The report presents statistics on housing and household characteristics from the 1978 to 1979 Annual Housing Survey conducted in the Kansas City, Mo. - Kans., standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA). Tables present data on selected housing characteristics for 1970, 1975 and 1978; characteristics of new construction units; 1975 characteristics of housing units removed from the housing inventorsy; and characteristics of vacant year - round housing units. Statistics are given on indicator of housing and neighborhood quality for owner - occupied and renter - occupied housing units, on financial characteristics of these housing units, and on recent mover households. Tables show cross - tabulations of the indicators of housing and neighborhood quality by income, value, and gross rent. Separate data are shown for ''in central cities'' and ''not in central cities,'' as well as for the SMSA as a whole. Housing characteristics for black and Spanish heads of households are also given. Survey results indicate a net gain of 27,000 housing units in this SMSA over the revised 1975 survey estimate. Approximately 6 percent of the total housing stock in the Kansas City metropolitan area was constructed since the 1975 survey. Appendices describe the geographic area classifications; provide definitions and explanations of the subjects covered in the report; and discuss sample design, estimation, and data accuracy. Maps are included. (Author abstract modified).