Kansas City’s neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You’ve got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.
It seems as if there’s a neighborhood for everyone in Kansas City.
And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in Missouri thanks in part to tons of entertainment and jobs, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine in Kansas City. Some neighborhoods aren’t as safe as others.
So the question arises, which Kansas City neighborhoods are the most dangerous and which are the safest?
Today, we’ll use Saturday Night Science to determine which Kansas City hoods need a little tender loving care – the sore thumbs of the Kansas City area if you will. Realistically, you can’t expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although South Plaza ranks way above the rest.
We examined 116 of Kansas City’s neighborhoods to find out the most dangerous places to live. These places don’t quite measure up to Kansas City’s reputation.
Table Of Contents: Top 10 | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the worst neighborhood to live in Kansas City for 2024? According to the most recent census data, South Blue Valley looks to be the worst neighborhood in Kansas City.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Kansas City that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don’t blame the messenger.
For more Missouri reading, check out:
The 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Kansas City For 2024
/10
Population: 1,403
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 5,177
Property Crime Per 100k: 9,622
Median Home Value: $46,200 (15th worst)
Median Income: $25,971 (12th worst)
More on South Blue Valley: Data
/10
Population: 1,462
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 4,334
Property Crime Per 100k: 10,409
Median Home Value: $29,200 (worst)
Median Income: $40,532 (5worst)
More on Eastwood Hills West: Data
/10
Population: 1,129
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,415
Property Crime Per 100k: 8,508
Median Home Value: $47,300 (16th worst)
Median Income: $33,803 (30th worst)
More on Blue Valley Industrial: Data
/10
Population: 2,555
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,480
Property Crime Per 100k: 6,443
Median Home Value: $45,167 (13th worst)
Median Income: $32,100 (25th worst)
More on Sheffield: Data
/10
Population: 1,117
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 5,457
Property Crime Per 100k: 8,880
Median Home Value: $78,333 (45th worst)
Median Income: $29,086 (17th worst)
More on Marlborough East: Data
/10
Population: 1,419
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 4,805
Property Crime Per 100k: 6,094
Median Home Value: $51,750 (2worst)
Median Income: $14,866 (worst)
More on Central Blue Valley-Park Tower Grade: Data
/10
Population: 1,999
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 4,275
Property Crime Per 100k: 8,328
Median Home Value: $43,550 (10th worst)
Median Income: $30,520 (20th worst)
More on East Blue Valley: Data
/10
Population: 1,558
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 5,207
Property Crime Per 100k: 8,599
Median Home Value: $50,300 (19th worst)
Median Income: $23,533 (9th worst)
More on Hidden Valley: Data
/10
Population: 876
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,537
Property Crime Per 100k: 6,591
Median Home Value: $44,800 (11th worst)
Median Income: $30,060 (19th worst)
More on North Blue Ridge: Data
/10
Population: 1,312
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,120
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,125
Median Home Value: $68,600 (36th worst)
Median Income: $18,207 (2nd worst)
More on Legacy East: Data
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous Kansas City neighborhoods in 2024
To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We plugged the following criteria into Saturday Night Science to get the worst neighborhoods in Kansas City:
- High crime (Estimated)
- High unemployment (Less jobs)
- Low median income (Less pay)
- Low population density (No things to do)
- Low home values (No one’s willing to pay to live here)
Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri for each of these criteria from worst to best.
Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criterion into a “Worst Score.”
The neighborhood with the lowest “Worst Score” ranks as the most dangerous neighborhood of Kansas City.
The article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Kansas City.
Skip to the end to see the list of all 116 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.
Summary: The Worst Neighborhoods Around Kansas City
Well, there you have it — the worst of the neighborhoods in Kansas City with South Blue Valley landing at the bottom of the pack.
The worst neighborhoods in Kansas City are South Blue Valley, Eastwood Hills West, Blue Valley Industrial, Sheffield, Marlborough East, Central Blue Valley-Park Tower Grade, East Blue Valley, Hidden Valley, North Blue Ridge, and Legacy East.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Kansas City aren’t all bad. South Plaza takes the cake as the best place to live in Kansas City.
The best neighborhoods in Kansas City are South Plaza, Westwood, River Market, Morningside, and Ward Parkway.
We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.
For more Missouri reading, check out:
Most Dangerous Neighborhoods To Live In Kansas City For 2024?
