Editor’s Note: This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Don’t freak out we updated this article for 2021. This is our fifth time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Kansas City.
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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 the country thanks in part to a strong economy and tons of entertainment, it's not all rainbows and sunshine in Kansas City. Some neighborhoods aren't as great as others.
So the question arises, which Kansas City neighborhoods are the worst, and which are the best?
Today, we'll use science and data 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 Armour Hills ranks way above the rest.
We examined 131 of Kansas City's neighborhoods to find out the worst places to live. These places don't quite measure up to Kansas City's reputation.
So what's the worst neighborhood to live in Kansas City for 2021? 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.
Once you're done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from worst to best. Looking for places to avoid outside of the city? You can also check out the worst suburbs of Kansas City.
For more Missouri reading, check out:
The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Kansas City For 2021
Population: 1,992
Rank Last Year: 2 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $25,500 (4th worst)
Median Income: $22,281 (16th worst)
More on South Blue Valley: Data
Population: 71
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $45,400 (16th worst)
Median Income: $21,078 (10th worst)
More on North Blue Ridge: Data
Population: 157
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $18,000 (worst)
Median Income: $26,500 (32nd worst)
More on Northest Industrial District: Data
Population: 1,265
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 2)
Median Home Value: $46,600 (19th worst)
Median Income: $21,160 (11th worst)
More on Marlborough East: Data
Population: 1,595
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 3)
Median Home Value: $47,650 (20th worst)
Median Income: $24,536 (25th worst)
More on East Blue Valley: Data
Population: 964
Rank Last Year: 9 (Up 3)
Median Home Value: $36,500 (8th worst)
Median Income: $24,398 (24th worst)
More on Blue Valley Industrial: Data
Population: 1,499
Rank Last Year: 7 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $33,833 (6th worst)
Median Income: $22,604 (17th worst)
More on Knoches Park: Data
Population: 2,816
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 3)
Median Home Value: $49,200 (24th worst)
Median Income: $23,342 (2worst)
More on East Community Team North: Data
Population: 1,704
Rank Last Year: 13 (Up 4)
Median Home Value: $37,400 (9th worst)
Median Income: $35,777 (6worst)
More on Norble And Gregory Ridge: Data
Population: 1,419
Rank Last Year: 17 (Up 7)
Median Home Value: $51,750 (29th worst)
Median Income: $14,866 (2nd worst)
More on Central Blue Valley-Park Tower Grade: Data
How we determined the worst Kansas City hoods in 2021
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 threw the following criteria into this analysis in order to get the best, most complete results possible. We used this set of criteria for each neighborhood in Kansas City:
- 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)
- High crime (Estimated)
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 criteria into a "Worst Score".
The neighborhood with the lowest "Worst Score" ranks as the worst neighborhood of Kansas City.
Read on below to learn more about these terrible places around Kansas City to live. Or skip to the end to see the list of all 131 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.
This list is a scientific analysis based on real data and is completely unbiased. Hold on to your pants.
The 'hoods around Kansas City that are really hoods
Well there you have it -- the worst of the neighborhoods in Kansas City with South Blue Valley landing at the bottom of the pack.
As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Kansas City aren't all bad. Armour Hills takes the cake as the best place to live in Kansas City.
We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.
For more Missouri reading, check out:
Where Are The Worst Neighborhoods To Live In Kansas City For 2021?
