to the scholastic level of Andover. Derby does have a lot more to offer in terms of restaurants & shopping though. And is quite a bit larger than Andover so there will be more choices for housing.

[Kandy]

Thank you both for the information. I have another question. What about recreational facilities or YMCA's? Are there many Parks, walking trails and that type of thing?

~K~

[knrstz]

The YMCA's in the Wichita area are nice and I believe the Andover one is the newest one. Based on what you described Andover is a better fit for you than Derby. I personally like Derby better but I don't have kids and I can't afford that nice of a house. Like was already mentioned, Andover shopping is pretty much non existent but they did build a very nice superdillons.

[ZTeam]

Yes, the largest YMCA in Kansas just opened in Andover last spring. I live less than a mile away from it and we are there at least 4-5 times a week. Sometimes it seems like we practically live there. Our kids (ages 6-11) play basketball, swim, or hang out in the family center playing ping pong, Wii, or watching TV while my wife & I take classes (esp TurboKick), lift weights, run the track, or do the stationary aerobics equipment (each machine has it's own TV). The outdoor pool is like a small waterpark with slides, lazy river, etc.

For parks & walking trails, Central park has a trail that loops around a couple of ponds. It is pretty but not very large--1/4 mile for the entire loop. There is a small playground and the new city library is there too. The other park is 13th street park and is primarily an athletic park with baseball and soccer fields.

[empires228]

I have friends in Andover and they love the schools. The houses seem nice and the only other thing I know is they seems to have lost their Dillon's grocery store In the last year.

Derby is larger then Andover but also had a good school district but is farther from Wichita then Andover.

[athfo]

Originally Posted by empires228

The houses seem nice and the only other thing I know is they seems to have lost their Dillon's grocery store In the last year.

You must have missed the Dillons Marketplace that just recently opened...

Dillons - Store Locator - Store Details

[Kandy]

I have never heard of Dillions. Is that a supermarket chain? What other grocery stores, shopping and restaurants are in the Andover area? ~K~

[GoPadge]

Dillons is a part of the Kroger family.