If you’re moving to Kansas City, there’s a question you’ll probably hear almost immediately:

Kansas or Missouri?

Kansas City sits on the state line, which means you can live in Missouri, work in Kansas, grab dinner back in Missouri and barely think twice about crossing state lines.

But when it comes to choosing where to live, the two sides can offer very different options.

The good news? There really isn’t a “better” side. There’s a better fit for the way you want to live.

The Kansas Side: More Than Johnson County

When people picture the Kansas side of KC, Johnson County often gets most of the attention. Overland Park, Leawood, Prairie Village, Lenexa, Shawnee and Olathe offer everything from charming older homes and established neighborhoods to luxury communities and plenty of new construction.

But keep going.

Wyandotte County is home to Kansas City, Kansas, historic neighborhoods and major development around the Legends area. Head farther west and you’ll reach Douglas County and Lawrence, where historic neighborhoods, a lively downtown and unmistakable college-town energy give this part of the Kansas side a personality all its own.

In other words, “living on the Kansas side” can mean a lot of different things.

The Missouri Side: A Little Bit of Everything

The Missouri side is just as varied.

Kansas City proper gives you urban living alongside some of the metro’s most established neighborhoods, including Brookside and Waldo. Head east and you’ll find communities like Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs, while the Northland brings Parkville, Liberty and plenty of growing neighborhoods and new construction.

You’ll also find lake communities, historic homes, acreage, small towns and suburban neighborhoods throughout the Missouri side.

That’s what makes this comparison tricky. You’re not really choosing between two lifestyles. You’re choosing among dozens of them.

What About Home Prices, Taxes & Schools?

This is usually where someone wants us to say, “Well, this side is cheaper.”

It’s not quite that simple.

Home prices, property taxes and school districts can vary significantly from one community to another. Kansas and Missouri also have different state tax structures, and residents of Kansas City, Missouri, as well as people who earn income within KCMO, should be aware of the city’s 1% earnings tax.

Schools are similarly location-specific. District and attendance boundaries don't neatly follow city or state lines, so if schools are important to your move, you'll want to research the specific address rather than make assumptions based on “Kansas versus Missouri.”

The better comparison is home vs. home and community vs. community.

So...Kansas or Missouri?

Here’s the very KC answer: why choose a side before you have to?

Explore both.

Grab lunch in Lawrence. Drive through Prairie Village. Spend an afternoon around Downtown Overland Park. Explore Liberty’s historic Square. Check out Lee’s Summit, Parkville, KCK or the Northland.

You may start your home search convinced you’re a Kansas person and fall in love with a neighborhood in Missouri. Or vice versa.

Our team works throughout the Kansas City metro on both sides of the state line, so we’re not here to convince you one is better than the other.

Tell us how you want to live, and we’ll help you find your side of KC.