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Longfellow

Longfellow

$410,188 Average Value
$286 Average Price per Sq Ft
5 Homes For Sale

Longfellow is a former LGBTQ hub near downtown Kansas City’s most popular spots

Kansas Citians often referred to Longfellow as “Womontown” throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, when LGBTQ women purchased almost 50 properties in the neighborhood, creating a safe haven during a time of housing discrimination. Today, it’s less common to hear the nickname, but pride flags still fly from the neighborhood’s Victorian-era mansions. Small rows of red-brick Italianate-style storefronts hold eclectic breakfast nooks and lively bars. Locals can walk to numerous Kansas City landmarks, like the Liberty Memorial or Hospital Hill, a medical hub and location of the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine. “This is the up-and-coming area right now. Twenty years ago, it was nothing but houses, but now there are a ton of places to shop and eat,” says Doug Knetzer, a real estate agent with Compass Realty Group, who has sold several homes in the area. “Longfellow is about as downtown as it gets for a neighborhood with single-family houses.”
Amethyst Place is a long-term supportive housing program in Longfellow.
Amethyst Place is a long-term supportive housing program in Longfellow.
The Kauffman Center for Performing Arts venue is a Longfellow favorite for excellent events.
The Kauffman Center for Performing Arts venue is a Longfellow favorite for excellent events.
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A rental-heavy enclave with turn-of-the-century mansions and contemporary new builds

Longfellow’s sidewalk-lined streets are brimming with homes from the early 1900s. Pastel-painted Queen Anne mansions sit on 10,000-square-foot lots enclosed by hedges or wrought iron fences. Concrete staircases lead to five-bedroom American Foursquares with stone porches and detached one-car garages. Though rarer, shed styles and contemporary builds have started popping up in the last five years. Buying here costs between $400,000 and $800,000, a range higher than a Kansas City home’s average $250,000 selling price. Comprised of 71% renters, the neighborhood has multi-family properties from the turn of the century, and a few townhouse complexes were built throughout the early 2000s. “Most of the renters are people who actually work in the hospitals, not UMKC students,” says Knetzer. Residents should be advised that the area holds a 7 out of 10 crime score on the CAP Index.
Queen Anne-style homes can be found in the Longfellow neighborhood.
Queen Anne-style homes can be found in the Longfellow neighborhood.
New builds are starting to crop up in the neighborhood.
New builds are starting to crop up in the neighborhood.
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Kansas City Public Schools and proximity to Hospital Hill

Though Longfellow Elementary closed at the end of the 2023 school year due to lack of funding, children here can now attend Garcia Elementary, which receives a C-minus grade from Niche. Next, students may continue to D-plus-rated Central Middle and Central High, earning a C-minus. The high school offers a Graduation Recognition Incentive Program, rewarding $300 to students with 100% attendance at the end of the year.

Home to the University Health Truman Medical Center and the Children’s Mercy Emergency Room, the aptly named Hospital Hill district is immediately north of Longfellow. The UMKC School of Medicine is also here, where future doctors enter a 6-year program simultaneously earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
Hospital Hill is located next to the Longfellow neighborhood.
Hospital Hill is located next to the Longfellow neighborhood.
Primitivo Garcia Elementary School is located adjacent to Jarboe Park.
Primitivo Garcia Elementary School is located adjacent to Jarboe Park.
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Locals can enjoy Christmas at Crown Center or walk to the World War I Museum

At Sheila Kemper Dietrich Park, kids can climb the mint green sea serpent poking out of the rubber terrain or conquer imaginary high waters in the sailboat. A quick stroll through Longfellow Park’s wide-open green space leads to Crown Center, an entertainment hub and the Hallmark Cards headquarters. Inside, escalators connect two floors, where visitors can eat handmade fudge from Chip’s Chocolate Factory or buy a new pack of crayons at the Crayola Store. Blacktip reef sharks and lion’s mane jellyfish swim through the Sea Life Aquarium. A scale-model Arrowhead Stadium and other miniature Kansas City landmarks are at Legoland. Christmas is when Crown Center comes alive. A 100-foot-tall Douglas-fir tree towers over the ice rink in the concrete square out front, where life-sized nutcrackers stand, and children run around the gingerbread village, complete with dark green and candy cane-striped wooden playhouses.

Locals can also walk to Penn Valley Park, a 176-acre stretch with an asphalt sidewalk network weaving between other Kansas City destinations like the Money Museum in the Federal Reserve Bank. Boasting Egyptian Revival-style architecture, the nation’s first-ever World War I Museum is on top of Memorial Hill. Propaganda posters, life-size trenches and tanks fill the interior, and the outdoor observation deck features massive Assyrian sphinx statues and the 217-foot-tall Liberty Memorial Tower for panoramic views of the Kansas City skyline.
Crown Center offers shopping and entertainment to the Longfellow neighborhood.
Crown Center offers shopping and entertainment to the Longfellow neighborhood.
Penn Valley Park is a great place to take a stoll.
Penn Valley Park is a great place to take a stoll.
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The Longfellow Community Garden was established in 2015.
The Longfellow Community Garden was established in 2015.

