Wile Lawrence is a great college town experience (from my own experience) I have to wonder what it would be like to live there if you're not a student. I do know that housing has exploded on the W. side, and there are indeed some really beautiful, nice areas. It has a quaint small town feel in some areas.

As far as schools go, the Shawnee Mission, Olathe & Blue Valley School Districts are or have all been in the top nationwide. They are all excellent (perhaps Shawnee Mission has seen it's best days, and is declining a bit.) My children go to Olathe schools, I attended Shawnee Mission Schools, all 6A schools. They are all in Johnson County, comprising Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee, Mission, Merriam, Leawood, Fairway, etc. There are many very nice areas to live in all of these towns which make up the Kansas City Metro area/suburbia on the Kansas side of the state line between KS and Missiouri. He should come visit and drive through all of these areas to get a feel for them.

Good thing there are no gay people on the west coast!

Kansas City is a very nice town, with lots of great suburbs. I'd recommend it over Lawrence, Wichita, or other separate towns. More choices for raising a family in K.C., I think.
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Well we can always send Fred Phelps over to Lawrence and have him chase those hand holding fags out of town. Gays in Lawrence? So hard to believe isn't it?

I also agree that Johnson County would be a good choice. The Blue Valley Schools are terrific and Shawnee Mission East is highly regarded. I'd stay away from Kansas City, KS.. It does seem that some parts of Shawnee have seen better days but there are still some newer areas. Johnson County has a lot to offer. When we lived there our biggest complaints were personal and real estate taxes. They were outrageous. Even with that said, if I could, I'd move back there in a heartbeat!! Look at the school websites to get boundary information and what the districts have to offer both educationally and in extra curricular activities.

I am looking for a small town to move to and I am wondering where in Kansas would be a great place to live where the rent is not so high. I am in a small town but it is growing into a big city too quick.

Several Kansas communities offer free lots, if you want to build a home.

Simmer, look into Jefferson County.
Between Lawrence and Topeka with KC not far away. Lake Perry is there or recreation and lots of small towns.
http://www.jfcountyks.com/

Seriously, for a good neighborhood with good schools, Johnson County is where you want to look. Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley and I hear Olathe is really coming into its own. Lawrence townies are nothing like the student population. There are many subdivisions going up on the west side but their public schools are not recognized as anything special. Being in Jo. Co. gives you access to all KC has to offer for a 15 to 20 min. drive, plus all the suburbs have to offer.

Go for Derby

Well, the initial question dates from 5 years ago. I was answering Simmer 36's
question about small towns from just a few posts upthread.

What about the best places for cultural differences? I'm white, husband and kids Native American. Looking to relocate with my job next year to Kansas. I'm orginally from Oklahoma...so know how Okies can be with brown skin. Whats it like in Kansas? And BTW..I dont have issues with anyone holding hands

I can't speak for the rest of Kansas, but there are many biracial families in Johnson County (suburban Kansas City, MO).

I'd move to Lawrence myself. It's the only place I'd ever consider living in the entire state, and I'm from there originally. BTW: Lawrence does have Haskell Indian Nations University, so it's not at all unusual to find Native Americans there.