Kansas City, MO
| U.S. News Ratings | |
| Population: | 457,552 |
| Crime: | High |
| Cost of Living: | Average |
| Health Care: | Comprehensive |
| Housing Price: | Low |
| Income: | Low |
Nestled on the Kansas-Missouri border, Kansas City is the largest city in Missouri, with a population of almost 460,000. Known for its picturesque fountains and Civil War history, it's also a base for several large companies, including H&R Block, AMC Theatres, and Sprint Nextel in nearby Overland Park.
From some angles, Kansas City, which is located in the geographic center of the United States, looks more like Europe than the Midwest. Touring its fountains or visiting the Country Club Plaza—an outdoor shopping destination built to look like Seville, Spain—visitors might briefly think they're on the other side of the Atlantic.
Thanks to some well-planned revitalization efforts, downtown Kansas City has also taken on new life, with growing numbers of boomers and retirees choosing to move from family homes in the outskirts of the city into centrally located luxury condos and apartment buildings. While Kansas City has a smaller-than-average percentage of people over age 60, it has seen higher-than-average growth among that segment of the population, as retirees opt to move into the revitalized city.
There's plenty to do once they get there. Kansas City has ballet, a symphony, and art museums. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, home to one of the best collections of impressionist and Chinese art in the Midwest, continues to expand. It currently houses works by Monet (including Water Lilies), Manet, Van Gogh, and Seurat. The museum also offers educational programs for adults and kids, including tours, lectures, and films. Another popular rainy-day activity is a visit to historic Union Station, with its interactive science center and vintage rail car exhibit.
Sports-lovers will also find plenty of entertainment. The recently renovated Kauffman Stadium hosts the Kansas City Royals for baseball season, while football fans can cheer for the Chiefs. Whether the teams are winning or losing, locals love to tailgate.
On the food front, Kansas City barbecue, which emphasizes tomato-based sauces, has spread across the country, but the most famous source remains Arthur Bryant's. The restaurant's original location is near the popular American Jazz Museum, but the company has two additional dining spots.
There is one caveat: Not everyone can handle the weather. The average January temperature hovers between 19 and 39 degrees, and only 1 in 3 days is sunny each year. One way to warm up: Visit the Plaza's Thanksgiving lighting ceremony, which involves over 80 miles of luminescence. The tradition dates back to 1930.
The Kansas City Art Institute, DeVry University, and the University of Missouri–Kansas City attract students from around the globe. The art institute offers continuing education courses to local residents, including Saturday classes on topics ranging from aluminum casting to clay. The University of Missouri–Kansas City hosts the School of Business and Public Administration, School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, and other graduate programs.
Kansas City has 57 hospitals, including St. Luke's and Children's Mercy, and 46 home healthcare services, plus 97 nursing and residential-care facilities.
More than 124,000 people in the area work in the agriculture industry, and some 57,000 work in finance, insurance, or real estate. Other big employers include colleges and universities and legal services. The unemployment rate, as of December 2008, was 7 percent.
Compared with other cities, homes in Kansas City are relatively affordable, with the median home sale price in 2008 clocking in at $117,995. The median mortgage debt is $57,246.
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