Kansas City Area 55+ Retirement Communities

Located along the western edge of Missouri and the eastern edge of Kansas, the Kansas City area offers active adults numerous recreation and entertainment options in a city famous for its barbecue and jazz heritage. From professional sports arenas and stadiums to museums, eateries, and breweries, active adult homebuyers who choose the Kansas City area will enjoy access to all this and more.

Since most of the 55+ communities in this area are outside of Kansas City proper, residents also enjoy proximity to the glacier-carved limestone and bedrock cliffs that surround the city to the north and the south, along with the recreation opportunities afforded by nearby lakes and the Missouri river, which runs right through town.

Cost of Living

Overall, living in the Kansas City area is more affordable than the national average cost of living, according to Best Places. Active adult homebuyers can expect to save money on housing, transportation, and even groceries, making the Kansas City area an attractive place to retire. Housing costs specifically are much lower than the national average, with 55+ communities in the area offering homes from the High $100s to the High $900s. The average Kansas City home price ranges from the Low to Mid $200s.

Missouri, known also as The Show Me State, does not tax most Social Security benefits, and some taxpayers with public or private pensions may avoid paying taxes on those payments. While the state sales taxes are relatively low, the local sales tax rate tends to be higher in the Kansas City area. On the bright side, the property tax rates are close to the national average, helping ensure that 55+ residents on a fixed income can still enjoy the plentiful area amenities.

On the Kansas side, however, Social Security benefits and 401(k) distributions are fully taxed, the state sales tax is relatively high, and there is also a state income tax. On the other hand, property taxes are on par with the national average, and the state does not collect inheritance or estate taxes.

Climate and Geography

The Kansas City area sits between glacier-carved bedrock and limestone cliffs that flank the city to the north and south. Temperatures in the summer do occasionally climb into the 90s, although much of the monthly average summertime temperatures are in the 80s. The Kansas City area receives slightly above average rainfall, and about 15 inches of snow per year. The wintertime low temperatures are typically in the 20s, and on average there are 215 sunny days per year, according to Best Places, which is also above the national average.

Recreation, Culture, and Entertainment

The Kansas City area provides active adults with a multitude of recreation, dining, shopping, and entertainment options that are sure to impress and entertain. Here are some of the many popular attractions in Kansas City.

Golf Courses

• Royal Meadows Golf Club
• Hillcrest Golf Course
• Heart of America Golf Course
• Swope Memorial Golf Course
• Teetering Rocks Golf Course
• Tiffany Greens Golf Club

Performing Arts

• Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
• Kansas City Repertory Theatre
• Starlight Theatre
• The Folly Theatre
• The Music Hall
• The Blue Room
• The Green Lady Lounge
• The Ship

Sports Venues

• GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
• Kauffman Stadium
• Durwood Soccer Stadium
• Hale Arena
• Legends Field

Barbecue

• Porky’s Blazin’ Bar-B-Q
• Joe’s Kansas City Barbecue
• Scott’s Kitchen
• Gates BBQ
• Big T’s
• Fiorella’s Jack Shack
• Harp Barbecue

Museums

• National Frontier Trails Museum
• National WWI Museum and Memorial
• American Jazz Museum
• National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
• The National Archives at Kansas City

Parks and Greenspace

• Shawnee Mission Park
• Loose Park
• Country Club Plaza
• Swope Park
• Mill Creek Park
• Longview Park and Lake
• Weston Bend State Park
• Clinton State Park
• Perry State Park

Healthcare

The Kansas City area has many conveniently located hospitals and medical centers, including Belton Regional Medical Center, which is located on the southern edge of town, Kansas University Medical Center, which is on the Kansas side of the downtown area, and North Kansas City Hospital, which is on the north side of town. All these and more ensure that active adult homebuyers who choose the Kansas City area have convenient access to quality healthcare.