Finest Locations to Reside in Missouri

Wish to dwell someplace with a low price of dwelling, entry to a number of main metropolitan cities, and tons of enjoyable issues for youths to do? Then Missouri is the vacation spot for you. And hey, if you happen to’re tremendous choosy and have to dwell near a 600-foot chrome steel arch, then Missouri is the solely vacation spot for you. (Yep, the Gateway Arch actually is that tall—630 ft to be actual.)

In case you’re excited about packing your luggage and heading to Missouri, you’ll have to ensure you decide a metropolis that matches your price range, persona and some other wants you and your loved ones have.

So, let’s check out 10 of the very best locations to dwell in Missouri. That approach, you may preview your choices and select the town that makes probably the most sense for you.

The place are the Finest Locations to Reside in Missouri?

Maintain this in thoughts: The perfect place so that you can dwell in Missouri (or anyplace else for that matter) will rely in your particular person scenario and preferences. You could choose to dwell in a smaller city with a robust sense of neighborhood, or it’s possible you’ll love being surrounded by skyscrapers and sports activities stadiums. You additionally could also be in search of one thing extra particular, like an awesome retirement vacation spot.

As you undergo this record, take into consideration which cities are the very best match for you. Right here’s a preview of the classes we’ll take a look at:

Finest Locations to Reside in Missouri: The Large Cities

Kansas Metropolis

Up first, the town in Missouri with the most individuals: Kansas Metropolis. Full with a global airport, two main skilled sports activities franchises, and a value of dwelling that’s 6% under the nationwide common, KC is a superb vacation spot for anybody trying to get a style of big-city life with out the huge inhabitants or excessive costs of locations like Chicago and New York.¹

As a result of KC is a significant metropolitan space, it’s additionally bought loads of locations to work. In reality, a number of family title companies, like AMC Theatres and Hallmark (the greeting playing cards, not the Christmas films), are headquartered in or close to Kansas Metropolis. Simply don’t make the error of complicated Kansas Metropolis, Missouri with Kansas Metropolis, Kansas—they’ve the identical title, however they’re very totally different.

*Information in tables collected in December 2023.

St. Louis

St. Louis is Missouri’s second-biggest metropolis and, identical to Kansas Metropolis, it’s a significant metro space filled with thrilling issues to do. Significantly, it’s just about unattainable to be bored in St. Louis.

Are you a sports activities fan? Go watch the Cardinals (MLB) or Blues (NHL) in motion. Extra of an arts individual? Go to the Saint Louis Artwork Museum or catch an outside Broadway musical through the summertime on the Muny. Music lover? St. Louis has an awesome native music scene, and loads of big-name artists—we’re speaking names like Olivia Rodrigo and Drake—make their technique to the Enterprise Heart annually on tour.

Add to all {that a} price of dwelling that’s 11% decrease than the nationwide common—with housing that’s a whopping 24% cheaper—and you’ve got a extremely candy vacation spot.⁶

Finest Suburbs of St. Louis

Kirkwood

Not solely is Kirkwood probably the greatest locations to dwell in Missouri, however some of us assume it’s additionally probably the greatest locations to dwell in all of America. Yep, it’s true. In 2022, Cash Journal launched a listing of the 50 finest locations to dwell within the U.S., and Kirkwood got here in at quantity 36.¹¹

Why? Most likely as a result of Kirkwood is only a 20-minute drive from St. Louis, which implies individuals who dwell there get entry to all of the thrilling leisure choices we simply talked about whereas nonetheless having the ability to dwell in a smaller, much less crowded metropolis. Kirkwood, like many cities on this record, additionally has a enjoyable downtown space the place locals love to hang around.

Chesterfield

The second St. Louis suburb on our record is Chesterfield, which is about 20 miles west of downtown STL. Like Kirkwood, residents of Chesterfield get to entry St. Louis’ world-class leisure sights and job alternatives whereas dwelling in a smaller space with a decrease price of dwelling. However the cool half about Chesterfield is that you simply don’t even have to enter the massive metropolis to have a good time.

That’s as a result of Chesterfield is full of enjoyable issues to do. Wish to impress your mates along with your golf swing (or, alternatively, fully embarrass your self)? Head over to Prime Golf. On the lookout for one thing the entire household will take pleasure in, regardless of in case your children are in grade college or faculty? Hit up the bowling alley and arcade at Major Occasion.

All informed, Chesterfield is an inexpensive metropolis that’s only a brief drive away from St. Louis’ thriving enterprise world and leisure—however it’s additionally bought loads of attraction and pleasure of its personal. 

Finest Suburbs of Kansas Metropolis

Parkville

All of the big-city suburbs on our record give their residents a smaller, much less crowded place to dwell with quick access to an even bigger metro space, however of us dwelling in Parkville actually get the very best of each worlds. That’s as a result of, with a inhabitants of underneath 8,000, Parkville is the smallest metropolis on our record by a fairly broad margin—and Parkville’s residents recognize their metropolis’s small dimension.

