Best Counties to Live in Missouri

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Best counties to live in Missouri

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Missouri using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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#30. Cooper County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 1,205
- Population: 16,893
- Median household income: $62,239
- Median home value: $168,200 (77% own)
- Median rent: $724 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Boonville High School (grade B), Pilot Grove Elementary School (grade B), Bunceton Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Ss. Peter & Paul School (grade unavailable), St. Joseph Elementary School (grade unavailable), Zion Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Boonville (grade B+), Saline Township (grade B+), Boonville Township (grade B)

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#29. Miller County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 1,154
- Population: 24,855
- Median household income: $53,490
- Median home value: $164,900 (75% own)
- Median rent: $726 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Eldon Middle School (grade A minus), Eldon Upper Elementary School (grade B+), Osage High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Our Lady of the Snows School (grade unavailable), Lakeview Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Lake Ozark (grade A minus), Eldon (grade B), St. Elizabeth (grade A minus)

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#28. Pettis County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 1,143
- Population: 43,059
- Median household income: $57,581
- Median home value: $150,000 (70% own)
- Median rent: $838 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Hardeman Elementary School (grade A minus), Horace Mann Elementary School (grade A minus), Parkview Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart School (grade A minus), Applewood Christian School (grade A minus), Show-Me Christian School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Sedalia (grade B), Green Ridge (grade A minus), Prairie Township (grade B+)

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#27. Chariton County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 1,142
- Population: 7,417
- Median household income: $61,910
- Median home value: $121,000 (82% own)
- Median rent: $525 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Brunswick Elementary School (grade B+), Brunswick High School (grade B), Northwestern Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Brunswick (grade B+), Brunswick Township (grade B+), Salisbury (grade B)

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#26. Cass County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 1,127
- Population: 108,205
- Median household income: $82,473
- Median home value: $242,300 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,097 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Timber Creek Elementary School (grade A minus), Creekmoor Elementary School (grade A minus), Stonegate Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Heartland High School & Academy (grade B+), Blue Ridge Christian School (grade B), Training Center Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Lake Winnebago (grade A minus), Raymore (grade B+), Pleasant Hill (grade B+)

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#25. Nodaway County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 1,099
- Population: 21,140
- Median household income: $53,917
- Median home value: $157,200 (63% own)
- Median rent: $739 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Jefferson Elementary School (grade A), Maryville Middle School (grade B+), Eugene Field Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Gregory Barbarigo School (grade unavailable), Horace Mann Laboratory School (grade unavailable), Pleasant View (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Maryville (grade B+), Jefferson Township (grade A minus), Conception (grade B+)

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#24. Johnson County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 1,097
- Population: 54,025
- Median household income: $62,503
- Median home value: $206,600 (63% own)
- Median rent: $912 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Knob Noster Middle School (grade A minus), Knob Noster High School (grade A minus), Whiteman Air Force Base Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Knob Noster (grade B+), Warrensburg (grade B+), Washington Township (grade B+)

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#23. Linn County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 1,048
- Population: 11,892
- Median household income: $58,435
- Median home value: $107,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $648 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Marceline Middle School (grade A), Walt Disney Elementary School (grade A minus), Brookfield Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: McCartan Memorial School (grade unavailable), Locust Creek Mennonite School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Brookfield (grade B), Yellow Creek Township (grade A minus), Marceline Township (grade B+)

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#22. Livingston County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 1,040
- Population: 14,402
- Median household income: $58,772
- Median home value: $139,700 (70% own)
- Median rent: $755 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Central Elementary School (grade A minus), Chillicothe High School (grade B+), Field Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Bishop Hogan Memorial School (grade unavailable), Meadow View School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Chillicothe (grade B+), Chillicothe Township (grade B), Blue Mound Township (grade B)

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#21. Saline County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 1,018
- Population: 23,219
- Median household income: $55,396
- Median home value: $129,600 (72% own)
- Median rent: $718 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Sweet Springs Elementary School (grade B), Sweet Springs High School (grade C+), Marshall Senior High School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: St. Peter Catholic School (grade unavailable), Calvary Baptist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Marshall (grade B), Blackburn (grade B+), Marshall Township (grade B)

