It is always a challenge to find the perfect job in the best city so that you can balance your work with your life. It is well worth living in the best of the Kansas cities to reach a stress-free lifestyle and a high quality of life. Kansas is situated in the center of the country away from the stress and pressures of big-town living. While some people feel like they must live near a body of water, such as in Topeka KS near Shawnee Lake or the Kaw River, others prefer to live in the center of a small town. Finding the right home in the best neighborhood can make all the difference. The things to watch closely are commute time, cost of living in Kansas cities, housing costs, and the presence of green spaces or outdoor recreational areas. For families with school-age children, the assurance of sending them to good public schools is a must. Usually, the less people per square mile the less stressful the atmosphere can be.
Lawrence KS is situated between two large cities; Topeka KS and Kansas City KS. It’s far enough way to have all the charm of a small town, yet close enough to be able to work and commute to either city. To get to Topeka during hours without heavy traffic it can take 31 minutes to drive the 28 miles. If working in downtown Kansas City MO, the time it takes to travel the 40.4 miles is closer to 42 minutes. If working in downtown Lawrence, it will take less than 10 minutes from any Lawrence destination. The cost of living in 2013 was low at 88.5, but the cost of housing has risen since then. The cost of housing has increased 3.95% in the past 12 months. The current listing price for a single-family home in Lawrence is $314,900 and the listing price for a condo or townhome is slightly less at $279,900. The crime rate is lower than the national median and there are a total of 22 public schools. It is rated as being exceptionally livable with a livability rating of 82. One of the nice things about living in Lawrence KS is that it’s a college town and has interesting diversions and cultural events that result in opportunities for lectures, concerts, and art happenings that the public can take part in.
Prairie Village KS is a quaint suburb in the greater metropolitan Kansas City MO area. It is one of the Kansas cities with a lower-than-average cost of living index at 89.8 in 2013. On the scale of livability, it gets a rating of exceptionally livable at 85. The real estate market has strengthened 7.47% in the past 12 months. The commute into downtown Kansas City MO takes less than 20 minutes and to neighboring Overland Park KS it takes eight minutes. The current listing price for a single-family home in Prairie Village is $869,950. The crime rate is lower than average and there are four public schools and five private schools in the area. The entire suburb is dotted with green areas, trees, and neighborhood parks. There are a high number of artists living in Prairie Village as well as white-collar workers in sales and management.
Shawnee KS is 10.5 miles from downtown Kansas City MO, but is considered to be a suburb of the greater metropolitan Kansas City area. With the nearby interstate, the commute into downtown Kansas City takes under 15 minutes. The commute to Overland Park KS, which is 5.7 miles away, takes about 12 minutes. In 2013 the cost of living index was 87.6, less than the US average of 100. The housing prices are on the rise and single-family homes are now listing for $381,950. Condo and townhome prices are listing at $140,000. There are 15 public schools, all a part of the highly-rated Shawnee Mission School District. Shawnee KS is rated with a livability score of 83, which is extremely livable. Shawnee is home to Shawnee Mission Park, a 1,600-acre park that includes a 120-acre lake. The park is very popular with the locals as a place to get away from everything and enjoy water sports and wide green spaces.
Topeka KS is about 60 miles to the west of the greater metropolitan Kansas City area. The cost of living index in 2013 was low at 83.1 Since that time, however, the listing prices of single-family homes have risen to $118,000. The fourth largest community in Kansas, Topeka has a population of 127,215 and is divided into 40 neighborhoods. Residents have one of the shortest daily commutes compared to the rest of the US at just under 18 minutes. There are four school districts in Topeka with public schools in every neighborhood. With a livability index of 76, Topeka is considered to be extremely livable. In the city limits of Topeka is Lake Shawnee. The lake draws some one million visitors each year to enjoy the beauty and diversity of the lake and the green spaces surrounding it.
