Best small towns to live in Missouri

1. 1
   Princeton, MO Score 81/100

   1,352 people · typical home $78k · household income $59k · schools in the top 25% of MO · 1.0% unemployment · 22 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Stanberry, MO Score 78/100

   1,235 people · typical home $98k · household income $63k · 80 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 25% of MO · 3.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Tarkio, MO Score 78/100

   1,471 people · typical home $88k · household income $57k · schools in the top 24% of MO · 4.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Albany, MO Score 78/100

   1,909 people · typical home $101k · household income $45k · 80 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 41% of MO · 2.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Ironton, MO Score 77/100

   1,692 people · typical home $120k · household income $47k · 37 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 23% of MO · 4.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Bernie, MO Score 76/100

   1,725 people · typical home $98k · household income $48k · 145 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 5% of MO · 3.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   New London, MO Score 75/100

   1,130 people · typical home $134k · household income $63k · 48 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 45% of MO · 2.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Weston, MO Score 73/100

   1,922 people · typical home $259k · household income $89k · 61 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 2% of MO · 2.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   La Grange, MO Score 73/100

   1,033 people · typical home $92k · household income $58k · 20 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 59% of MO · 2.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Thayer, MO Score 72/100

    2,333 people · typical home $68k · household income $37k · 73 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 27% of MO · 5.0% unemployment · 21 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Mound City, MO Score 71/100

    1,066 people · typical home $146k · household income $62k · schools in the top 6% of MO · 1.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Louisiana, MO Score 71/100

    3,228 people · typical home $72k · household income $39k · 64 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 44% of MO · 8.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Shelbina, MO Score 70/100

    1,653 people · typical home $86k · household income $48k · 38 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 67% of MO · 1.0% unemployment · 22 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Lincoln, MO Score 70/100

    1,787 people · typical home $143k · household income $63k · 99 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 32% of MO · 2.0% unemployment · 22 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Leadwood, MO Score 70/100

    1,354 people · typical home $63k · household income $45k · 121 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 52% of MO · 3.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Marceline, MO Score 69/100

    2,292 people · typical home $97k · household income $63k · 245 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 6% of MO · 5.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    Rock Port, MO Score 69/100

    1,221 people · typical home $116k · household income $46k · schools in the top 25% of MO · 1.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Bethany, MO Score 69/100

    3,080 people · typical home $122k · household income $48k · schools in the top 42% of MO · 1.0% unemployment · 0 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Bourbon, MO Score 68/100

    1,636 people · typical home $137k · household income $54k · 92 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of MO · 5.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Odessa, MO Score 68/100

    5,620 people · typical home $238k · household income $100k · 49 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 53% of MO · 0.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Brookfield, MO Score 68/100

    4,144 people · typical home $102k · household income $53k · 440 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 9% of MO · 3.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Appleton City, MO Score 68/100

    1,221 people · typical home $98k · household income $49k · 40 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 60% of MO · 3.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Bloomfield, MO Score 66/100

    2,069 people · typical home $67k · household income $42k · 122 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 35% of MO · 7.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Carrollton, MO Score 65/100

    3,145 people · typical home $110k · household income $50k · 24 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 56% of MO · 5.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Macon, MO Score 64/100

    5,466 people · typical home $152k · household income $62k · 148 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 46% of MO · 2.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Missouri with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Missouri on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Missouri districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Missouri →