Kansas City Apartments and Rentals

With its 132 miles of boulevards and parkways, some say Kansas City, Missouri reminds them of Paris. Others think of Rome when they see the city's wealth of fountains. Both impressions of KC are popular, but why get distracted? Turn on some local blues, grab some Kansas City barbecue, and the last thing you'll be thinking of is Europe. KC has it's own welcoming Midwest style. Just rent a Kansas City apartment and start swinging to the easy rhythms in the Heart of America.

In 1850, Kansas City was known simply as the Town of Kansas. This part of the country helped launch settlers headed west on the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon trails in those days. Kansas City had a rough time during the Civil War when Union and Confederate troops battled for supremacy, but it held together. It wasn't until afterwards, in 1889, that the name for this place became Kansas City. Then, it blossomed with boulevards and fountains, leading the City Beautiful movement. Today, Kansas City is rich in culture and growing richer still. The urban core of the city is in the midst of its greatest revival in over 50 years.

If you want to get oriented in Kansas City, first off make sure you're in Missouri. The other side of the border is also Kansas City, but that's Kansas City, Kansas, and a different city. In KCMO (as it's known for short), start off by heading to Westport to catch some local live music. After that, the Power & Light District is full of cool bars, trendy restaurants, and hip patrons. River Market might be where you want to rent a condo, or it might just be where you go to hit the largest Farmer's Market in the Midwest.

Those coming to Kansas City in search of work will find a slew of major corporations waiting for them. Hallmark Cards, Sprint Nextel Corporation, H&R Block, AMC Theaters, and others keep KC's business community active. The United States Government is the city's largest employer. It operates a major IRS service center and a Federal Reserve Bank here.

For prospective students, Kansas City provides a handful of higher education options. The University of Missouri-Kansas City enrolls over 15,000 students. There's also Park University, William Jewell College, Saint Paul School of Theology, and others.

In general, the cost of living stays low in Kansas City. Expect to spend 10 percent less here than the national average. If you're on the hunt for an apartment to rent in Kansas City, you'll be happier than the landlords. While vacancy rates are dropping, they're still hovering up around 17 percent, making KC one of the country's emptiest cities. The average two-bedroom apartment in Kansas city rents for a reasonable $751 a month.

Amusement in KC is easy to find. City Market is one of the Midwest's oldest public farmer's market and a great place to shop for everything from flowers to seafood. If its live music you want, catch a show at venues such as the Mutual Musicians Foundation. Are you feeling lucky? If so, head for one of the riverboat casinos. The other prime Kansas City attraction is its cuisine. Kansas City-style barbecue uses molasses to make tender meat taste smoky sweet.

Sports fans in KC have a couple of professional teams to rally behind. The Kansas City Chiefs play football in the NFL and the Royals swing for the fences in baseball's American League. For a day at the museum, try the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art or the Steamboat Arabia Museum. Both are popular with families.

Kansas City's calendar is chock-full of special events. The American Royal BBQ is one of the biggest cook-offs in the United States and it gets taste buds watering across the city. The Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival features both local and national artists for two days of concerts. The Kansas City Scottish Highland Games will satisfy your craving for haggis and bagpipes. There's also the Brookside Arts Fair, Kansas City Irish Fest, and 18th Street's Fashion Show to keep your weekends busy.

Whether you're new here or just moving across town, Rent.com® can help you get settled in a Kansas City apartment. Look through our listings and see what catches your eye.