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#20. Atchison County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 984
- Population: 5,270
- Median household income: $58,521
- Median home value: $96,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $608 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Rock Port Elementary School (grade A minus), Fairfax Elementary School (grade B+), Tarkio High School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Rock Port (grade B+), Tarkio (grade B+), Clay Township (grade B+)

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#19. Newton County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 889
- Population: 59,019
- Median household income: $60,313
- Median home value: $162,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $781 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: George Washington Carver Elementary School (grade B+), Neosho Junior High School (grade B+), Seneca Intermediate School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Neosho Christian Schools (grade unavailable), Trinity Learning Center (grade unavailable), Racine Apostolic Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Neosho (grade B+), Leawood (grade A), Shoal Creek Township (grade A minus)

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#18. Callaway County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 835
- Population: 44,517
- Median household income: $70,599
- Median home value: $184,300 (77% own)
- Median rent: $807 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: North Elementary School (grade B+), South Callaway Elementary School (grade B+), Bartley Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Peter Catholic School (grade unavailable), Kingdom Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Callaway Child and Family Development Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Holts Summit (grade B+), Fulton (grade B), Summit Township (grade A minus)

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#17. Buchanan County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 644
- Population: 84,544
- Median household income: $58,303
- Median home value: $149,600 (63% own)
- Median rent: $856 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Ellison Elementary School (grade B+), East Buchanan Middle School (grade B+), Oak Grove Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Bishop LeBlond High School (grade B+), St. Joseph Christian School (grade B+), St. Francis Xavier School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: St. Joseph (grade B minus), Platte Township (grade A minus), Tremont Township (grade B+)

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#16. Jasper County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 595
- Population: 122,788
- Median household income: $54,963
- Median home value: $147,500 (63% own)
- Median rent: $878 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Eugene Field Elementary School (grade A), Harry S Truman Elementary School (grade A), Mark Twain Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School (grade A+), McAuley Catholic High School (grade A minus), College Heights Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Carl Junction (grade A minus), Oronogo (grade A minus), Webb City (grade A minus)

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#15. Taney County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 588
- Population: 56,202
- Median household income: $54,467
- Median home value: $175,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $873 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Kirbyville Elementary School (grade A), Buchanan Elementary School (grade A), Mark Twain Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity Christian Academy (grade A minus), School of the Ozarks (grade B+), Riverview Bible Baptist Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Branson (grade A minus), Hollister (grade B+), Forsyth (grade B)

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#14. Adair County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 514
- Population: 25,299
- Median household income: $51,020
- Median home value: $146,700 (62% own)
- Median rent: $758 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Adair County R-II School (grade B+), Adair County R-II School (grade B+), Ray Miller Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Life Church School (grade A), Faith Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Mary Immaculate Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Kirksville (grade B+), Benton Township (grade B+), Wilson Township (grade B+)

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#13. Marion County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 476
- Population: 28,525
- Median household income: $62,492
- Median home value: $150,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $757 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Oakwood Elementary School (grade A minus), Palmyra Elementary School (grade A minus), Monroe City Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Holy Family School (grade unavailable), St. John's Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Hannibal Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Palmyra (grade A minus), Hannibal (grade B), Fabius Township (grade A)

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#12. Phelps County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 418
- Population: 44,843
- Median household income: $53,242
- Median home value: $174,100 (60% own)
- Median rent: $770 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Mark Twain Elementary School (grade A minus), Wyman Elementary School (grade A minus), Phelps County Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Patrick School (grade unavailable), Immanuel Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Great Circle - St. James (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Rolla (grade B+), St. James (grade B), Cold Spring Township (grade A minus)

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#11. Pulaski County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 353
- Population: 53,726
- Median household income: $62,541
- Median home value: $177,400 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,032 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Thayer Elementary School (grade A), Wood Elementary School (grade A), Waynesville Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Maranatha Baptist Academy (grade B+), Westside Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Fort Leonard Wood Child Development Center 408 (grade unavailable)
- Top places: St. Robert (grade B+), Waynesville (grade B), Cullen Township (grade A)

