KC MedNet

Living and Working in KC

 
 

With 18 counties and over 50 communities, 2.2 million people currently call the Kansas City region home. The area is often recognized for its high quality of life, which includes extensive residential and educational options, and its low cost of living. A broad array of cultural and entertainment offerings further highlight the enviable livability of the region.

Forbes.com ranks Kansas City among the Top Ten Best Cities to Get Ahead.Forbes.com ranks Kansas City among the
Top Ten Best Cities to Get Ahead

The magazine looked at the country's 40 largest metropolitan statistical areas and gauged the quality of the business environment by how many of Forbes' 400 best big companies and 200 best small companies are headquartered there. They also identified those with economic diversity and unemployment rates below the national average. Finally, median income was compared with cost of living. KC ranked #9 ahead of New York City at #10, and behind St. Louis at #8. Click here to read the story on Forbes.com

KC Ratings & Rankings for 2008

Kansas City Innovation

  • Kansas City No. 10 for Research - Business Facilities magazine ranked Kansas City, Mo., No. 10 on its list for “Cities with the Highest Concentration of Employment in Research, Testing, and Medical Laboratories.”
  • Kansas receives recognition for bioscience - The state of Kansas ranked No. 10 on Business Facilities’ list for “Top States for Overall Biotechnology Strength.” Business Facilities magazine also ranked Kansas fifth on its list of “States with the Highest Funding for Bioscience Research.”
  • Kansas City is a Top 25 Cyber City - The Kansas City area ranks as one of the top 25 “cybercities” by the AeA, a high-tech industry trade group. Kansas City ranks No. 20 with the highest concentration of high-tech jobs.
  • Kansas City is one of the Best Cities for Innovation – Kansas City was among Fast Company’s Top 12 Best International cities for innovation, including Barcelona, Beijing, Seattle, Moscow and Abu Dhabi.
  • Kansas City is the 25th Smartest Metro – A Bizjournals.com study ranked Kansas City 25th in a study of academic achievement of adults in the 100 largest metros in the U.S.
  • Kansas City is one of America's Most Wired Cities - Kansas City is listed in the top 30 Most Wired cities in America by Forbes.

Kansas City Lifestyle

  • Kansas City is Fit - According to Men’s Fitness magazine, Kansas City ranks as No. 15 on the list of “Fittest Cities in the U.S.”  
  • Money magazine ranks several KC communities among America's Best Places to Live in 2008 - Overland Park (9), Olathe (11), Shawnee (39) and Lee’s Summit (79) earned spots in the 100 Best Places to Live 2008 by Money magazine.
  • Forbes ranks Johnson County Third Best Place to Raise a Family - Johnson County is the third best place to raise a family in the United States, according to Forbes.com.
  • Kansas City’s Salary Value ranks 21st among U.S. Cities – According to salary.com, Kansas City ranks 21st among the 69 major U.S. cities for the most lifestyle bang for your salary.com.
  • Kansas City is the No. 5 Best City for Home sellers - Forbes evaluated the country’s 40 largest metro areas and their 2007 unsold vacancy rate to determine to the five best cities for home sellers.

Kansas City Entertainment

  • Sprint Center ranks No. 30 of the World’s Top Arenas - Pollstar magazine ranked the Sprint Center No. 30 among the world’s top 100 arena venues and No. 14 among the United States’ arenas.
  • The College Basketball Experience is in the top five interactive museums in the United States- The College Basketball Experience is listed as one of the nation’s five great interactive museums to visit this summer, according to Wired magazine.
  • Kansas City ranks No. 4 for underrated cities in the United States - Sherman’s Travel listed downtown Kansas City’s revival and arts environment when it added KC to the list of underrated cities to visit.

Kansas City Neighborhoods

The Kansas City region includes 10,000 square miles that fan across the states of Kansas and Missouri. From eclectic urban neighborhoods to breathtaking, tree-lined boulevards to picturesque suburban enclaves, there are many varieties of Kansas City living. The region’s neighborhoods channel the cultural diversity of its 2.2 million residents, making each a living testament to the ever-changing complexion of the region. Whether you prefer the fast pulse of urban living or the quiet respite of less populous, wide-open spaces, the area can accommodate your domestic preference. To read more, visit the Kansas City Area Development Council’s information about neighborhoods and communities at http://thinkkc.com/LivingWorking/FindHome/FindHome_main.php.

Kansas City Schools

Each year, national publications rank Kansas and Missouri schools among the best in the U.S. The area, in fact, prides itself on educational excellence. Over 570 public school and 170 private and parochial schools boast top ranking test scores and elite-level college placement. Visit the Kansas City Area Development Council’s educational information at http://thinkkc.com/LivingWorking/Education/Education.php to learn more.