Young couples with kids---Where did you move to from the DC area?

[Anonymous]

We had family who moved to Kansas City several years ago due to an internal corporate transfer. At first they were not thrilled because they knew nothing about the place but now they love it. After visiting them I do have to agree with the recommendation that KC could be a great choice for people wanting to leave DC and looking for a less rushed place without sacrificing too many amenities.

KC has many wonderful older neighborhoods, really, quite impressive ones. Housing costs are reasonable. There's an excellent museum (Nelson Atkins) and the orchestra is quite good and the farmer's market I saw was excellent. The Plaza is lovely, Westport is lovely. I was surprised by the sense that there's a sizeable population of educated, friendly, active people in Kansas City. I would be happy to move to Kansas City if circumstances allowed it, but it's probably also helped that I grew up in a mid-size city and am well aware of how many local cultural, entertainment, dining, education and artistic resources that are available in most mid-size American cities if one just looks for it.

[Anonymous]

Des Moines. Summers about the same as DC. Winters more harsh, more snow. COL much less including housing. Good public schools depending upon where you choose to live. Lots to do in DSM area. Haven't looked back.

[Anonymous]

Kansas City is awesome! Pre-kids I visited family there at least once a year. There is plenty to do. I'm not sure how culturally diverse it is though. I grew up in a midsize city and the one thing that would make me hesitant to go back is lack of cultural diversity and the opportunity to see minorities in diverse economic positions. As the parent of mixed race children who are 1/2 Latino, it is important to me that my children don't see minorities as relegated to being poor, as is largely the case where I grew up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kansas City is awesome! Pre-kids I visited family there at least once a year. There is plenty to do. I'm not sure how culturally diverse it is though. I grew up in a midsize city and the one thing that would make me hesitant to go back is lack of cultural diversity and the opportunity to see minorities in diverse economic positions. As the parent of mixed race children who are 1/2 Latino, it is important to me that my children don't see minorities as relegated to being poor, as is largely the case where I grew up.

+1. This would be my hesitation too. I am originally from a midwestern city that was also very cultured in terms of wonderful arts and music scene, emerging as a foodie destination, etc...so on that front KC sounds amazing. But one thing I love about DC is the diversity...and not just "American" diversity (in terms of black, white, Latino). We had those three types in my hometown as well, and lots of it (my parents used to love "how diverse" my school was). But being in DC (at least in my particular suburb) just takes it to a whole new level with all of the international residents. I really do love that my children have many friends who speak so many different languages, are from so many varied religious backgrounds (including no religion at all), and that a good number of the diverse students are from well educated and thriving families. I wouldn't be opposed to leaving DC for the right opportunity, but I would definitely miss that aspect of this area.

[Anonymous]

I love this thread.

We have two young children 4 and 1, we moved them to Indianapolis. We are a mixed race couple and are adjusting fine. We are able to consistently find jobs in our field.
Both our kids are in montessori, tuition is 1500 a month - love it.

There is no traffic and cost of living is ridiculously cheap.

[Anonymous]

You guys must all be white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Wow!
Is there anything about DC that you missed in KC?

Really, the only thing we missed was our church community at Sacred Heart on 16th Street. It was a lot tougher coming back than we thought. We also came back East with our second child, who was born in KC. That definitely made the 2600 --> 1100 square foot downsize even more pronounced.

I'll be here 10 years in September and my spouse for 14. In 371 days in KC, we truly felt that we had developed more friends/neighbors we could rely on in a pinch than we have in Washington. So many great people have moved on from our time in DC that this observation really spurred active thoughts of relocation.

The sense of community support we got from our neighbors when our second child was born in KC (surprise baby shower, child care for our oldest, and coordinated hot meals delivered to our home for a week) was absolutely humbling and are things I won't ever forget, no matter where we eventually end up. They knew we were "short timers" and treated us as if we had lived there for years.

Are you white? Do you think the experience would be the same for non-whites?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys must all be white.

I am not. I am the one who would miss the international diversity of DC. (10:27)

[Anonymous]

Honest question, not being snarky.

I see a lot of these threads, people singing the praises of places like Kansas City, Des Moines, how they don't regret leaving DC.

And yet...

...you are posting this on DCUM.

