Best counties to retire to in Missouri

Written by:
July 31, 2022
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Best counties to retire to in Missouri

Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.

When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.

To find the best counties to retire to in Missouri based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.

Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Missouri.

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#25. Miller County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 25,081
- Median household income: $55,172
- Median home value: $169,800
- Top places to live: Lake Ozark (A-), Eldon (B), St. Elizabeth (B+)

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#24. Shelby County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 6,011
- Median household income: $52,127
- Median home value: $86,200
- Top places to live: Bethel Township (B+), Black Creek Township (B), Jefferson Township (B)

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#23. Marion County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 28,493
- Median household income: $63,908
- Median home value: $158,100
- Top places to live: Palmyra (A-), Hannibal (B+), Fabius Township (A-)

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#22. Harrison County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 8,198
- Median household income: $53,364
- Median home value: $107,400
- Top places to live: Bethany (B-), Adams Township (B), Eagleville (B-)

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#21. Cole County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 76,924
- Median household income: $73,273
- Median home value: $214,400
- Top places to live: Jefferson City (A-), St. Martins (B+), Jefferson Township (A)

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#20. Gasconade County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 14,774
- Median household income: $65,096
- Median home value: $168,900
- Top places to live: Owensville (B-), Boulware Township (B+), Richland Township (B)

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#19. Dunklin County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 27,795
- Median household income: $47,368
- Median home value: $93,800
- Top places to live: Kennett (B), Malden (C+), Independence Township (B)

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#18. Newton County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 59,490
- Median household income: $64,583
- Median home value: $175,300
- Top places to live: Neosho (B+), Leawood (A-), Fairview (A-)

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#17. Lafayette County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 32,974
- Median household income: $79,091
- Median home value: $200,300
- Top places to live: Higginsville (B+), Odessa (B), Lexington (B)

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#16. Iron County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 9,482
- Median household income: $51,161
- Median home value: $113,000
- Top places to live: Ironton (B+), Arcadia Township (B+), Viburnum (B)

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#15. Cape Girardeau County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 82,180
- Median household income: $68,912
- Median home value: $208,300
- Top places to live: Jackson (A-), Cape Girardeau (B+), Cape Girardeau Township (A-)

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#14. St. Charles County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 409,830
- Median household income: $102,912
- Median home value: $296,800
- Top places to live: Cottleville (A), Dardenne Prairie (A), O'Fallon (A)

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#13. Wayne County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 10,942
- Median household income: $43,393
- Median home value: $113,100
- Top places to live: Williams Township (B-), Benton Township (C+), Lost Creek Township (C+)

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#12. Stoddard County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 28,547
- Median household income: $54,067
- Median home value: $135,400
- Top places to live: Dexter (B-), Puxico (B), Pike Township (B)

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#11. Dent County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 14,506
- Median household income: $54,306
- Median home value: $149,700
- Top places to live: Salem (B), Current Township (B+), Texas Township (B)

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#10. Henry County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 22,194
- Median household income: $56,621
- Median home value: $153,500
- Top places to live: Windsor (C+), Clinton (C), Shawnee Township (B)

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#9. Linn County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 11,850
- Median household income: $61,975
- Median home value: $117,300
- Top places to live: Brookfield (B), Yellow Creek Township (A-), Marceline Township (B+)

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#8. Morgan County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 21,430
- Median household income: $49,663
- Median home value: $180,400
- Top places to live: Moreau Township (B-), Osage Township (B-), Versailles (C+)

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#7. Chariton County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 7,406
- Median household income: $63,307
- Median home value: $118,900
- Top places to live: Brunswick (B+), Brunswick Township (B+), Clark Township (B)

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#6. Atchison County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 5,216
- Median household income: $59,260
- Median home value: $100,600
- Top places to live: Tarkio (B+), Clay Township (B+), Clark Township (B+)

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#5. St. Louis County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 996,618
- Median household income: $81,340
- Median home value: $260,700
- Top places to live: Brentwood (A+), Chesterfield (A+), Ballwin (A+)

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#4. Benton County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 19,887
- Median household income: $52,200
- Median home value: $164,700
- Top places to live: Warsaw (C+), White Township (B), Lincoln (B)

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#3. Stone County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 31,697
- Median household income: $61,323
- Median home value: $236,500
- Top places to live: Kimberling City (C+), Sunset Cove Township (A-), Indian Point (B+)

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#2. Camden County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 43,416
- Median household income: $62,927
- Median home value: $270,700
- Top places to live: Village of Four Seasons (B+), Osage Beach (B), Camdenton (B-)

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#1. Taney County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 56,382
- Median household income: $58,258
- Median home value: $203,800
- Top places to live: Hollister (B+), Branson (B+), Forsyth (B)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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