KC is a big city (18th or so in size) with a small town feel. Do not live in KC, Ks or KC, Mo. School systems are the pits. If you live on the Mo. side, Lee's Summit/Blue Springs are good school districts and a quick commute to downtown KCMO.
I lived, for the most part on the KS side (Leawood). The commute, down State Line Ave or by highway, to downtown was about 20-25 minutes depending on traffic. You've also got Overland Park, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Shawnee & Stanley. Those are in the Blue Valley or Shawnee Mission School Districts. Mission is ok & Mission Hills is where the old money and big old homes are located.
Depending on what you're looking for, the above communities have affordable housing of all sizes. If you work in KCMO, there is a 1% earnings tax on gross income that's deductible on your state taxes. Both Mo & Ks have state income taxes. Ks is slightly higher, but you get a credit for taxes paid to Mo. So it's not all that bad.
Great place to raise a family. All my kids still live there (Overland Park, 1 in Lawrence, she graduated from KU & she & husband employed there, and 1 up by KCI airport) weather not bad, but if it snows, removal is atrocious since they're not prepared for it. Be prepared for humidity from late May/early June to early August. Schools start in mid August and get out in May. Cost of living is great compared to NYC. I'm a native of da Bronx. (Had an aunt who babysat Muggsy, although doubt you're old enough to remember that series about NYC teens East Side gang in the 50s).
Local papers consumed, of course, with the Royals & Chiefs and rightfully so. Collegewise, it's mostly KU since it has a huge alumni base in the metro area, more so than MU. Plenty of lakes if you enjoy boating or fishing. For the kids there's always World's of Fun (pain) or Oceans of Fun next door. Can get park hopper passes. Really good parks. There's a lot of new places that I haven't been to, but are supposed to be really cool for the little ones out by Royals Stadium. There's also professional soccer on the KS side along brith the speedway, Metro KCMO has it all now.
Restaurants are really good, especially BBQ. Couple of national chains lasted less than 6 months when they realized they couldn't compete with the locals. Lest I forget, the Plaza is a shopping/hotel area near the Univ of Mo at KC a few minutes from downtown. Good restaurants and only Paris has more fountains. Hallmark Center downtown is close to the rail station made famous decades ago when there was a mob/FBI Shootout. Right by the Sprint Center. Oh yeah, Sprint has its world head quarters in Overland Park and there are several other Fortune five hundred companies located in the metro area.
Hope this helps. I could go on longer. Let me know if you have any specific questions about the area etc.
