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Navigate apartment hunting and city life like a local with our curated articles about Kansas City, Missouri.
Urban renaissance defines The Downtown Loop, where Kansas City's core business district has transformed with new residential options alongside historic buildings. Rental choices range from industrial-chic lofts in converted warehouses to luxury high-rises with skyline views and rooftop amenities. The neighborhood offers exceptional walkability to entertainment districts, streetcar access, and major employers, though rental rates exceed Kansas City averages with fierce competition for units in the most desirable buildings.
Academic proximity shines near Rockhurst University. Renters appreciate 1920s Tudor homes but face pothole-riddled streets and 45-minute commutes to downtown jobs via I-35.
National study of renter’s satisfaction with their cities and states
Apartment List has released Kansas City’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.
"Kansas City renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "However, ratings varied greatly across different categories, indicating that even though renters love Kansas City, some aspects can be better."
Key findings in Kansas City include the following:
Kansas City renters gave their city a B overall.
The highest-rated categories for Kansas City were commute time (A) and affordability (A-).
The areas of concern to Kansas City renters are quality of local schools and jobs and career opportunities, which both received D grades.
Millennial renters are moderately satisfied with their city, giving it an overall rating of B.
Kansas City did relatively well compared to other cities in Missouri, including Springfield (B-) and Saint Louis (C+).
Kansas City did relatively well compared to similar cities nationwide, including Oklahoma City, OK (C+), Las Vegas, NV (C) and Sacramento, CA (C).
The top rated cities nationwide for renter satisfaction include Scottsdale, AZ, Irvine, CA, Boulder, CO and Ann Arbor, MI. The lowest rated cities include Tallahassee, FL, Stockton, CA, Dayton, OH, Detroit, MI and Newark, NJ.
Renters say:
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
Broadway Gillham embodies Kansas City's urban renaissance where historic buildings and thoughtful new construction create distinctive character just east of downtown in this rapidly evolving district. The neighborhood centers around the developing Midtown corridor with unique local businesses, global dining options, and excellent transit connections throughout the city creating genuine urban energy. While some blocks remain in various stages of revitalization with varied investment levels, urban pioneers appreciate both the architectural diversity and strategic positioning between downtown employment and Westport entertainment despite the area's continued evolution requiring local knowledge but offering remarkable value for those comfortable with transitional urban environments increasingly common in revitalizing American cities.