Does the fact that you have never left DCUM maybe indicate something? Sure the COL is lower elsewhere and there is less hassle to daily life. But DC is an important city on the international stage and even in local affairs these days there is a real energy, a sense of change and progress. I think it is this energy that I would miss most if we left, and I wonder if it's also the reason that you're all still on DCUM? Just a hypothesis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question, not being snarky.

I see a lot of these threads, people singing the praises of places like Kansas City, Des Moines, how they don't regret leaving DC.

And yet...

...you are posting this on DCUM.

Does the fact that you have never left DCUM maybe indicate something? Sure the COL is lower elsewhere and there is less hassle to daily life. But DC is an important city on the international stage and even in local affairs these days there is a real energy, a sense of change and progress. I think it is this energy that I would miss most if we left, and I wonder if it's also the reason that you're all still on DCUM? Just a hypothesis.

I agree. I once left a city for a lcol and regret it. I guarantee you these posters say things about dc all the time while living in Kansas City, Des Moines etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How different was your life in KC though? You saved a lot of money and got a great house. How about walkability? Activities? Entertainment (museums, plays, cultural parties)? I just did a google search and KC itself doesn't seem to have many condos or even 'non-suburban' homes. They all look like planned lots that you need to drive in and out along major highways. Is there a downtown historic section of homes that I could look at (generally close to everything)?

Thanks for your questions. There are quite a few "walkable" neighborhoods in Kansas City: W. 39th Street Corridor/Historic Westport; Brookside, Waldo, Hyde Park, and Southmoreland. For those looking for a loft experience rather than SFHs, there's a ton of activity going on in the Midtown Arts District. For classic, pre-war 2 and 3 bedroom apartments centered on retail, consider Country Club Plaza.

If we go back, Brookside (centered on W. 63rd Street and Brookside Blvd.) is probably where we'll buy. A bit pricy for KC, but walkable with a great retail corridor - places like Reading Reptile and Brookside Science and Toys alone are fantastic kid-centered stores. It also has good school options - St. Peter's (Catholic) and Academie Lafayette (French language immersion PCS).

Kansas City is currently building a streetcar line along Main Street from downtown (City Market) to Union Station. From Union Station south to West 75th Street, Kansas City has the MAX Bus along Main Street and Brookside Boulevard. It is similar in concept to the Circulator and about a 20 minute trip from Brookside to downtown. It runs 7 days a week with service every 10-30 minutes depending on day/time.

Before we went to KC, I'd been in DC for 7 years and my spouse for 11. We probably took in more "culture" during our single year in KC than in any 3 year span in DC. We fell in love with Unicorn Theater and got to attend two opening night celebrations ("Grounded" and "Other Desert Cities"). We were welcomed with open arms and felt right at home. I became involved with KKFI, Kansas City's community radio station and found it very welcoming. I even got the chance to DJ a 3 hour show that celebrates my favorite music genre (80s New Wave, synth, and industrial) just prior to leaving - that was one of the highlights of my year. There are many cultural events, book talks, concerts, etc. UMKC is a fairly comprehensive university and that brings much to the city. Also, a fair number of KU faculty live in KC, MO and reverse commute to Lawrence for work.

For families, there is so much so close - Union Station, The Royals, Children's Science Museum, the Aquarium, Zoo, Kids Shows at Sprint Center, Crown Center, City Market, Schlitterbahn, easy access to nature/farms. There's even a small ski facility north of KC.

In short, we found a great community spirit and things just seemed so much more accessible to families on a Federal salary than in DC. KC also has a very vibrant civic activist culture which I personally loved. Again, it was just so much easier to "plug into" than DC. I really enjoyed the opportunity to join with Stand Up KC and the Heartland Labor Forum on the Fight for 15 and other causes. I haven't had opportunities like this since before I came to Washington.

Of course, there's also the suburban option if that's what people want. The Johnson County (KS) suburbs are all quite accessible to KC with many amenities.

I hope this helps.

This message has been brought to you by: The Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Realtors' Association, and the Kansas City Tourism Board.

PP, I'm glad you enjoyed your time there. Sounds too good to be true.

