8 Reasons to Retire in Kansas City, MO
When you’re searching for the perfect home base for your dream retirement, there are a lot of factors to consider, from cost of living and health care to entertainment and culture. Would it surprise you to learn that Kansas City checks all the boxes? Named one of “The 23 Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2023” by Condé Nast Traveler, KC is more than a great place to visit. It’s got all the qualities you need to create a vibrant retirement lifestyle. Here are 8 reasons you should retire in Kansas City, MO:
#1 Top-Quality Health Care
Regular checkups are key for healthy aging, leading to early diagnosis of chronic illness, reduced risk factors for disease, and improved feelings of wellness. Living near high-quality specialists helps, too. According to U.S. News & World Report, Kansas City hospitals are highly ranked nationally in numerous specialties, including Cancer; Cardiology and Heart Surgery; Diabetes and Endocrinology; Ear, Nose and Throat; Geriatrics; Neurology and Neurosurgery; Pulmonology and Lung Surgery; and Urology.
#2 Advantageous Cost of Living
The cost of living in Kansas City, MO, is 2.5% lower than the national average, so it’s easier to enjoy a fulfilling retirement lifestyle, while making sure your retirement dollars last. In fact, the KC area is the 11th most affordable in the nation for older adults seeking a comfortable retirement, with a $1 million nest egg lasting an estimated 21 years, 3 months, and 15 days.
#3 Winning Sports Teams
Sports fans will find plenty to cheer about with KC’s championship-winning hometown teams. The Chiefs are three-time Super Bowl winners and the Kansas City Royals have won four American League pennants and two World Series championships. The city also boasts a major league soccer team, Sporting Kansas City, and a minor league professional ice hockey team, the Kansas City Mavericks.
#4 A Vibrant Cultural Scene
Who wouldn’t want to live in the city that features in songs by The Beatles, Fats Domino, The Shangri-Las, and Rodgers and Hammerstein? In fact, music has a storied history in Kansas City, where a unique improvisational style of jazz was developed in the 1920s and ‘30s, making KC a mecca for music lovers and earning it the nickname “The Paris of the Plains.” You can still enjoy a vibrant live music scene, or explore the sights and sounds of jazz at the American Jazz Museum.
In fact, the rich culture in Kansas City has something for everyone. History buffs will want to see the world’s most comprehensive collection of WWI artifacts at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Gardeners will find inspiration at Powell Gardens and Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Grandparents can treat their grandkids to a day at the Kansas City Zoo. Art lovers will be drawn to Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
#5 Four Seasons
Love the variety to be found in the change of seasons? Retire in Kansas City, MO, and you can enjoy spring blossoms, summer sunshine, autumn color, and winter flurries. But because Kansas City is in the center of the country, you avoid temperature extremes found in other cities. Average summer highs are in the 80s, with warm days and mild nights, while winter brings average lows in the 20s and approximately 15 inches of snow.
#6 World-Famous Barbecue
Henry Perry, the barbecue king, is the forefather of KC-style barbecue. In 1908, he started selling a variety of meats slow-cooked over a fire made with hickory and oak wood. His process drew customers from out of state and put Kansas City on the map as one of the barbecue capitals of the world. Savor Perry’s legacy in the many award-winning barbecue joints around the city, and attend the world series of barbecue or other festivals to get your fill of delicious smoked meats.
#7 Easy Travel
With a new 39-gate terminal and a prime location in the exact center of the country, Kansas City is the ideal home base for avid travelers. You can fly to either coast in less than three hours. If weekend road trips are more your style, a few hours’ drive will get you to fun, scenic destinations in Missouri, such as Lake of the Ozarks, Branson, Mark Twain National Forest, and Ha Ha Tonka State Park.
#8 John Knox Village
What’s better than retirement in a vibrant city like Kansas City, MO? Retirement in an exceptional senior living community in a vibrant city like KC! John Knox Village is a highly respected community in Kansas City, providing a maintenance-free lifestyle and a wide array of services and amenities that make it easy for you to make the most of each and every day. Contact us to learn more about independent living at John Knox Village, or to schedule a visit.