People dwelling in Parkville share a robust sense of neighborhood and revel in loads of peace and quiet. But when they ever get the itch for one thing a bit of greater (like flying out of a global airport or watching Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs), Kansas Metropolis is underneath 20 miles away.

And regardless of being probably the most prosperous metropolis on our record when it comes to median family earnings, Parkville nonetheless has an inexpensive price of dwelling. It additionally has an awesome college district.

Lee’s Summit

The second suburb of Kansas Metropolis in our record is Lee’s Summit, recognized for its sturdy sense of neighborhood, nice faculties, and outside actions.

Whereas Lee’s Summit isn’t precisely the smallest city on our record, you’ll positively really feel such as you’re in a traditional small city whenever you go to its downtown space. There, you’ll discover a number of nice native breweries, eating places and outlets. Ask a Lee’s Summit native what they love most about their metropolis, and also you’ll seemingly hear in regards to the downtown space.

Lee’s Summit additionally has a handful of close by lakes and ponds that locals love (two favorites are Lake Jacomo and Longview Lake), each for the water itself and the encircling trails. And since Lee’s Summit is only a 30-minute drive from Kansas Metropolis, its locals are by no means too removed from all the massive metropolis has to supply.

Finest School Cities in Missouri

Columbia

Columbia is house to the principle campus of Missouri’s greatest faculty, the College of Missouri (or Mizzou, as most college students and sports activities followers name it). Meaning Columbia is stuffed with all the normal faculty city staples.

It’s bought bookstores—just like the independently owned, two-story Skylark Bookshop downtown. It’s bought espresso outlets—like Shortwave Espresso, which has an excellent cool retro vibe. And it’s bought loads of nice eating places—like Shakespeare’s Pizza, a favourite amongst Mizzou college students.

Plus, Columbia has the bottom lease on our record, and its general price of dwelling is 8% under the nationwide common.²⁸

Springfield

Springfield is house to a number of faculties, together with Missouri State College, Evangel College and Drury College. Meaning tens of hundreds of scholars descend upon Springfield every fall, giving the town big-time youthful vitality every time class is in session.

You’ll additionally discover a number of nice fishing, biking and climbing spots in Springfield, so it’s an awesome vacation spot for anybody who loves the outside. It’s additionally house to Missouri’s first Buc-ee’s location, so Springfield’s residents can at all times fulfill their cravings for contemporary brisket and Beaver Nuggets.

To prime all of it off, Springfield has the bottom price of dwelling on our record at 15% under the nationwide common.³³ Yeah, it’s a fairly candy place to dwell.

Finest Locations in Missouri to Increase a Household

Numerous cities in Missouri are nice choices for elevating a household—together with a few of the ones we’ve already gone over. However these two areas are on the prime of the record.

St. Charles

St. Charles is virtually tailored for anybody in search of an awesome place to lift a household. For starters, its median house itemizing worth is 11% under the nationwide common, which means shopping for your loved ones house can be loads cheaper in St. Charles than most different locations within the U.S.³⁸

It’s additionally filled with tremendous enjoyable (and inexpensive) issues to do as a household. On the prime of the record is Wapelhorst Park, which options playgrounds, a fishing lake, and an enormous aquatic facility with a number of swimming swimming pools and big waterslides—it’s positively not your regular metropolis pool. St. Charles additionally has a skating rink, a go-kart observe, and a number of other different good parks.

Plus, even when all that isn’t sufficient to maintain the youngsters entertained, St. Charles is only a half-hour drive from St. Louis.

Ozark

In case you’ve seen the hit Netflix present Ozark, it’s possible you’ll be a bit of apprehensive about elevating a household within the place it’s named after. However don’t fear, you in all probability received’t discover any drug lords or cash launderers in Ozark, Missouri. As an alternative, you’ll discover a suburb of Springfield with a inhabitants that’s doubled during the last decade.⁴³

Whereas Springfield is extra of a hub metropolis due to its handful of schools and universities, Ozark has rather more of a small-town really feel. It’s additionally very near Branson, Missouri, in case you ever need to take the kiddos to the life-sized Titanic Museum or the Hollywood Wax Museum.

Able to Transfer to Missouri?

If one in all these cities actually stood out to you and also you’re itching to maneuver to Missouri, maintain your horses for only a second. There’s one thing that you must do earlier than shifting to a different state: Be sure to can afford the housing prices.

Missouri does have inexpensive housing prices throughout the board, however that doesn’t essentially imply the value tag would match inside your price range—particularly if you happen to’re planning to purchase a house. So, how have you learnt how a lot home you may afford? It’s simple!

Simply make sure that your lease or mortgage fee is not more than 25% of your take-home pay. In case you’re a home-owner, that quantity consists of non-public mortgage insurance coverage (PMI), owners affiliation charges and owners insurance coverage.

Maintain that rule in thoughts, and also you’ll be nicely in your technique to thriving as a brand new Missourian. You’ve bought this!