Best Towns to Live in Missouri 2016
Missouri can be found in the Midwestern region of the United States. The territory that eventually became Missouri was purchased from France in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and the state was admitted in 1821. The Missouri River splits the state in half, dividing the northern plains from the southern highlands. In Missouri, Jefferson City is the capital. Included below, you can find the best towns if you are thinking about moving to Missouri.
Our ratings were compiled by combining census, education, wealth , happiness and internal RentApplication data to create a unified rating system for all of the towns in Missouri. Ranked below are the top towns. Is your town one of the best? Click here to get the badge and display it on your website! You can also post it to your Facebook and Twitter Feed! Get the Badge!
#1 Eureka
Located in St. Louis County, Eureka has a population of 10,375. The town has a low poverty rate at 4.7%. Eureka is great for people who enjoy a small town but still want to live near the city as St. Louis is thirty minutes away.
#2 St. Charles
St. Charles is located in St. Charles County, and it has a population of 66,900. In the town, 91% of the residents have at least a high school diploma. St. Charles is a beautiful city bordering the Missouri River.
#3 Rolla
A town in Phelps County, Rolla has a population of 19,808. The unemployment rate here is very low at 3.2%. Rolla is the location of Missouri University of Science and Technology.
#4 Willard
Willard is a town in Greene County, and it has a population of 5,395. The poverty rate in Willard is 11.4%, which is below the national average. Willard is a safe city with low annual crime rates.
#5 Washington
Washington is a town in Franklin County, and it has a population of 13,982. The town has an unemployment rate of 3.3% and a poverty rate of 11%, which are both below the national average and positive signs for the town’s economy.
#6 Farmington
Located in St. Francois County, Farmington has a population of 17,213. For renters, the median rent here is $646. Farmington is benefited by is location between several state parks, providing residents with outdoor activities.
#7 Excelsior Springs
A town in Clay County, Excelsior Springs has a population of 11,391. The median household income here is $51,634. For people looking to live in a community of home owners, 67.3% of the residents in Excelsior Springs own their home.
#8 Kearney
Kearney is also located in Clay County, and it has a population of 8,845. The town has a low unemployment rate of 3.8% and a low poverty rate of 5.6%. With a median household income of $73,622, Kearney has a strong financial base.
#9 Jefferson City
Located in Cole County, Jefferson City has a population of 43,184. It has a low unemployment rate at 3.6%. Jefferson City provides residents with a small scale urban environment.
#10 Branson
A town in Taney County, Branson has a population of 10,942. For renters, the median rent price is $692. The beauty of Branson is enhanced by its location on Table Rock Lake.
#11 Neosho
Neosho is located in Newton County, and it has a population of 12,038. It has a low unemployment rate of 3.2%. Neosho is home to the campus of Crowder College.
#12 Maryville
Located in Nodaway County, Maryville has a population of 12,018. 94% of the residents have at least a high school diploma. That is partly due to the location of Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.
#13 Sedalia
Sedalia is a town in Pettis County, and it has a population 21,429. It has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is below the national average. Sedalia is home of the Missouri State Fair.
#14 Warrensburg
A town in Johnson County, Warrensburg has a population of 19,548. For renters, the median rent price here is $704. This town is the location of the University of Central Missouri.
#15 Cape Girardeau
Located in Cape Girardeau County, Cape Girardeau has a population of 38,665. The unemployment rate here is 5.4%, which is below the national average. Cape Girardeau provides a small town urban environment on the Mississippi River.
#16 Waynesville
Waynesville is a town in Pulaski County, and it has a population of 5,147. The poverty level here is low at 10.2%. This is a town with a rich history and many historical sites that the town preserves and promotes.
#17 Marshfield
Located in Webster County, Marshfield has a population of 6,789. The median home value here is $97,400. Marshfield is the location of the Missouri Walk of Fame, which honors famous individuals from Missouri.
#18 Cameron
A town in Dekalb County, Cameron has a population of 10,008. The median home value here is $109,000. Cameron is located less than an hour from Kansas City for those who travel into the city.
#19 Kirksville
Located in Adair County, Kirksville has a population of 17,578. The unemployment rate here is low at 3.9%. For people seeking a higher education, Kirksville is home to Truman State University.
#20 Perryville
A town in Perry County, Perryville has a population of 8,280. This town has a very low unemployment rate at 2.8%. For those who enjoy boating and fishing, Perryville is located near the Mississippi River.
#21 Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill is a town in Cass County and has a population of 8,173. The town has an unemployment rate of 4.8% and a poverty rate of 11.9%, which are below the national average and positive signs for the town’s economy.
#22 Macon
Located in Macon County, Macon has a population of 5,476. For renters, the median rent price here is $449. The town is located on Macon Lake for residents who enjoy fishing and boating.
#23 Hannibal
A town in Marion County, Hannibal has a population of 17,779. The median home value here is $81,200. Adding to the beauty of Hannibal is its location on the Mississippi River.
#24 Fulton
Fulton is a town in Callaway County, and it has a population of 12,791. For renters, the median rent price here is $600. Fulton is just thirty minutes from Jefferson City, which is the state capital.
