Excelsior Springs is the only town in the Kansas City area that got famous for its water. In the late 1800s people rode trains here to drink it, soak in it and swear it cured everything. The trains are gone. The water bar is still standing, the grand old hotel still has a spa, and a house here costs nearly 30% less than the metro median.
If you are thinking about moving to Excelsior Springs, here is the honest version: what homes cost, how long the drive really is, and what daily life looks like once the novelty of living near a 1930s Art Deco water palace wears off. (It doesn't.)
Excelsior Springs home prices in 2026
The median sale price in Excelsior Springs is about $232,000, up roughly 1% from a year ago, according to Homes.com. For comparison, the Kansas City metro median was $325,000 in March 2026.
A few more numbers worth knowing:
- Homes take about 39 days to sell on average.
- The average price is about $153 per square foot.
- Around 172 homes sold in the past 12 months, so this is a small market. Good houses do not sit and wait for you.
What your budget buys
Under $200,000. Smaller and older homes, often close to downtown. The median two-bedroom sells for about $171,500. Expect character, and expect to budget for updates.
$200,000 to $300,000. This is the heart of the market. Think three bedrooms, a garage and a yard, in neighborhoods built from the 1960s through the 2000s.
$300,000 to $475,000. Newer and larger homes, plus properties on the edge of town with real elbow room. Our own listing at 25410 High Drive is a good example: four bedrooms, three baths and 2,571 square feet at $450,000. [Jolene: swap in a current listing.]
The commute, honestly
Excelsior Springs sits about 25 miles northeast of Kansas City. US-69 is four lanes into town and meets I-35 about 10 miles west, per the Chamber of Commerce.
Plan on 35 to 40 minutes to downtown Kansas City when traffic behaves. Liberty is about halfway, so shopping and hospital runs are closer to 15 to 20 minutes. KCI airport is roughly 25 miles away.
One tip before you fall in love with a house: drive your actual commute at your actual time. A Tuesday at 7:15 a.m. tells you more than any map app.
What there is to do
More than you would guess for a town of about 10,500 people.
- The Elms Hotel & Spa. First built in 1888. Harry Truman spent election night here in 1948. Locals use the spa as a very convenient staycation.
- The Hall of Waters. Built in 1937, it once piped in ten different mineral waters and housed what was billed as the world's longest water bar. Today it is the visitor center, and it is free to walk through.
- Downtown. Shops, restaurants, a brewery and a store that sells only Missouri-made goods.
- Wine country, small scale. Fence Stile and Four Horses and a Dog are both minutes from town.
- Golf. The Excelsior Springs Golf Club opened in 1915, which makes it one of the oldest courses in Missouri.
- Festivals. Waterfest and the Wine Festival are the two big annual ones.
Who Excelsior Springs fits best
It fits buyers who want more house for the money and do not mind a longer drive. It fits people who work in Liberty, the Northland or from home. It fits anyone who has always wanted a front porch within walking distance of an actual downtown.
It is a harder fit if you commute to Overland Park every day. That drive crosses the whole metro.
Two things to check before you buy
- School boundaries. Most of town is served by the Excelsior Springs School District, but confirm by address with the district.
- The house's age. Older homes near downtown are charming and deserve a thorough inspection. Ask us about sewer scopes and foundation checks.
Ready to look?
See every home for sale in Excelsior Springs right now, or tell us your budget and we will send you new listings the day they hit the market. Call or text Jolene at (816) 507-1598.
Nest & Thrive, brokered by eXp Realty. Figures are from public listing data as of October 2026 and change monthly.
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