$400,433Average Value$180Average Price per Sq Ft7Homes 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.”
Hospital Hill is located next to the Longfellow neighborhood.
The Longfellow neighborhood sits just 2 miles from downtown Kansas City.
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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.
Longfellow residents enjoy spacious porches in their American Foursquare homes.
Historic rows of homes can be found in the Longfellow 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.
Garcia Elementary serves young Longfellow residents and earns a C-minus grade from Niche.
Central High School earns a C-minus Niche grade and awards students with perfect attendance.
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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.
The National World War I Museum and Memorial opened in 1926 and impresses visitors worldwide.
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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.
Sister Anne's Records & Coffee brings the energy for those in Longfellow looking for vinyl.
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.
The Kansas City International Airport is 20 miles north of the Longfellow neighborhood.
Public transportation is available just down the street from the neighborhood.
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
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to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
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
7
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
7
4
Larceny
6
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Longfellow Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Longfellow, Kansas City sell after 57 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Longfellow, Kansas City over the last 12 months is $415,000, up 13% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Introducing an exceptional 1.062-acre multifamily development opportunity in the popular Longfellow neighborhood.With R-2.5 zoning existing, larger multifamily properties immediately adjacent suggest potential flexibility. This property is strategically located just half a mile from Main Street and the near complete streetcar expansion. Half a mile to the north is Hospital Hill, including Truman
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
Incredible opportunity to personalize and build equity in this spacious home in prime central location near hospital hill, Crown Center. UMKC. NEW ROOF 10/25 with transferrable warranty!! Foundation work just completed 12/25. With many original and historic features and a generous floor plan, this property offers large rooms and ample space to provide you the flexibility to create your vision.
---- SCHEDULE A SHOWING ONLINE: ----Check out this charming building off the Union Hill area of Kansas City! Minutes from Westport, Kansas City Art Institute, and Union Station.The building is centrally located and close to public transportation, highway access, and walkable attractions. Most errands and exploration can be done on foot! Lovely renovated studios and 1 bedrooms
Discover the perfect blend of historic charm and modern convenience at 2805 Charlotte Street, a beautifully renovated 6-plex located in the heart of the scenic Longfellow Neighborhood. With easy access to major highways and just minutes from hospitals, universities, Crown Center, the Plaza, Westport, and more, this is the ideal location for those seeking both tranquility and convenience.
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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.