Wow, I've been in DC over 10 years, but grew up in Brookside in KC and go back to visit family there a few times a year. This is all incredibly accurate. It's a great place to raise kids and/or grow up. It makes me sad every time I visit that there isn't anything close to a place like Brookside at an affordable price in the DC area. Del Ray is the closest I have found but it's not the same (and before someone mentions the ACPS schools, the KCMO schools in Brookside have the same reputation; it's private schools for most).

If anyone else is seriously considering this move, a few points for consideration. I think this truly depends on your preferences and one isn't better than another. In KC, your average water cooler or neighborhood conversations will most likely revolve around local sports (Royals right now, but Chiefs, and KU or MU basketball work as well). In DC, I can start a conversation with "I heard on Morning Edition..." and it's not uncommon for people to have heard the same story and want to discuss. In your average office in KC, you wouldnt have that type of conversation. Another anecdotal difference is that people in KC tend to go on vacation to the lake (Lake of the Ozarks) or Mexico/Carribean. Vacationing to Europe or larger cities in the US is a bit more outside the mainstream, and people may perceive you as somewhat snobby or different.

The biggest thing is that it can be really hard to break into social circles on a more than superficial level. People there (especially in the older, walkable and more historic neighborhoods like Brookside, Sunset Hills, the Plaza) have been there for a long time and their friend groups often are made up of people they went to high school and grade school with, and in a lot of cases, their parents also went to the same high school and grade schools. (In KC, there are tons of second and third generation families at schools like St. Peter's and Visitation and high schools like Rockhurst and St. Teresa's). People are very friendly on a surface level but often aren't looking for new people to join their groups. I read on DCUM that people have trouble making friends in this area, but I've truly had the opposite experience, and found that many transplants are actively searching for new friends. I now have great groups of friends from grad school, my first job, DH's job, DD's preschool etc. I was nerdy in high school and from what I've heard/seen from those still there, I think I would have a harder time finding a solid group back in KC. Second to my lack of transferable job skills, that's the biggest factor holding me back from moving back to KC.

While my experience is KC focused, from what I have heard, the same is true for many medium sized Midwestern cities (St. Louis, Minneapolis etc.). There are a lot of good qualities, but they aren't perfect either. Just depends on what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/

https://www.nga.mil/About/Pages/Default.aspx

St. Louis has defense mapping and national medial archives.

You would live like kings on two fed salaries their.

KC is more suburban sprawl where St. Louis is a bunch of cute neighborhoods and small independent towns with a lot of historic character and great museums, childrens activities, sports, and hands down the best zoo in the country (and free to boot).

Look at neighborhoods like Kirkwood or Webster Groves for good schools, family friendly and affordable living, and neighborhood charm/walkable areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/

https://www.nga.mil/About/Pages/Default.aspx

St. Louis has defense mapping and national medial archives.

You would live like kings on two fed salaries their.

KC is more suburban sprawl where St. Louis is a bunch of cute neighborhoods and small independent towns with a lot of historic character and great museums, childrens activities, sports, and hands down the best zoo in the country (and free to boot).

Look at neighborhoods like Kirkwood or Webster Groves for good schools, family friendly and affordable living, and neighborhood charm/walkable areas.

If your focus is schools, Lindbergh and Rockwood are the top districts along with Kirkwood.

If we were moving there we would try to buy in Kirkwood near the train station area.

Look at the Childrens Museum, City Museum and Magic House for a sampling of what they have to offer families.

In my opinion, St. Louis metro is a better city than KC if you want more than just Mcmansions and suburbia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question, not being snarky.

I see a lot of these threads, people singing the praises of places like Kansas City, Des Moines, how they don't regret leaving DC.

And yet...

...you are posting this on DCUM.

Does the fact that you have never left DCUM maybe indicate something? Sure the COL is lower elsewhere and there is less hassle to daily life. But DC is an important city on the international stage and even in local affairs these days there is a real energy, a sense of change and progress. I think it is this energy that I would miss most if we left, and I wonder if it's also the reason that you're all still on DCUM? Just a hypothesis.

I left DC four years ago for NYC. If there was an equivalent NY based forum; I'd read that instead. (I know urban baby, but I find their format really unorganized and overwhelming). Point being, some people just like these forums and how varied and sometimes well - written they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys must all be white.

Asian.

Most of the midwest cities are fairly diverse between black and white, with much smaller numbers in hispanic, muslim, asian and indian nationalities.