In some metropolitan areas that cross two (or more) states, there is often one side of the state line that is considered more prestigous, with more affluent residents, better schools, better planning, and so on.
Of the metro areas I know of that cross provincial or state lines, the better side is considered:
Chicago: Illinois (vs Indiana / Da Region) St. Louis: Missouri (vs Illinois / East Metro) Washignton, DC: Virginia (vs Maryland and the District proper)
Kansas CIty is strange. Kansas City, Missouri is considered much nicer than Kansas City, Kansas, but the Kansas side suburbs (Overland Park, Prairie Village, Leawood, Olathe, Lenexa, etc) are considered much nicer than the Missouri side suburbs (Independence, Liberty, Gladstone, Raytown, Blue Springs, etc).
IMHO, of course.
What about other bistate metro areas, such as Cincinnati (Ohio / Kentucky), Ottawa (Ontario / Quebec), Jacksonville (Florida / Georgia), Omaha (Nebraska / Iowa), Portland (Oregon / Washington), or the Quad Cities (Illinois / Iowa)?
Not to throw a wrench in your Kansas City analysis, but you should check out Lee’s Summit some time. They’re coming up in the world with their new $$$$ subdivisions, good schools, etc. (I don’t live there, but I work there.)
Otherwise, though, I think you hit the mark about KC. Personally, I’m partial to the Northland.
Or for that matter, Lake Waukomis, where my family just bought a new place, (and many other areas of the Northland, which are often just as nice as many Johnson County neighborhoods, yet affordable for a non-wealthy homeowner.)
I am -barely- a JoCo resident - I lived within sight of KCK for three years, and for the last year, right across the street from KCMO. The only reason I stay here is for the short commute times, otherwise I’d probably head north too.
I also lived in the Portland area for over 25 years, on the Vancouver, WA side, which meant high sales taxes (but no income tax), lower gas prices (and self service, which is illegal in Oregon, go figure), having to use long distance just to call Portland, and having only two ways to drive across the river (though I remember when there was just -one-, I-5, and that was a terrible bottleneck!) Overall, it is a bit cheaper to live in Vancouver though compared to most areas on the Oregon side. So it does all balance out, somehow.
In Cincinnati, the main division is between the Eastside and the western suburbs - very little in common, from what I remember. Practically East and West Germany, depending on who you talked to. But Northern Kentucky is very nice, and Covington and Newport have beautiful riverfronts with lots of townhomes and so forth. If I had some reason to move to the Cincy metro area, I’d give a good look to Covington or Newport.
Louisville, Ky resident here. The Southern Indiana area calls itself the “Sunny Side of Louisville”. It costs a bit less to live in Southern Indiana, taxes and such being sheaper. You get more house for the money over there, too. I drive across the bridge every day to work, which sucks every now and then if traffic is a problem. But I just can’t imagine every moving (I live in KY). Any perceived difference would depend on where you grew up, I think. Boradly speaking, Ky born folks like Ky, and In folks like In. People who move into the area couldn’t care less as far I’ve seen.