Rank |
Neighborhood |
Population |
Home Value |
Median Income |
1 |
South Blue Valley |
1,992 |
$25,500 |
$22,281 |
2 |
North Blue Ridge |
71 |
$45,400 |
$21,078 |
3 |
Northest Industrial District |
157 |
$18,000 |
$26,500 |
4 |
Marlborough East |
1,265 |
$46,600 |
$21,160 |
5 |
East Blue Valley |
1,595 |
$47,650 |
$24,536 |
6 |
Blue Valley Industrial |
964 |
$36,500 |
$24,398 |
7 |
Knoches Park |
1,499 |
$33,833 |
$22,604 |
8 |
East Community Team North |
2,816 |
$49,200 |
$23,342 |
9 |
Norble And Gregory Ridge |
1,704 |
$37,400 |
$35,777 |
10 |
Central Blue Valley-Park Tower Grade |
1,419 |
$51,750 |
$14,866 |
11 |
Ivanhoe Southeast |
1,528 |
$42,750 |
$21,210 |
12 |
Hidden Valley |
933 |
$86,300 |
$24,615 |
13 |
Eastwood Hills West |
1,396 |
$66,950 |
$33,166 |
14 |
Key Coalition |
1,208 |
$71,500 |
$14,444 |
15 |
Ivanhoe Northeast |
761 |
$50,300 |
$25,588 |
16 |
Santa Fe |
2,168 |
$43,525 |
$23,036 |
17 |
East Community Team South |
2,736 |
$24,860 |
$20,194 |
18 |
Sheffield |
2,161 |
$48,050 |
$17,559 |
19 |
Pendleton Heights |
2,880 |
$95,775 |
$18,347 |
20 |
Marlborough Heights-Marlborough Pride |
2,591 |
$33,080 |
$26,330 |
21 |
East Sqope Highlands |
833 |
$86,500 |
$29,668 |
22 |
Legacy East |
2,010 |
$46,500 |
$29,784 |
23 |
Ingleside |
948 |
$52,525 |
$30,750 |
24 |
Manheim Park |
1,508 |
$52,650 |
$25,860 |
25 |
Lewis Heights |
712 |
$93,900 |
$37,159 |
26 |
Washington Weatley |
1,837 |
$59,333 |
$27,573 |
27 |
Self Help Neighborhood Council |
1,805 |
$49,800 |
$20,620 |
28 |
Riss Lake |
2,524 |
$93,600 |
$27,335 |
29 |
Blue Hills |
5,148 |
$59,229 |
$31,826 |
30 |
Linwood Homeowner-Ivanhoe |
1,346 |
$56,500 |
$21,750 |
31 |
North Town Fork Creek |
2,904 |
$61,040 |
$27,828 |
32 |
Mount Hope |
326 |
$38,000 |
$16,500 |
33 |
Vineyard Northwest |
797 |
$42,700 |
$19,862 |
34 |
Vineyard |
2,003 |
$59,000 |
$27,635 |
35 |
Indipendence Plaza |
2,338 |
$68,020 |
$24,060 |
36 |
Swope Parkway-Elmwood |
2,541 |
$67,933 |
$31,053 |
37 |
Brown Estates |
890 |
$84,700 |
$41,351 |
38 |
Lykins |
3,734 |
$40,412 |
$21,625 |
39 |
Oakwood |
1,634 |
$85,500 |
$26,012 |
40 |
Country Valley-Hawthorn Square |
340 |
$158,500 |
$45,549 |
41 |
Westside South |
1,302 |
$106,033 |
$40,769 |
42 |
Hickman Mills |
3,570 |
$88,900 |
$37,115 |
43 |
Palestine West And Oak Park Northeast |
563 |
$45,200 |
$41,050 |
44 |
Stanford Estates |
1,954 |
$82,350 |
$43,164 |
45 |
Oldham Farms |
1,012 |
$66,700 |
$39,920 |
46 |
Oak Park Northwest |
2,913 |
$48,300 |
$24,219 |
47 |
Oak Park Southwest |
2,096 |
$19,150 |
$33,735 |
48 |
Richards Gebaur |
1,338 |
$97,833 |
$32,605 |
49 |
Oak Park Southeast |
1,754 |
$49,800 |
$34,078 |
50 |
Beacon Hills |
675 |
$111,850 |
$32,104 |
51 |
Loma Vista |
1,897 |
$78,650 |
$31,312 |
52 |
Palestine East |
1,304 |
$34,100 |
$24,810 |
53 |
Ruskin Hills |
2,775 |
$66,650 |
$37,740 |
54 |
West Blue Valley |
2,281 |
$46,100 |
$22,986 |
55 |
Hillcrest |
1,193 |
$83,800 |
$32,350 |
56 |
Ashland Ridge |
1,348 |
$74,900 |
$30,375 |
57 |
Ruskin Heights |
4,718 |
$52,775 |
$35,841 |
58 |
Westside North |
1,466 |
$154,950 |
$31,394 |
59 |
West Blue Township |
713 |
$76,400 |
$41,159 |
60 |
Wendell Phillips |
1,485 |
$90,167 |
$20,620 |
61 |
Cunningham Ridge |
280 |
$76,400 |
$41,159 |
62 |
South Town Fork Creek |
1,262 |
$55,200 |
$32,522 |
63 |
Sterling Acres |
912 |
$105,800 |
$46,125 |
64 |
East Meyer |
4,625 |
$76,560 |
$35,925 |
65 |
Foxtown East |
901 |
