Buying a home is a major decision; you’re committing to settling down for an extended period and allocating significant savings toward a single investment. So it’s important to find the right home in a community that suits you, without going over budget.
One potential place of interest is Kansas City, MO. It’s a cultural hub of jazz music, delicious barbecue and numerous museums. The median price of homes listed for sale in Kansas City is $184,250. If the price is wrong but the community’s right, consider looking for a home in these surrounding cities with lower price tags.
Gladstone
Roughly 9 miles north of Kansas City is the suburb community of Gladstone. Homes listed for sale in Gladstone are about $27,000 less expensive than in the nearby city, with a median listing price of $156,750. Plus, buyers benefit from the 17.6 percent of listings that underwent recent price cuts. You can shop from the 139 homes currently listed.
The median age of Gladstone residents is 38, and 36 percent of the population is single. Gladstone is far safer than Kansas City and includes many parks for families. Linden Square is a prominent outdoor venue with a skate rink, Hamilton Heights Park offers walking trails and a fishing pond, and Happy Rock Park includes walking trails, picnic areas, batting cages and lighted baseball fields.
Belton
Approximately 22 miles south of Kansas City is the peaceful town of Belton, with almost no reported crime. Homes listed for sale have a median price of $164,900, the steepest cost of all five recommended markets, but still $19,000 cheaper than Kansas City. With 109 Belton listings to choose from, buyers can target the 13.2 percent of them that recently dropped in price.
Like Kansas City, the median age of Belton residents is 35, yet only 21 percent of them are single. Outdoor attractions in Belton include Markey Park, with several baseball fields and a playground, and Memorial Park, which is home to Memorial Park Outdoor Water Park and Memorial Station community center. Cleveland Lake is a 51-acre park with walking trails, a disc-golf course and a lake for boating. Residents can ride a 1920s-era train at the Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad demonstration museum or spend the day golfing at Eagles’ Landing Golf Course.
Saint Joseph
Quite a bit farther from Kansas City, about 64 miles northwest, is the historic town of Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph was once considered an important site for commerce and trade, and it now touts several historic districts with stunning architecture. Saint Joseph real estate boasts a median price of $89,900 — less than half the price of Kansas City homes. The market offers 750 current listings with a whopping 20.1 percent of them experiencing price cuts — the largest percentage across all five cities listed here.
In Saint Joseph, residents are a bit younger, with a median age of 32. But Saint Joseph has the highest percentage of singles — 42 percent, just like Kansas City. There are few recorded incidents of crime here, making it much safer than living in Kansas City.
Saint Joseph is home to several museums, including Patee House Museum, Pony Express Museum, Glore Psychiatric Museum, Jesse James Home Museum and Remington Nature Center. The St. Joseph Parkway offers 26 miles of trails throughout the city, from Krug Park to Hyde Park.
Clinton
The safest city recommended here is Clinton, located about 76 miles southeast of Kansas City. The median cost of for-sale homes in Clinton is $86,750 — the least expensive location on this list. Here, you’ll find 213 homes listed for sale. With a median age of 43, residents here are the oldest of the markets detailed, with 36 percent of the population single.
Clinton is home to Missouri’s largest historic downtown square and the Henry County Museum and Cultural Arts Center. The Katy Trail, which is the country’s longest developed rail-trail, begins in Clinton, and at 225 miles long, it’s perfect for long walks or bike rides. Another attraction is Artesian Park, offering tennis courts, horseshoe pits, softball fields, a basketball court, a disc-golf course, a swimming pool, playgrounds and a walking trail.
Marshall
The market farthest from Kansas City is Marshall, about 88 miles east of downtown. Buyers can expect to pay $109,900 for listings in Marshall — a $74,000 reduction from Kansas City. Throughout Marshall, buyers can choose from 144 active listings.
The median age in Marshall is 39, and 35 percent of residents are single. Crime data is unavailable in Marshall, but the city is known for the Nicholas-Beazley Aviation Museum and Indian Foothills Park, which includes an aquatic center, a 36-hole disc-golf course, a skate park, basketball and sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, baseball fields and a play structure. You can also enjoy golfing at Marshall Indian Foothills Golf or Stone Hedge Golf Club.
If you’re drawn to the Kansas City atmosphere but unable to budget the cost of city living, one of these nearby locations may be the answer.
Guest post by Joe Sturgeon