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#10. Greene County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 293
- Population: 299,188
- Median household income: $54,968
- Median home value: $182,800 (57% own)
- Median rent: $895 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Schofield Elementary School (grade A), Sweeny Elementary School (grade A), Central High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Greenwood Laboratory School (grade A), Springfield Catholic High School (grade A minus), New Covenant Academy (grade B+)
- Top places: Battlefield (grade A), Republic (grade A minus), Willard (grade B+)

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#9. Christian County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 290
- Population: 89,568
- Median household income: $75,787
- Median home value: $229,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $937 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Mathews Elementary School (grade A), Espy Elementary School (grade A), Nicholas A. Inman Intermediate School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Faith Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Fremont Hills (grade A), Nixa (grade A), Ozark (grade A minus)

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#8. Jackson County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 194
- Population: 715,526
- Median household income: $65,169
- Median home value: $196,900 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,096 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: Delta Woods Middle School (grade A), James Walker Elementary School (grade A), Voy Spears Jr. Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pembroke Hill School (grade A+), The Barstow School (grade A+), Notre Dame de Sion High School (grade A+)
- Top places: Lee's Summit (grade A), Country Club / Waldo (grade A), Midtown / Plaza (grade A)

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#7. Clay County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 177
- Population: 253,085
- Median household income: $82,264
- Median home value: $237,200 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,133 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Rising Hill Elementary School (grade A), Franklin Elementary School (grade A), Bell Prairie Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Pius X High School (grade A minus), Eagle Heights Christian School (grade B minus), St. James School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Liberty (grade A), Shoal Creek Valley (grade A), Gladstone (grade A)

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#6. Cape Girardeau County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 176
- Population: 81,703
- Median household income: $65,070
- Median home value: $194,200 (67% own)
- Median rent: $854 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: West Lane Elementary School (grade A minus), Jackson Senior High School (grade A minus), Russell Hawkins Junior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Notre Dame Regional High School (grade A minus), Saxony Lutheran High School (grade B), Eagle Ridge Christian School (grade B)
- Top places: Jackson (grade A minus), Cape Girardeau (grade B+), Cape Girardeau Township (grade A minus)

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#5. Cole County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 110
- Population: 76,890
- Median household income: $70,667
- Median home value: $198,900 (67% own)
- Median rent: $783 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Blair Oaks Elementary School (grade A), Blair Oaks Middle School (grade A), Capital City High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Lighthouse Preparatory Academy (grade B+), Helias Catholic High School (grade B+), Calvary Lutheran High School (grade C+)
- Top places: Jefferson City (grade A minus), St. Martins (grade B+), Jefferson Township (grade A)

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#4. Platte County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 70
- Population: 107,033
- Median household income: $92,543
- Median home value: $288,100 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,210 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Park Hill South High School (grade A), Graden Elementary School (grade A), English Landing Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Faith Christian Academy (grade A minus), Northland Christian Schools (grade B minus), St. Therese School (grade A)
- Top places: Parkville (grade A+), Weatherby Lake (grade A+), Lake Waukomis (grade A)

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#3. St. Charles County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 62
- Population: 406,262
- Median household income: $99,596
- Median home value: $278,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,209 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Fort Zumwalt West Middle School (grade A), Twin Chimneys Elementary School (grade A), Fort Zumwalt South Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Duchesne High School (grade A minus), St. Dominic High School (grade A minus), Lutheran High School of St. Charles County (grade B+)
- Top places: Cottleville (grade A), Dardenne Prairie (grade A), O'Fallon (grade A)

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#2. Boone County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 21
- Population: 184,043
- Median household income: $66,564
- Median home value: $237,600 (58% own)
- Median rent: $994 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: Rock Bridge High School (grade A), John Warner Middle School (grade A), Mill Creek Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Columbia Independent School (grade A+), Christian Fellowship School (grade A), Heritage Academy (grade B+)
- Top places: Columbia (grade A), Ashland (grade B+), Centralia (grade B+)

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#1. St. Louis County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 20
- Population: 999,703
- Median household income: $78,067
- Median home value: $249,400 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,119 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Ladue Horton Watkins High School (grade A+), Clayton High School (grade A+), Wydown Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: John Burroughs School (grade A+), MICDS - Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day School (grade A+), Thomas Jefferson School (grade A+)
- Top places: Brentwood (grade A+), Chesterfield (grade A+), Clayton (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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