$48,400 |
$42,372 |
66 |
Broadway Gillham |
898 |
$103,850 |
$29,974 |
67 |
Sarritt Point |
3,592 |
$66,083 |
$29,106 |
68 |
Bleheim Square-Research Hospital |
1,652 |
$66,000 |
$23,264 |
69 |
Eastwood Hill East |
3,732 |
$73,975 |
$35,776 |
70 |
South India Mound |
4,007 |
$55,220 |
$30,911 |
71 |
Citadel |
1,514 |
$90,350 |
$41,866 |
72 |
Hickman Mills South |
1,596 |
$74,100 |
$42,446 |
73 |
Linden Hills And Indian Heights |
2,305 |
$124,967 |
$48,461 |
74 |
Swope Park Campus |
1,527 |
$58,650 |
$29,629 |
75 |
Hanover Place |
2,914 |
$88,133 |
$30,502 |
76 |
Fairlane |
5,116 |
$85,875 |
$46,617 |
77 |
North India Mound |
4,849 |
$50,683 |
$35,163 |
78 |
Bonne Hills |
1,863 |
$104,833 |
$49,970 |
79 |
Santa Fe Hills |
2,175 |
$72,133 |
$43,164 |
80 |
Park Farms |
3,487 |
$98,850 |
$43,396 |
81 |
Squier Park |
897 |
$143,200 |
$44,792 |
82 |
Martin City |
1,046 |
$188,200 |
$48,989 |
83 |
North Hyde Park |
1,649 |
$164,900 |
$21,453 |
84 |
Eastern 49-63 |
3,124 |
$106,033 |
$39,164 |
85 |
Little Blue Valley |
4,414 |
$181,600 |
$71,172 |
86 |
South Hyde Park |
1,981 |
$139,000 |
$40,098 |
87 |
Willow Creek |
3,235 |
$75,567 |
$37,555 |
88 |
Western Hills |
1,837 |
$133,550 |
$52,030 |
89 |
Plaza Westport |
1,071 |
$182,150 |
$48,530 |
90 |
Robandee South |
1,846 |
$83,800 |
$43,036 |
91 |
Old Westport |
964 |
$181,500 |
$42,910 |
92 |
Bannister Ares |
1,437 |
$112,200 |
$50,651 |
93 |
Stayton Meadows |
2,471 |
$87,533 |
$50,858 |
94 |
Royal Oaks |
1,691 |
$147,200 |
$44,514 |
95 |
Fairwood And Robandee |
4,215 |
$71,000 |
$41,973 |
96 |
Kirkside |
1,722 |
$85,700 |
$35,417 |
97 |
Longfellow |
2,007 |
$172,850 |
$29,178 |
98 |
Central Hyde Park |
1,317 |
$286,650 |
$72,761 |
99 |
River Market |
523 |
$228,900 |
$51,654 |
100 |
Blue Vue Hills |
1,722 |
$146,300 |
$66,875 |
101 |
Waldo Homes |
1,554 |
$116,950 |
$49,802 |
102 |
Lea Manor |
2,044 |
$150,100 |
$68,181 |
103 |
Red Ridge South |
2,757 |
$171,350 |
$43,766 |
104 |
Southmoreland |
3,638 |
$168,080 |
$42,346 |
105 |
West Waldo |
1,321 |
$138,900 |
$63,846 |
106 |
Unity Ridge |
513 |
$315,700 |
$101,023 |
107 |
Mission Lake |
3,622 |
$195,400 |
$86,398 |
108 |
Valentine |
1,163 |
$155,950 |
$40,567 |
109 |
Saint Catherine's Gardens |
2,573 |
$119,000 |
$62,102 |
110 |
Ward Parkway Plaza |
471 |
$148,100 |
$71,635 |
111 |
Highview Estates |
2,603 |
$203,567 |
$73,725 |
112 |
Blue Hills Estates |
1,520 |
$224,800 |
$53,319 |
113 |
Holmes Park |
1,247 |
$179,500 |
$60,385 |
114 |
Timber Valley |
371 |
$174,000 |
$88,198 |
115 |
Crown Center |
759 |
$200,033 |
$55,006 |
116 |
Sunset Hill |
921 |
$597,200 |
$150,641 |
117 |
Roanoke |
484 |
$356,000 |
$51,179 |
118 |
Union Hill |
865 |
$230,750 |
$58,514 |
119 |
White Oak |
2,673 |
$111,000 |
$60,611 |
120 |
Western 49-63 |
4,533 |
$225,120 |
$82,382 |
121 |
Faireway Hills |
2,302 |
$112,800 |
$64,853 |
122 |
South Plaza |
2,537 |
$343,967 |
$56,995 |
123 |
Country Lane Estates |
1,971 |
$155,100 |
$53,150 |
124 |
West Plaza |
3,939 |
$196,200 |
$60,529 |
125 |
Central Business District-Downtown |
4,364 |
$191,233 |
$52,423 |
126 |
Volker |
4,523 |
$187,420 |
$50,188 |
127 |
Westwood |
907 |
$248,700 |
$91,319 |
128 |
Morningside |
1,618 |
$255,250 |
$103,750 |
129 |
Tower Homes |
5,882 |
$167,440 |
$69,114 |
130 |
Ward Parkway |
3,722 |
$189,450 |
$81,157 |
131 |
Armour Hills |
2,422 |
$240,700 |
$103,120 |
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