Best counties to raise a family in Missouri

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 23,492
- Median household income: $48,145
- Median home value: $134,100
- Top places to live: Goodman (B+), Lanagan (B+), Anderson (B)

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 18,086
- Median household income: $74,007
- Median home value: $196,200
- Top places to live: Savannah (B+), Country Club (B+), Platte Township (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 83,855
- Median household income: $59,423
- Median home value: $156,600
- Top places to live: St. Joseph (B-), Platte Township (B+), Marion Township (B)

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (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+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 109,393
- Median household income: $87,413
- Median home value: $269,000
- Top places to live: Lake Winnebago (A-), Raymore (B+), Pleasant Hill (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 18,551
- Median household income: $61,310
- Median home value: $215,600
- Top places to live: Ste. Genevieve (B), Bloomsdale (B+), St. Mary (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 44,541
- Median household income: $72,645
- Median home value: $196,200
- Top places to live: Holts Summit (B+), Fulton (B), Summit Township (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 25,224
- Median household income: $56,583
- Median home value: $159,500
- Top places to live: Kirksville (B+), Benton Township (A-), Polk Township (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (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-)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 228,227
- Median household income: $80,522
- Median home value: $218,800
- Top places to live: Arnold (B+), Murphy (B), Festus (B)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (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-)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 53,850
- Median household income: $66,435
- Median home value: $189,700
- Top places to live: Waynesville (A-), St. Robert (B+), Cullen Township (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 44,948
- Median household income: $55,427
- Median home value: $194,900
- Top places to live: Rolla (B+), St. James (B-), Cold Spring Township (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 123,532
- Median household income: $57,525
- Median home value: $158,500
- Top places to live: Carl Junction (A), Webb City (A-), Oronogo (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 301,121
- Median household income: $57,488
- Median home value: $203,500
- Top places to live: Battlefield (A), Republic (B+), Willard (B+)

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (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)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), 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-)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 717,021
- Median household income: $67,178
- Median home value: $213,300
- Top places to live: Country Club / Waldo (A), Lee's Summit (A), Midtown / Plaza (A)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (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)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 91,229
- Median household income: $81,245
- Median home value: $249,700
- Top places to live: Fremont Hills (A), Nixa (A), Ozark (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 255,566
- Median household income: $86,150
- Median home value: $256,400
- Top places to live: Shoal Creek Valley (A), Liberty (A), Gladstone (A-)

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 185,874
- Median household income: $69,913
- Median home value: $254,100
- Top places to live: Columbia (A), Ashland (A-), Centralia (B)

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 108,751
- Median household income: $95,748
- Median home value: $317,600
- Top places to live: Parkville (A+), Lake Waukomis (A), Weatherby Lake (A)

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), 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)

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (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+)