Counties with the lowest cost of living in Missouri

Written by:
April 12, 2024
Appz Dreamer // Shutterstock

Counties with the lowest cost of living in Missouri

While inflation has fallen from 2022 peaks, high prices are still eating into household budgets. Many Americans are paying keen attention to their finances and finding ways to reduce spending.

Home prices, rent, and food inflation, as well as higher prices for gas in the last couple of years, are making it so that each dollar earned has even less purchasing power than before. In the first two months of 2024, Americans were able to save about 3.9% of their disposable income, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, well below historic levels.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the lowest cost of living in Missouri using rankings from Niche.

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#30. Vernon County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 603
- Population: 19,777
- Median household income: $53,318
- Median home value: $127,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $706 (29% rent)

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#29. Barton County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 588
- Population: 11,683
- Median household income: $48,105
- Median home value: $115,600 (70% own)
- Median rent: $681 (30% rent)

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#28. Stoddard County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 578
- Population: 28,656
- Median household income: $51,703
- Median home value: $123,000 (71% own)
- Median rent: $712 (29% rent)

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#27. Mississippi County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 549
- Population: 12,305
- Median household income: $40,833
- Median home value: $92,600 (60% own)
- Median rent: $686 (40% rent)

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#26. Audrain County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 541
- Population: 24,873
- Median household income: $51,745
- Median home value: $112,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $707 (28% rent)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#25. Ripley County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 539
- Population: 10,839
- Median household income: $42,541
- Median home value: $103,700 (80% own)
- Median rent: $699 (20% rent)

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#24. Gasconade County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 538
- Population: 14,801
- Median household income: $62,638
- Median home value: $159,100 (81% own)
- Median rent: $661 (19% rent)

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#23. Shannon County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 536
- Population: 7,132
- Median household income: $46,767
- Median home value: $141,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $556 (18% rent)

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#22. New Madrid County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 527
- Population: 16,341
- Median household income: $44,092
- Median home value: $93,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $708 (35% rent)

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#21. Bollinger County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 465
- Population: 10,658
- Median household income: $52,306
- Median home value: $123,500 (81% own)
- Median rent: $752 (19% rent)

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#20. Caldwell County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 463
- Population: 8,876
- Median household income: $58,269
- Median home value: $143,300 (80% own)
- Median rent: $632 (20% rent)

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#19. Grundy County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 458
- Population: 9,878
- Median household income: $51,045
- Median home value: $111,300 (68% own)
- Median rent: $676 (32% rent)

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#18. Daviess County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 442
- Population: 8,418
- Median household income: $59,706
- Median home value: $133,400 (78% own)
- Median rent: $689 (22% rent)

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#17. Macon County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 407
- Population: 15,173
- Median household income: $54,113
- Median home value: $115,900 (77% own)
- Median rent: $699 (23% rent)

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#16. Washington County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 402
- Population: 23,580
- Median household income: $49,364
- Median home value: $112,300 (79% own)
- Median rent: $694 (21% rent)

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#15. Gentry County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 396
- Population: 6,219
- Median household income: $53,799
- Median home value: $115,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $595 (24% rent)

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#14. Pike County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 395
- Population: 17,719
- Median household income: $53,363
- Median home value: $114,100 (74% own)
- Median rent: $724 (26% rent)

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#13. Osage County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 367
- Population: 13,374
- Median household income: $70,313
- Median home value: $183,000 (83% own)
- Median rent: $592 (17% rent)

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#12. Dent County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 365
- Population: 14,509
- Median household income: $51,410
- Median home value: $123,300 (75% own)
- Median rent: $648 (25% rent)

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#11. Wayne County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 336
- Population: 11,081
- Median household income: $42,758
- Median home value: $110,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $626 (26% rent)

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#10. Carroll County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 286
- Population: 8,513
- Median household income: $59,101
- Median home value: $105,500 (71% own)
- Median rent: $754 (29% rent)

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#9. Lewis County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 221
- Population: 9,987
- Median household income: $49,779
- Median home value: $104,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $606 (23% rent)

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#8. Iron County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 219
- Population: 9,538
- Median household income: $53,401
- Median home value: $109,400 (78% own)
- Median rent: $662 (22% rent)

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#7. Harrison County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 190
- Population: 8,190
- Median household income: $51,809
- Median home value: $95,900 (71% own)
- Median rent: $638 (29% rent)

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#6. Reynolds County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 185
- Population: 6,102
- Median household income: $43,856
- Median home value: $105,300 (80% own)
- Median rent: $643 (20% rent)

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#5. Sullivan County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 176
- Population: 5,983
- Median household income: $53,438
- Median home value: $91,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $719 (26% rent)

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#4. Linn County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 141
- Population: 11,892
- Median household income: $58,435
- Median home value: $107,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $648 (23% rent)

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#3. Shelby County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 112
- Population: 6,049
- Median household income: $50,387
- Median home value: $85,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $630 (26% rent)

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#2. Atchison County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 83
- Population: 5,270
- Median household income: $58,521
- Median home value: $96,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $608 (28% rent)

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#1. Chariton County, Missouri

- Overall Rank: 52
- Population: 7,417
- Median household income: $61,910
- Median home value: $121,000 (82% own)
- Median rent: $525 (18% rent)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 32 states.

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