10 Things You Need to Know If You’re Planning on Moving to Overland Park

With just shy of 200,000 residents, Overland Park is the second-largest city in Kansas. The family-friendly Johnson County suburb has been on numerous “Best Places to Live In” lists for decades, so it’s no surprise that more and more people, especially young families, are moving here.Before calling up a Kansas City Realtor to look at homes in Overland Park, you have to do your research first. Below, we discuss all the things you need to know before moving to Overland Park.

The Climate Is Pleasant

July is the hottest month in Overland Park, with temperatures averaging 87.9 °F. It’s one of the cooler places in the state during this time of the year, but Overland Park’s weather is at its most pleasant during May, June, and September.On the other hand, the coldest month in the area is in January, when temperatures drop to as low as 18 degrees Fahrenheit. January is also a dry month, seeing an average of 3.5 days with at least 0.4 inches of rain compared to June, which is the wettest month with 12.3 days of precipitation.Overall, Overland Park has a pleasant climate characterized by warm, wet summers and cold, dry winters.

The Neighborhood Has Everything You Need

One of the biggest considerations you have to make when relocating is the quality of the neighborhood you’re moving to. Is it safe? Is it near important facilities like hospitals, schools, and businesses?At Overland Park, the answer to all that is yes.Located in the northeastern part of Kansas, Overland Park is just 13 miles from Kansas City, making it easy to commute to a larger metropolitan area if you need to.Overland Park itself is a relatively cozy suburban city. It’s mainly residential, comprised of several neighborhoods and border towns, including Lenexa, Olathe, and Prairie Village.Some of the best neighborhoods in the city, though, are Oak Park, Pinehurst, and Regency Lake Park. There are plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks in these areas, giving them an urban-suburban mix feel.

There Are Plenty of Options for Schools

If you have a school-age child and you’re planning on moving to Overland Park, you’re in luck. The city has plenty of great public and private educational institutions, some of which are regularly ranked among the top schools in the country.Three main school districts provide the city with public education: Shawnee Mission School District, Blue Valley School District, and Olathe School District. Together, these three have 14 public high schools, including the top-ranked Shawnee Mission South High School, Blue Valley High School, and Olathe North High School.There are also over 50 private schools, including St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Holy Spirit High School. If your child is young, you have a choice of over 53 pre-schools and 38 grade schools.

The Job Market Is Diverse

If you’re moving to Overland Park for work, know that you’re picking a place with a diverse job market. It’s the headquarters of large companies, such as Sprint, Synergy Group, and Black & Veatch Engineers. Because of this, the city attracts plenty of young professionals.The local government and the Overland Park Regional Medical Center are also some of the top employers in the city.If you can’t find a job that fits your resume within Overland Park, Kansas City is less than half an hour away by car.You’ll find even more job options in the metropolitan area, and the short drive means you won’t have to deal with long hours behind the wheel after a busy day at work.

Public Transportation Is Not a Problem

If you prefer to use public transport, you have plenty of choices in Overland Park. You can get to and from the city via the I-35 and I-435, as well as Highway 69.The Kansas City International Airport is a mere 40-minute drive away if you’re flying out. The Johnson County Executive Airport is nearest to Overland Park and primarily serves private business jets and general aviation.Getting around Overland Park itself isn’t difficult. The city primarily relies on “The JO,” a local bus service. RideKC also serves the city. It’s a metro-wide bus service that provides local routes within Overland Park and the surrounding towns.

There is a Strong Local Economy

The city of Overland Park encourages residents to shop local, boosting the local economy. Every third Friday of the month, you’ll find Local Life in the city’s downtown. It’s a special day for shopping from local businesses, who then make it worthwhile with special treats, promos, and entertainment.In addition, the Overland Park Farmer’s Market is a hit among the locals and has been for over 30 years. Vendors offer local foods, farm-fresh produce, and baked goods. The Farmer’s Market is a great way to explore your new hometown and give back to the community.

The Cost of Living Won’t Break The Bank

With great neighborhoods, great schools, and a thriving local economy, you’d think it would be way too expensive to live in Overland Park, but you’d be wrong. The cost of living is considered moderate, which means people earn more compared to other cities in the Midwest.The median household income is $100,079, and the median property value is $383,829. This is considered reasonably priced compared to other local real estate markets, especially with an appreciation of 7.9%.Overall, the cost of living in Overland Park is rated 111, a little over the 100 national average. But for all the perks that this wonderful suburb brings, plenty of residents find it worth it.

You’ll Have Plenty of Things To Do

As the second-largest city in Kansas, plenty of businesses and organizations have come up with fun things to do. You can enjoy plenty of lifestyle and leisure activities from dining and shopping to art and sports in Overland Park.For art lovers, there’s plenty of free public art to behold all over town. From the 18-foot Pierced Sky sculpture made from steel, glass, and aluminum to the Hybrid Circle, a stainless steel sculpture located in the center of City Palace, stunning pieces of art surround you in Overland Park.If you want to see more pieces of art and history, the Museum at Prairiefire, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, and the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens are some of the city’s most famous attractions. If you’re more into modern conveniences, you can visit the Oak Park Mall for some shopping.Foodie tours will take you all over Overland Park and its diverse selection of restaurants offering mouthwatering dishes from a variety of cuisines. It’s a great tour to try, especially if you’re new.For entertainment, you have a choice of movie theaters, drive-in movies, and even haunted houses! And for the sporty ones in the family, you can catch a Kansas City Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium, among other options for sports entertainment in and around Overland Park.

Nature Is Beautiful

As we mentioned in the beginning, Overland Park is the largest inhibited park in the country. Naturally, its best feature is the beautiful outdoors.The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens alone cover over 300 acres of land, including almost 5 miles of hiking trails. The trails will take you through the eternally lush environmental preserve, with challenging paths of limestone bluffs.If you prefer an even more scenic route, the Indian Creek Bike and Hike Trail is 25 miles of paved paths framed by tall trees that lend shade, occasionally interrupted by soothing views of the tranquil creek.The more adventurous members of the family can experience Overland Park’s natural beauty from high up with Zip KC, a zip line adventure park, or Snow Creek, a favorite winter sports destination.It’s Consistently Named One of The Best Cities To Live InMoney’s 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2021-2022 list included Overland Park at #7. It’s the only city in the Kansas City area and in the state to make the list.The personal finance website cited Overland Park’s many outdoor attractions, low unemployment rate, and reasonable real estate prices as some of the reasons the city ranked high on the list.This is just the latest in a slew of “best places to live in” lists Overland Park ranked in over the years.Earlier in the year, this Johnson County suburb got an A-plus grade and ranked 4th on Niche’s annual Best Places to Live report. In 2020, it came in at number seven on Livability.com’s 100 Best Places to Live list.

Moving to Overland Park

Packing up your life and moving to a new place is a decision that no one should take lightly. It requires serious research so you can make sure you can live as comfortably as possible.When it comes to Kansas City real estate matters, Cami Jones has you covered.As experts in Kansas City’s residential real estate, we provide a full-service home-buying experience to all clients. So if you’re thinking of relocating to Overland Park and buying a home, get in touch and we’ll assist you from beginning to end.Call us at (913) 521-5584 or fill out our contact form to book an appointment today.