MFE DOZEN:
Raleigh, N.C. (January) A not-so-sleepy Southern town
Houston (February) Lone Star success
Huntsville, Ala. (March) A military movement
Lexington/Louisville, Ky. (April) No blues in the Bluegrass State
Seattle (May) A city on the rise
Orlando (June) A heated market
Kansas City (July) Feeling Midwestern momentum
Colorado Springs, Colo. (August) Rocky Mountain growth
Philadelphia (September) Independent streak
Columbus, Ohio (October) The heart of it all
San Antonio (November) Big-time development
San Francisco (December) Bayside building sets sail
FAST FACTS Considering Kansas City?
Here’s what you need to know:
- Population: 1.95 million
- Occupancy: 92.5%
- Mediam Age: 34.1
- Median Household Income: $51,3000
- Average Rent: $716
Unemployment: 5.5% NOTABLE: Kansas City has more fountains than any other U.S. city and ranks second to Rome in the worldwide count. Opened in 1923, Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza is considered the nation’s first suburban shopping center. And the city bills itself as the world’s barbecue capital—the metro area has more than 100 restaurants specializing in the dish.