Best counties to live in 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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.