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Blue Valley | 1,403 | $46,200 | $25,971 |
| 2 | Eastwood Hills West | 1,462 | $29,200 | $40,532 |
| 3 | Blue Valley Industrial | 1,129 | $47,300 | $33,803 |
| 4 | Sheffield | 2,555 | $45,167 | $32,100 |
| 5 | Marlborough East | 1,117 | $78,333 | $29,086 |
| 6 | Central Blue Valley-Park Tower Grade | 1,419 | $51,750 | $14,866 |
| 7 | East Blue Valley | 1,999 | $43,550 | $30,520 |
| 8 | Hidden Valley | 1,558 | $50,300 | $23,533 |
| 9 | North Blue Ridge | 876 | $44,800 | $30,060 |
| 10 | Legacy East | 1,312 | $68,600 | $18,207 |
| 11 | Knoches Park | 1,930 | $41,200 | $25,932 |
| 12 | Northest Industrial District | 145 | $58,350 | $31,608 |
| 13 | Ingleside | 1,110 | $50,750 | $33,365 |
| 14 | Lykins | 4,392 | $56,100 | $23,420 |
| 15 | Hickman Mills | 3,183 | $111,540 | $35,914 |
| 16 | West Blue Valley | 1,865 | $39,200 | $18,654 |
| 17 | South Town Fork Creek | 1,067 | $52,900 | $31,216 |
| 18 | Swope Parkway-Elmwood | 2,541 | $67,933 | $31,053 |
| 19 | Indipendence Plaza | 2,338 | $68,020 | $24,060 |
| 20 | Linwood Homeowner-Ivanhoe | 1,346 | $56,500 | $21,750 |
| 21 | Lewis Heights | 362 | $103,400 | $27,024 |
| 22 | Washington Weatley | 1,876 | $51,900 | $35,113 |
| 23 | Marlborough Heights-Marlborough Pride | 2,591 | $33,080 | $26,330 |
| 24 | East Community Team North | 3,155 | $74,000 | $33,534 |
| 25 | Ashland Ridge | 1,525 | $74,700 | $19,189 |
| 26 | Norble And Gregory Ridge | 1,842 | $66,367 | $36,942 |
| 27 | Ivanhoe Southeast | 1,613 | $33,200 | $38,880 |
| 28 | Beacon Hills | 1,198 | $158,800 | $40,562 |
| 29 | Key Coalition | 1,846 | $45,500 | $26,845 |
| 30 | East Sqope Highlands | 927 | $104,300 | $33,356 |
| 31 | Oak Park Northwest | 2,576 | $47,600 | $23,026 |
| 32 | Blue Hills | 4,600 | $52,914 | $40,152 |
| 33 | Westside South | 1,545 | $142,600 | $42,276 |
| 34 | Ruskin Heights | 4,791 | $70,825 | $37,661 |
| 35 | Stanford Estates | 1,771 | $80,300 | $54,219 |
| 36 | Santa Fe | 2,103 | $56,775 | $29,174 |
| 37 | Riss Lake | 2,564 | $112,200 | $36,372 |
| 38 | North Town Fork Creek | 2,979 | $124,514 | $35,811 |
| 39 | East Meyer | 4,625 | $76,560 | $35,925 |
| 40 | Self Help Neighborhood Council | 2,054 | $67,250 | $35,040 |
| 41 | Ruskin Hills | 3,088 | $88,300 | $50,824 |
| 42 | Brown Estates | 907 | $115,100 | $52,884 |
| 43 | Vineyard Northwest | 1,054 | $40,800 | $41,277 |
| 44 | East Community Team South | 3,804 | $29,800 | $41,411 |
| 45 | Country Valley-Hawthorn Square | 340 | $158,500 | $45,549 |
| 46 | Wendell Phillips | 1,761 | $158,800 | $38,080 |
| 47 | Ivanhoe Northeast | 866 | $44,900 | $38,728 |
| 48 | Oak Park Southeast | 1,268 | $41,100 | $37,805 |
| 49 | Swope Park Campus | 1,042 | $101,833 | $36,687 |
| 50 | Manheim Park | 1,523 | $172,600 | $32,012 |
| 51 | Hickman Mills South | 1,301 | $70,350 | $53,599 |
| 52 | Bleheim Square-Research Hospital | 1,652 | $66,000 | $23,264 |
| 53 | Oak Park Southwest | 2,474 | $37,200 | $68,433 |
| 54 | Hillcrest | 452 | $127,800 | $40,368 |
| 55 | Palestine West And Oak Park Northeast | 1,209 | $64,500 | $40,926 |
| 56 | Vineyard | 2,555 | $49,600 | $41,246 |
