Small town living in a centrally located KC suburb
Not every city has professional sports games within minutes of its residents' front doors. But in Raytown, a 3-mile stroll down a paved trail leads to the home of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals. Raytown offers more than cheering on Kansas City sports: this small Jackson County city has a lower cost of living than many other places in the Kansas City metro area. Raytown homes are about $100,000 cheaper than the average Kansas City home, according to Glenda Sciara, a Realtor with Chartwell Realty who grew up in Raytown.
While the population has been declining at about 1% per year for the last several years, it totaled about 29,000 in 2023. "Raytown is an older, affordable community, but the location is really the highlight. It's central to everywhere. It’s just 10 minutes from KC's Century Club Plaza and convenient when heading over to Kansas or downtown," Sciara says. With State Route 350 running across the middle of the city, Raytown offers a quiet lifestyle and easy access to services just outside of Missouri’s most populous urban area.
Raytown has tons of shopping and restaurants to choose from.
Raytown is just 3-mile stroll down a paved trail that lead to the home of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals stadiums.
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Jackson County homes in an affordable market
Homes in Raytown are known for their affordability compared to both the Jackson County and U.S. averages. The median Raytown home sale price in 2024 is about $220,000, representing a slight increase from the year before. "With the amount of space you get for that price, it's a great place for people starting a family," Sciara says. Developed through the 1950s and '60s, most properties feature three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an attached garage.
Designs range from midcentury ranch-styles and split-levels from the 1970s in Woodson Estates to newly constructed two-stories in East Swope Highlands neighborhood. A lakeside house in Raytown is also more affordable than in many other areas. For example, it’s possible to get a four-bedroom home with a dock and waterfront lot for around $260,000 in the quiet Wildwood Lake community.
Traditional style homes in Raytown often have well-manicured lawns and may sit next to a small lake or pond.
Split-level homes built in the 1970s until now are common in Raytown.
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Rock Island Trail and a moderate climate
Raytown’s Parks and Recreation Department oversees six different parks, from small neighborhood greens with playgrounds, tennis courts or a skate park to the 1,800-acre Little Blue Trace County Park. Joggers and cyclists can follow the Little Blue River on the park's paved bicycle trail or try the Rock Island Trail stretching 3 miles to the Royals and Chiefs’ stadium complex in Kansas City.
When it comes to weather, Raytown experiences four seasons. Locals are accustomed to the cold winters and hot summers that are typical of the Midwest. According to Augurisk.com, Raytown is at moderate risk for storms, including occasional hail and tornadoes.
For biking or walking, Rock Island Trail runs through Raytown stretching over 200 miles.
Little Blue Trace County Park has 1,800 acres of green space & a playground near Raytown.
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Local gatherings hosted by the city of Raytown
Raytown's sense of tight-knit, suburban community is solidified by regular free events hosted by the city. "I always enjoyed coming together for community events like the Halloween Haunt in Kenagy Park," Sciara says. In the summer, locals gather for summertime concerts on the lawn near 62nd Street and Raytown Road. Handmade crafts from local vendors and samples of home cooking can be found at the May Festival & Backyard BBQ Competition.
Blue Parkway doubles as a retail center
Blue Parkway is a center for shopping and dining in Raytown, putting well-known restaurants, coffee chains and Walmart within a few minutes of most residents' homes. Freddy's serves frozen custard, milkshakes and steakburgers. Raytown Trafficway is lined with locally owned Mexican restaurants and Crane Brewing, a microbrewery that has trivia night on Mondays.
For more options, Country Club Plaza just 8 miles down State Route 350. The largest shopping center in Kansas City, The Plaza features high-end shopping and fine dining restaurants like Fogo de Chão.
Grab some appetizers, taste a flight of different beers & listen to live music at Crane Brewing in Raytown.
Country Club Plaza just 8 miles down State Route 350 and is the largest shopping center in Kansas City featuring high-end shopping and fine dining options.
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Raytown C-II School District is the city’s largest employer
The city is covered by the Raytown C-II School District, which includes 21 different schools and earns a C-plus rating on Niche. It’s ranked as the third-most diverse district in Missouri. Raytown C-II serves over 8,000 students and is the city’s largest employer. The district also boasts a relatively low student-to-teacher ratio of 12 to 1.
Raytown South High School has been in Raytown since 1961.
Blue Ridge Elementary School teaches students in pre-k through fifth grade in Raytown.
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Commuter times and driving on Blue Parkway
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Raytown is a car-dependent area, with most commuters driving about 23 minutes to work. State Route 350, also known as Blue Parkway, runs diagonally through Raytown and toward Kansas City. Interstates 435 and 70 also lead into Kansas City, dropping the 10-mile commute into Downtown to just 17 minutes. Some traffic congestion can be expected at the intersection of Raytown Road and Blue Parkway.
In addition to several bike lanes, five bus routes serve the city, including the Raytown Metro Flex, a reservation-based service. The nearest hospital is University Health Lakewood Medical Center, 5 miles southeast. Kansas City International Airport is about 35 miles northwest. It offers nonstop flights to Mexico, Jamaica, Canada and several domestic destinations.
Important to know
According to FBI Crime Data Explorer, Raytown's violent and property crime rates are both more than double the national average. Since 2014, rates for property crimes have slightly decreased, while rates of violent crimes have increased.
To prevent crime before it starts, STRIVIN’, which stands for Striving to Reduce Violence in Neighborhoods, is an app that connects individuals to community resources. Anyone can use it to get referrals for timely and direct help, whether it relates to food assistance, unemployment or other social service needs.
Denise discovered a passion for real estate when she started buying investment property. Buying and/or selling a home is an important milestone in a person's life and it brings her great joy to help people find that perfect home. Armed with a wealth of experience in advertising and marketing, she can creatively market your home to prospective buyers. And if you're a buyer, she knows how to help you find that house you will love! Denise's husband, Scott, is also a realtor and they work together to bring you the tools you need to make the best real estate decisions. Her promise to you is to always be there for you...buyer, seller or investor...every step of the way and to bring added value to your real estate experience. Denise is a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and is a Certified Real Estate Negotiator, as well as a Senior Real Estate Specialist and Accredited Buyers Representative.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
