Best counties to live in Missouri
Written by:
February 18, 2021
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Best counties to live in Missouri
What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Missouri using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
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Lilith Munck // Shutterstock
#25. Taney County
- Population: 55,114
- Median home value: $139,800 (62% own)
- Median rent: $816 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $46,031
- Median home value: $139,800 (62% own)
- Median rent: $816 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $46,031
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JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Atchison County
- Population: 5,229
- Median home value: $84,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $529 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $50,236
- Median home value: $84,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $529 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $50,236
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Canva
#23. Jefferson County
- Population: 223,951
- Median home value: $161,800 (79% own)
- Median rent: $855 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $65,454
- Median home value: $161,800 (79% own)
- Median rent: $855 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $65,454
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NMSU // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Nodaway County
- Population: 22,359
- Median home value: $126,400 (58% own)
- Median rent: $657 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $44,232
- Median home value: $126,400 (58% own)
- Median rent: $657 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $44,232
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Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Cass County
- Population: 103,597
- Median home value: $181,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $975 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $69,433
- Median home value: $181,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $975 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $69,433
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Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Livingston County
- Population: 15,126
- Median home value: $111,500 (67% own)
- Median rent: $671 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $46,992
- Median home value: $111,500 (67% own)
- Median rent: $671 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $46,992
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Onegentlemanofverona // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Callaway County
- Population: 44,889
- Median home value: $157,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $708 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $56,938
- Median home value: $157,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $708 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $56,938
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~ (The Rebel At) ~ // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Moniteau County
- Population: 16,046
- Median home value: $124,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $605 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $58,010
- Median home value: $124,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $605 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $58,010
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Andrew.Belair // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Adair County
- Population: 25,369
- Median home value: $126,800 (60% own)
- Median rent: $646 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $41,929
- Median home value: $126,800 (60% own)
- Median rent: $646 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $41,929
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Nja1985, retouched by Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Johnson County
- Population: 53,682
- Median home value: $156,500 (61% own)
- Median rent: $806 (39% rent)
- Median household income: $55,273
- Median home value: $156,500 (61% own)
- Median rent: $806 (39% rent)
- Median household income: $55,273
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Photos BrianScantlebury // Shutterstock
#15. Marion County
- Population: 28,608
- Median home value: $123,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $665 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $48,784
- Median home value: $123,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $665 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $48,784
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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Buchanan County
- Population: 88,460
- Median home value: $122,200 (62% own)
- Median rent: $779 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $51,916
- Median home value: $122,200 (62% own)
- Median rent: $779 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $51,916
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Peek Creative Collective // Shutterstock
#13. Jasper County
- Population: 119,920
- Median home value: $118,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $776 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $48,357
- Median home value: $118,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $776 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $48,357
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Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Pulaski County
- Population: 52,425
- Median home value: $159,200 (49% own)
- Median rent: $993 (51% rent)
- Median household income: $53,492
- Median home value: $159,200 (49% own)
- Median rent: $993 (51% rent)
- Median household income: $53,492
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Semipaw // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Christian County
- Population: 85,658
- Median home value: $169,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $816 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $60,645
- Median home value: $169,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $816 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $60,645
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Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Phelps County
- Population: 44,630
- Median home value: $135,000 (60% own)
- Median rent: $727 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $44,154
- Median home value: $135,000 (60% own)
- Median rent: $727 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $44,154
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Jose Kevo // Wikicommons
#9. Greene County
- Population: 289,756
- Median home value: $146,000 (56% own)
- Median rent: $767 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $46,086
- Median home value: $146,000 (56% own)
- Median rent: $767 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $46,086
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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
#8. Cape Girardeau County
- Population: 78,491
- Median home value: $160,500 (65% own)
- Median rent: $808 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $53,732
- Median home value: $160,500 (65% own)
- Median rent: $808 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $53,732
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Katherine Dowler // Wikimedia
#7. Cole County
- Population: 76,723
- Median home value: $162,300 (66% own)
- Median rent: $661 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $60,066
- Median home value: $162,300 (66% own)
- Median rent: $661 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $60,066
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Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Clay County
- Population: 242,516
- Median home value: $174,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $965 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $70,510
- Median home value: $174,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $965 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $70,510
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Jon Kraft // Shutterstock
#5. Jackson County
- Population: 696,216
- Median home value: $147,400 (58% own)
- Median rent: $910 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $55,134
- Median home value: $147,400 (58% own)
- Median rent: $910 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $55,134
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Rob Neville Photos // Shutterstock
#4. St. Charles County
- Population: 394,290
- Median home value: $219,100 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,041 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $84,978
- Median home value: $219,100 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,041 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $84,978
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TommyBrison // Shutterstock
#3. Platte County
- Population: 100,682
- Median home value: $226,500 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,019 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $80,393
- Median home value: $226,500 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,019 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $80,393
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Pixabay
#2. Boone County
- Population: 177,651
- Median home value: $185,700 (56% own)
- Median rent: $876 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $55,328
- Median home value: $185,700 (56% own)
- Median rent: $876 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $55,328
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Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#1. St. Louis County
- Population: 996,919
- Median home value: $198,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $983 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $67,420
- Median home value: $198,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $983 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $67,420
