Direction of KC

A large majority of residents (62 percent) think the Kansas City area is headed in the right direction, up significantly from 2018’s 57 percent. This proportion is inversely related to age, with 68 percent of young adults (18-24 years) saying the metro is headed in the right direction compared to 55 percent of older adults (65 or more years). Young adults are one of the few demographic groups to show a decline in the proportion with a positive view of the region’s progress, though the drop from 74 percent in 2018 was not statistically significant. The proportion thinking KC is headed in the right direction is positively related to education and income, with the exception of those with a vocational and technical education, where only 45 percent share this perception. Racial disparities remain significant but appear to be shrinking. The percentages of whites and Latinos, Asians and other minorities who think things are headed in the right direction are identical at 63 percent. Though a smaller proportion (55 percent) of blacks share that perception, this is up significantly from 37 percent in 2018. Unsurprisingly, the unemployed had the smallest proportion with a positive view of the region’s progress, at 37 percent.