| 57 | Robandee South | 1,511 | $77,000 | $60,170 |
| 58 | Fairwood And Robandee | 3,165 | $103,825 | $40,445 |
| 59 | Westside North | 2,059 | $182,233 | $54,386 |
| 60 | Fairlane | 5,035 | $95,675 | $48,856 |
| 61 | Citadel | 1,889 | $165,700 | $38,155 |
| 62 | Oakwood | 1,007 | $127,350 | $45,714 |
| 63 | Richards Gebaur | 1,125 | $202,350 | $37,652 |
| 64 | Sterling Acres | 766 | $97,500 | $49,100 |
| 65 | Park Farms | 3,340 | $103,850 | $44,742 |
| 66 | Eastwood Hill East | 3,615 | $87,900 | $51,980 |
| 67 | Holmes Park | 932 | $183,600 | $49,125 |
| 68 | Pendleton Heights | 3,798 | $164,225 | $33,780 |
| 69 | Bannister Ares | 1,518 | $121,350 | $50,536 |
| 70 | Sarritt Point | 4,325 | $72,520 | $35,911 |
| 71 | North India Mound | 5,296 | $75,800 | $36,925 |
| 72 | South India Mound | 5,458 | $66,050 | $44,198 |
| 73 | Eastern 49-63 | 3,305 | $123,833 | $42,741 |
| 74 | Santa Fe Hills | 2,029 | $153,067 | $58,618 |
| 75 | Linden Hills And Indian Heights | 2,401 | $151,250 | $59,897 |
| 76 | Bonne Hills | 1,787 | $151,933 | $59,294 |
| 77 | Western Hills | 1,935 | $147,600 | $65,350 |
| 78 | Little Blue Valley | 3,670 | $195,320 | $81,899 |
| 79 | North Hyde Park | 1,875 | $245,150 | $26,801 |
| 80 | South Hyde Park | 1,949 | $193,600 | $56,936 |
| 81 | Highview Estates | 2,096 | $246,833 | $76,796 |
| 82 | Hanover Place | 2,668 | $221,800 | $43,479 |
| 83 | Blue Hills Estates | 1,520 | $224,800 | $53,319 |
| 84 | Martin City | 825 | $256,800 | $65,500 |
| 85 | Saint Catherine’s Gardens | 2,573 | $119,000 | $62,102 |
| 86 | Union Hill | 505 | $248,100 | $70,612 |
| 87 | Lea Manor | 1,900 | $200,000 | $85,491 |
| 88 | Stayton Meadows | 2,325 | $119,400 | $64,711 |
| 89 | Birdlespur | 1,364 | $168,650 | $89,478 |
| 90 | Roanoke | 400 | $600,000 | $85,000 |
| 91 | Valentine | 1,449 | $300,000 | $44,362 |
| 92 | Southmoreland | 3,950 | $197,680 | $53,798 |
| 93 | Willow Creek | 4,014 | $144,350 | $48,485 |
| 94 | Faireway Hills | 2,342 | $128,200 | $74,063 |
| 95 | Mission Lake | 3,585 | $185,800 | $73,739 |
| 96 | White Oak | 2,802 | $112,000 | $58,733 |
| 97 | Blue Vue Hills | 2,047 | $172,200 | $70,125 |
| 98 | Crown Center | 1,455 | $244,133 | $74,465 |
| 99 | Central Hyde Park | 1,789 | $335,650 | $103,888 |
| 100 | Central Business District-Downtown | 4,364 | $191,233 | $52,423 |
| 101 | Red Ridge South | 2,970 | $227,900 | $46,227 |
| 102 | Unity Ridge | 1,150 | $333,300 | $93,542 |
| 103 | Plaza Westport | 1,252 | $271,150 | $86,275 |
| 104 | West Waldo | 1,414 | $180,700 | $67,534 |
| 105 | Royal Oaks | 1,622 | $177,900 | $61,198 |
| 106 | Country Lane Estates | 2,053 | $229,300 | $48,938 |
| 107 | Oak Meyer Gardens | 1,513 | $259,400 | $51,154 |
| 108 | Tower Homes | 5,669 | $176,600 | $78,097 |
| 109 | Western 49-63 | 4,461 | $273,525 | $71,579 |
| 110 | West Plaza | 4,278 | $211,660 | $71,537 |
| 111 | Volker | 3,765 | $281,675 | $65,231 |
| 112 | Ward Parkway | 2,577 | $213,267 | $80,602 |
| 113 | Morningside | 1,534 | $317,250 | $115,357 |
| 114 | River Market | 2,247 | $438,500 | $76,806 |
| 115 | Westwood | 800 | $281,400 | $103,164 |
| 116 | South Plaza | 2,747 | $414,133 | $75,496 |