For those looking to live the prairie life but still be a part of a large city center, you can't get much closer than Kansas City, Kansas. As part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, which includes Missouri capital Kansas City across the Missouri and Kansas Rivers, the city sits as the largest in the state. With a cost of living of only 76.3 to the national average of 100, this could just be the perfect city for someone starting out on their own. The current median price for homes for sale is a mere $89,950, with the top new homes selling for just over $350,000.

KansasZip.com is here to show you all of the reasons to make the leap with a Kansas City home. We have all of the information you could possibly want to know about the city, from descriptions of the various neighborhoods to the most popular job sectors in town. Though its Missouri counterpart across the river is larger, there are many advantages to living on the Kansas side. Whether you're a film buff looking to catch a glimpse of productions going on in the city or are a frequenter of the Kansas Speedway, the is something for you here.

There are nineteen designated neighborhoods within the city and most of them have residential areas. The downtown core of the city is pretty standard with that of other major cities. There is a selection of townhouses and single-family dwellings scattered throughout streets of shops and office buildings. Those looking for a smaller community in a large city might want to look to the Argentine district. This area was once its own town, supported by a silver smeltery of the same name, and came to join Kansas City in 1908 when the smeltery closed. Though it has been a part of the big city for a hundred years now, it has held on to its distinct personality.

For those looking for a river view, there is Armourdale, which was also once its own town. This area is home to Shawnee Park and is now largely populated by Mexican American families. On the other side of the river is Rosedale, which contains the University of Kansas Medical Center and the Rosedale World War I Memorial Arch.

For those looking for a decent home in a relatively safe city, you will not have more success than in Kansas City. Housing prices are ideal and its location beside its larger namesake in an endless advantage.