Why you should invest in Kansas City

[Johnathan Trimble]

Wanted to share a blog post of mine about how great investing in Kansas City is. I would love to hear everybodies thoughts on if they feel like their market is better to invest in than KC given the information below and why it is:

Kansas City is a great city to invest in. We have seen steady rent growth and appreciation over the last 10 years, especially the last 5 years. This market is a very stable market with a very diverse range of industry's, with no more than one industry accounting for over 20% of jobs in the area. Kansas City is a wonderful city to call home, with many articles hailing it as one of the best areas to raise a family in the United States. Many of the factors mentioned also give strength to the fact that is a very stable market. In fact housing prices only fell around 7% back in 2008 where many markets saw over double that.

Real Estate Appreciation
In Kansas City, MO median home price rose 5.8% year-over-year to about $317,000. As of June 2025 Kansas City, KS, Median price sits near $233,000, up 7.6% from April 2024 to April 2025. Over the last 10 years, KC has seen strong upward trends: home values have steadily climbed, supported by the FHFA house price index. 5-year appreciation has been consistently in the 6–8% annual range, although annual gains have eased (e.g., 5.6% in 2025, 6.0% in 2024, 7.4% in 2023).

Price Comparison: KC vs. National
Kansas City (MO) National Average
Median Home Price: $317 K ~$450 K+
Average Rent: $1,325 ~$1,950–2,100

KC offers ~30–40% lower housing and rent costs, increasing margin potential for investors.

Rent Growth & Affordability
In Kansas City MO median rent is around $1,325/month, about 32% below the national average. RentCafe notes average rent at $1,395—33–34% below U.S. average—with around +3% YoY growth. In Kansas City, KS Zillow shows average rent at $1,250, up $80 YoY, and about 40% below national average ($2,100). Bottom line is that rents are rising steadily—2–3% annually—while still offering strong affordability when some markets have been declining.

Population Growth
The metro area population has climbed from about 2.195 million in 2020 to 2.254 million in 2024—roughly a 2.7% increase over four years, adding nearly 62,000 people (+2.8%) between 2020 and 2024.

Industry Diversification & Job Market
Kansas City is a hub for logistics, with robust transportation infrastructure and low operating costs. Over the past few years, major employers such as Cerner (health IT), Bats Global Markets (finance), and Ascend Learning (edtech) have established or expanded operations in KC, New developments like the AI factory in the old Kansas City Star building signal growth in tech and startup sectors.

Low Risk: Disasters & Landlord-Tenant Dynamics
KC is notably immune to major natural disasters—no hurricanes, low tornado risk—providing stability. Missouri and Kansas also have landlord-friendly laws, with few rent control regulations or tenant protections relative to coastal cities. That supports flexible leasing and investor confidence.

Major Developments & Corporate Moves
$838 million Vacation Village in KCK features resort, entertainment, Margaritaville resort, Big Shots Golf. The AI “factory” redeveloping the old KC Star building brings tech innovation and new jobs downtown. Infrastructure investments like the $25 million Northland workforce center aim to grow talent pipelines and employment. The Chiefs & Royals stadium saga, potentially relocating across state lines, could shift economic activity and boost local infrastructure.

In Summary
Kansas City stands out because it offers:

-Steady population growth, fueling housing demand

-Diverse economy with booming logistics, tech, healthcare, finance

-Strong appreciation—6–8% annually, 5-year trajectory

-Affordable rents that still rise reliably

-Low risk environment and landlord-friendly regulations

-Substantially lower real estate prices than coastal metros

-Game-changing developments across entertainment, tech, and corporate investment

[Richard Helppie-Schmieder]

@Johnathan Trimble you left out the part about the Chiefs.