This Johnson County city is all over rankings for the best places to live in US
Where are some of the best cities in the United States to buy a home? How about the best place to raise a family? A new study says one of the top places to live sits right in the Kansas City area.
Niche, a rankings and review website, revealed its 2025 Best Places to Live in America rankings on March 24 looking at the top cities, counties and neighborhoods in the country and what their communities offer, like schools and housing. Some of the categories Niche analyzes include the best places for families, the cities with the lowest cost of living and the best public schools in each state.
The ranking for the best cities to buy a home in the U.S. says Johnson County city Overland Park is the second best. The city has a population of 197,199, a median home value of $384,400 and a home ownership rate of 61%, according to Niche’s data analysis. The median household income is $103,838.
While the median home value is $384,400, there is a lack of affordable housing in the city, according to a previous Star report.
Attainable housing refers to homes that cost $300,000 or less, Johnson County Interim Appraiser Kara Endicott told the County Board of Commissioners in March. The county classified fewer than 25,000 homes as attainable in 2024 — compared to nearly 100,000 in 2018.
More than 90% of Johnson County homes went up in value, with average prices sitting at $508,000 and the average sale price at $557,000. Most of the new homes sold in Johnson County are custom homes and push the average selling price to $785,000.
Niche used data from the U.S. Census and the FBI to find home values, property taxes, home ownership rates, housing costs and real estate trends in Overland Park and other cities on the list.
How did Overland Park rank?
The city also ranked No. 7 on Niche’s list for best cities to raise a family and No. 8 on the list for best cities to live in the United States.
Overland Park received an overall grade of A+ from Niche’s rankings and an A- for housing. The city received these grades in other categories:
- Good for families: A+
- Public schools: A+
- Health and fitness: A
- Jobs: A-
- Outdoor activities: A-
- Diversity: A-
- Nightlife: A-
- Commute: B+
- Weather: B
- Cost of living: B-
- Crime and safety: B-
The city has 509 reviews on Niche, averaging 4 out of 5 stars.
The No. 1 city to buy a home in the country is Naperville, Illinois. The city is also the best city to raise a family and the best city to live in the U.S., according to Niche.
Kansas City placed in these spots on Niche’s national rankings:
42nd best city to buy a home in the country
69th best city to raise a family
73rd best city to live
The Star’s Taylor O’Connor contributed to this report.