An urban farm maintained by the Longfellow Community Association

On Saturday mornings, neighbors volunteer at Longfellow Farm, a quarter-acre sprawl filled with rows of carrot bushels, lettuce heads and eggplant vines. Those part of the Longfellow Community Association can grab produce from the pantry or sit under the greenery-covered gazebos to enjoy a freshly picked apple. The group provides several other services integral to Longfellow, from the Fall Festival Potluck held at the farm to the virtual community meetings on the first Monday of every month.

Early morning cafes within walking distance and barhopping at Martini Corner

From vintage records at Sister Anne’s to monsteras in Virgil’s Plant Shop, Longfellow is sprinkled with numerous quirky establishments. Retro diner stools line the brass bar at Succotash, where patrons can build their own egg scrambles. The Filling Station is a hang-out for UMKC medical students, offering cold-pressed juice and an airy patio to study on. Yard games dot the outdoor bar at The Brick House on 31st Street, also home to Tower Tavern, a sports pub serving American grub. “We call this bar area Martini Corner. People barhop on the block every weekend,” says Knetzer. Marsh’s Sun Fresh Market and Nature’s Own Health Market are only 3 miles south in Westport. Fifteen blocks of familiar retailers, like Nike and Apple, are in Spanish-style storefronts on the Country Club Plaza, just 4 miles in the same direction.
The french toast at Succotash has been quoted as magical within the Longfellow neighborhood.
The french toast at Succotash has been quoted as magical within the Longfellow neighborhood.
Martini Corner is a fun spot to bar hop day or night for Longfellow residents.
Martini Corner is a fun spot to bar hop day or night for Longfellow residents.
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Easy access to Interstate 71 and RideKC bus stops

While Knetzer describes Longfellow as undeniably walkable, locals still have to drive to some Kansas City locations. Interstate 71 is east of the neighborhood, and a 20-mile drive north on the highway leads to the Kansas City International Airport. All following the Troost MAX Route northbound through downtown, numerous RideKC bus stops are located throughout the area.
Public transportation is available just down the street from the neighborhood.
Public transportation is available just down the street from the neighborhood.
Longfellow neighborhood id at the prime location just 2 miles from downtown Kansas City.
Longfellow neighborhood id at the prime location just 2 miles from downtown Kansas City.
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Meghan Baker
Written By
Meghan Baker
Max Gilmore
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Max Gilmore

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Lainey Puglisi, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Kansas City International

31 min drive

Bus

On 31st & Campbell Westbound

Bus

On 27th & Campbell Eb

Bus

On Troost & 29th Southbound

Bus

On 27th & Holmes Westbound

Bus

On Gillham & 31st Northbound

Bus

On 31st & Holmes Westbound

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Longfellow US
Homicide 5 4
Sexual Assault 6 4
Assault with Weapon 6 4
Robbery 6 4
Burglary 6 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 6 4
Larceny 7 4
Crime Score 6 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Longfellow Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$376,770
Median Sale Price
$245,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$535,885
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$205,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$245,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
4%
Last 12 months Home Sales
6
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$286

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
368
Number of Homes for Sale
5
Median Year Built
1908
Months of Supply
10.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,187
Above the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,450
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,357
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,156
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
5,227

Open Houses

  • Saturday, Aug 2
    12 - 2pm

    2930 Campbell St, Kansas City, MO 64109

    $825,000

    • 5 Beds
    • 4.5 Baths
    • 5,180 Sq Ft
    • 2930 Campbell St

    Exquisite 1908 Turn-of-the-Century Home – Restored & Remodeled. Perched on a charming corner terrace, this meticulously restored 3-story home blends historic grandeur with modern sophistication. Built in 1908, this home offers an extraordinary living experience with impeccable craftsmanship and timeless design. From the moment you step onto the 3⁄4 wraparound porch, you’ll appreciate the home’s

    Veronica Jaster ReeceNichols - Country Club Plaza

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Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Lainey Puglisi, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
2,134
Median Age
35
Population Density
11 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14.1%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$75,318
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$88,816

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
89.3%
College Graduates
55%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
21.5%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.8%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
38''
Average Winter Low Temperature
23°F
Average Summer High Temperature
90°F
Annual Snowfall
24''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

65 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

70 / 100

Good Transit

Transit Score®

59 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Longfellow