The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Kansas City For 2021


We used data and science to identify the neighborhoods in Kansas City that are the real pits.

Sam Sparkes, RoadSnacks
December 30, 2020 - 100,157 views
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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.
Worst Neighborhoods In Kansas City
Source: Wikipedia User | CC-BY-SA-3.0

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

1. South Blue Valley

Overall SnackAbility

1
/10

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

2. North Blue Ridge

Overall SnackAbility

1
/10

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

3. Northest Industrial District

Overall SnackAbility

1
/10

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

4. Marlborough East

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

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

5. East Blue Valley

Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

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

6. Blue Valley Industrial

Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

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

7. Knoches Park

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

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

8. East Community Team North

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

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

9. Norble And Gregory Ridge

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

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

10. Central Blue Valley-Park Tower Grade

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

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

 Rankings, Worst