#25 West Plains
Located in Howell County, West Plains has a population of 12,176. The unemployment rate here is 4.7%, which is below the national average. As part of the Ozarks, West Plains provides a beautiful natural environment for residents.
#26 St. Joseph
A town in Buchanan County, St. Joseph has a population of 77,040. The town has an unemployment rate of 5.9%, which is below the national average. St. Joseph has the benefit of being just north of Kansas City on the Missouri River.
#27 Richmond
A town located in Ray County, Richmond has a population of 5,702. For renters, the median rent price is $633. The town is a rich Arts community with a part of the town dedicated to the Arts, which is called Farris Arts District.
#28 Joplin
Located in Jasper County, Joplin has a population of 50,900. The town has a median home value of $103,300. Joplin is located within an hour of three other state: Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas.
#29 Nevada
A town in Vernon County, Nevada has a population of 8,318. The town has a low unemployment rate at 4%. For people seeking a higher education, Cottey College is located in Nevada.
#30 Union
Union is a town in Franklin County and has a population of 10,517. It has a poverty rate of 12%, which is below the national average. For those who commute to St. Louis, Union is less than an hour outside the city.
#31 Marshall
Located in Saline County, Marshall has a population of 13,059. For renters, the median rent price in Marshall is $596. Marshall is home to Missouri Valley College.
#32 Monett
Monett is located in Barry County, and it has a population of 8,935. The median home value here is $107,200. For people seeking a safe community, Monett has low annual violent crimes.
#33 Odessa
Located in Lafayette County, Odessa has a population of 5,237. The town has an unemployment rate of 5% and a poverty rate of 9%, both of which are below he national average and show positive signs for the town’s economy.
#34 Carthage
A town in Jasper County, Carthage has a population of 14,281. For renters, the median rent price here is $673. Carthage is a town full of architecture dating back to the Victorian era that maintains historical significance.
#35 Moberly
A town in Randolph County, Moberly has a population of 13,898. The median household income here is $33,942. Moberly provides residents with a safe, small town environment near the center of Missouri.
#36 Bolivar
Bolivar is a town in Polk county and has a population of 10,443. 88% of the residents have at least their high school diploma. For people seeking an education, Bolivar is home to Southwest Baptist University.
#37 Mexico
A town in Audrain County, Mexico has a population of 11,555. For renters, the median rent price here is $627. Mexico benefits from its location, as it is less that an hour from the capital of Missouri, Jefferson City.
#38 Harrisonville
A town in Cass County, Harrisonville has a population of 10,019. 89% of the residents here have at least a high school diploma. Harrisonville is located just south of Kansas City for people who commute into the city.
#39 Pacific
Pacific is a town in Franklin County, and it has a population of 6,047. The unemployment rate in Pacific is below the national average at 6.1%. The beauty of Pacific is enhanced by its placement on the Meramec River.
#40 Trenton
Located in Grundy County, Trenton has a population of 6,058. The town has a very low unemployment rate at 2.4%. For people who enjoy boating and fishing, Trenton Lake is located in Trenton.
#41 Savannah
A town in Andrew County, Savannah has a population of 5,101. The town has an unemployment rate of 4.8% and a poverty rate of 10.3%, which are both below the national average. These rate are positive signs for the town’s economy and the residents that live here.
#42 Poplar Bluff
Poplar Bluff is a town in Butler County, and it has a population of 17,190. The median home value here is $90,600. As part of the Ozark foothills, Poplar Bluff provides a beautiful environment for its residents.
#43 Warrenton
Located in Warren County, Warrenton is home to 7,974 people. For people looking to buy a house among other home owners, 67.2% of the residents in Warrenton own their home.
#44 Bonne Terre
Bonne Terre is located in St. Francois County, and it has a population of 7,025. For renters, the median rent price here is $455. The town is located an hour from St. Louis for those who travel into the city.
#45 Lebanon
Lebanon is located in Laclede County, and it has a population of 14,595. At 5.6%, the unemployment rate is below the national average. The town of Lebanon has plenty of rivers nearby for fishing and tubing for people who enjoy the outdoors.
#46 Troy
Located in Lincoln County, Troy has a population of 11,015. 89% of the residents in Troy have at least a high school diploma. For people looking for a safe environment, Troy has very low annual violent crime rate with no registered murders or robberies.
#47 Boonville
Boonville is located in Cooper County, and it has a population of 8,320. At 5.3%, the unemployment rate is below the national average. The town is bordered by the Missouri River, adding to the town’s natural beauty.
#48 Sullivan
Located in Franklin County, Sullivan has a population of 7,058. For renters, the average rent price here is $643. Sullivan allows residents to live in a rural community, while only being an hour out from St. Louis.
#49 Clinton
A town in Henry County, Clinton has a population of 9,014. The median home value here is $92,100. With Victorian style buildings, Clinton has the largest historic square in Missouri.
#50 Sikeston
Located in Scott County, Sikeston has a population of 16,642. At 5.9%, the unemployment rate is below the national average. For people who enjoy boating and fishing, Sikeston is located less than thirty minutes from the Mississippi River.
