Best places to live in the Kansas City metro area

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the Kansas City metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

#25. Lake Winnebago

- Niche grade: A-

- Public school grade: A-

- Population: 1,401

#24. Kansas City

- Niche grade: A-

- Public school grade: B+

- Population: 508,233

#23. Greenwood

- Niche grade: A-

- Public school grade: A+

- Population: 6,000

#22. Lansing

- Niche grade: A-

- Public school grade: B+

- Population: 11,229

#21. Gladstone

- Niche grade: A-

- Public school grade: B+

- Population: 27,069

#20. De Soto

- Niche grade: A-

- Public school grade: A

- Population: 6,333

#19. Blue Springs

- Niche grade: A-

- Public school grade: A

- Population: 59,416

#18. Merriam

- Niche grade: A

- Public school grade: A-

- Population: 11,036

#17. Liberty

- Niche grade: A

- Public school grade: A-

- Population: 30,446

#16. Mission

- Niche grade: A

- Public school grade: A-

- Population: 9,928

#15. Lake Lotawana

- Niche grade: A

- Public school grade: A+

- Population: 2,378

#14. Weatherby Lake

- Niche grade: A

- Public school grade: A

- Population: 2,465

#13. Lake Waukomis

- Niche grade: A

- Public school grade: A

- Population: 1,085

#12. Mission Hills

- Niche grade: A

- Public school grade: A+

- Population: 3,556

#11. Lee's Summit

- Niche grade: A

- Public school grade: A

- Population: 102,583

#10. Olathe

- Niche grade: A

- Public school grade: A

- Population: 143,720

#9. Roeland Park

- Niche grade: A

- Public school grade: A-

- Population: 6,800

#8. Lenexa

- Niche grade: A+

- Public school grade: A

- Population: 57,986

#7. Shawnee

- Niche grade: A+

- Public school grade: A

- Population: 68,175

#6. Fairway

- Niche grade: A+

- Public school grade: A+

- Population: 4,177

#5. Parkville

- Niche grade: A+

- Public school grade: A

- Population: 8,022

#4. Overland Park

- Niche grade: A+

- Public school grade: A+

- Population: 197,199

#3. Prairie Village

- Niche grade: A+

- Public school grade: A+

- Population: 22,937

#2. Westwood

- Niche grade: A+

- Public school grade: A+

- Population: 1,851

#1. Leawood

- Niche grade: A+

- Public school grade: A+

- Population: 33,844

© Stacker Media, LLC.

This story was originally published July 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM.