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Is Missouri a good place to live? This question would surely come to your mind if you are planning to move here. Missouri is known for having a strong agriculture industry and some of the most iconic landmarks such as the Gateway Arch. Even though the place has the perfect blend of the magnificence of mind with great cultural attraction and a friendly community; moving here would surely be overwhelming.
Like every other state, Missouri also has its advantages and disadvantages at different levels. From hiking to fishing, the state has an abundance of outdoor adventures that you will love to explore. So, if you are an adventurist, you would fall in love with Missouri in no time. However, moving to a whole new state is quite a big decision to make. We at Estate Adapts, provide you with the best advice and guidance when it comes to real estate. Whether you are moving to Missouri or Mississippi or Kentucky and wondering if is Kentucky a good place to live? Then, don’t worry, because we got you covered!
That’s why, today we are here to talk all about Missouri, how your life would look like here, the pros and cons of living in Missouri, the cheapest place to live in Missouri, and more. Let’s dive in!
Life in Missouri
Missouri is known to be one of the most accessible and affordable places to live in the United States.
It has been popularly known as Show Me State since 1899 and it has a long list of things that you can discover. With an admiringly diverse geography, the state is near the center of the U.S. where the residents can explore a wide range, from the Ozark Mountains to the Northern Plains. Missouri’s cost-of-living index is just 90.1, which is quite less than most of the Midwestern states. Living here is very affordable as the value of an average median home is $171,800 apart from the luxury accommodations.
Besides that, the unemployment rate here is also extremely low, at 2.7%. The top leading industries in the state include trade or utilities or transportation, professional or business services, and education or health services.
Missouri also has many important academic institutions such as Saint Louis University, Washington University, Kansas City Art Institute and the University of Missouri system.
If you are planning to move to the Southern states of the U.S., it’s best to do prior research and choose what’s best suited for your needs. Among the cheapest states to live in, Mississippi and Oklahoma rank first. It might come to your mind, is Tennessee a good place to live, or is Oklahoma a good place to live? So, if you have to compare based on living costs and affordability. As both these are neighboring states to Missouri you would have a great chance to explore.
Cheapest Places to Live in Missouri
Missouri is known to have a relatively low cost of living. The best places to live here include both smaller towns as well as large metropolitan areas. We have listed down some of the most affordable and cheapest places to live in Missouri.
Kennett
When it comes to affordable places to live in Missouri, Kennett comes first with a 2.36% home price-to-income ratio. It’s a small town with 10,000 residents, who are offered tons of fun activities like seasonal festivals, sports games, outdoor concerts, and many more. Kennett is a great place to live if you are fond of scenery. The average Median household income here is around $38,297 with a property tax of $733.
Carthage
Also known as “America’s Maple Leaf City,” Carthage is located in the Southwestern part of Missouri with a 2.15% home price-to-income ratio. It’s filled with astonishing architecture, intriguing history, and arts. One of the most popular attraction points, The Precious Moments Chapel is located here, surrounded by a bright garden and a soothing place to relax. The average Median household income is around $41,226 with a property tax of $691.
Neosha
With 2.44% of the home price-to-income ratio, Neosho is known as the “Flower Box City.” It has a beautiful spring flowing through the town, giving it a surreal view. The average Median household income is around $38,214 with a property tax of $672.
The Poplar Bluff
Located in Southeast Missouri, Poplar Bluff is also called the Gateway to the Ozarks. The home price-to-income ratio is 3.04% with an average property tax valued at $619. The town has numerous parks, amazing restaurants, distinctive cafes, and fascinating rumors. The place serves an award-winning BBQ along with the delicious pink lemonade in Missouri. The average Median household income is around $30,370.
Pros and Cons of Living in Missouri
Pro: Relatively Low Cost of living
As Missouri is known for being affordable, it ranks 7th position among the 50 states of the U.S. for the cost of living. The average index for that is 88.6/100.
Pro: Close to Major Cities
It hardly takes four hours to move across the state of Missouri, so it’s up to you whether to live in Kansas City or St. Louis. You’ll always be close to the major cities with proper facilities of metro areas, music venues, sports events, museums, zoos, and others.
Pros: Good Educational Initiatives
Missouri has some great programs to help students in getting into a good college. Academic Initiatives such as 15 to Finish and CORE 42, is developed to create students who graduate or transfer on time. The state offers multiple options to the students when it comes to the type of college they want to pursue.
Con: Below Average Pay
The average pay in Missouri is very low, around $55.159 per capita income and below the $63,444 national average. And that becomes very tough to manage everything. That’s why the place to live matters quite a lot.
Con: High Crime Rate
Yes, crime rates are pretty high in Missouri, especially in major metro areas like St. Louis which ranks first as the most dangerous cities.
Con: Poor Healthcare Access
Missouri has certain restrictions on its healthcare access as it also ranks at 42nd in the U.S, in healthcare. Here, 34% of adults do not even have medical insurance.
What is the Cost of Living in Missouri
If you are planning to move to Missouri, there is a high chance that you will live comfortably. The average cost of the median house here is $138,400 which is 24.5% lower than the other states.
The cost of living in Missouri is relatively 9% less than the national average level and housing is 19% lower than the national level. Besides these, the cost of basic necessities such as food and clothes, here is 7% less than other states of the country and the clothes are observed at 7%.
CNBC ranks Missouri among the “15 cheapest states in America.” And the transportation and utilities here are also below the national average.
Also Read: https://estateadepts.com/is-tennessee-a-good-place-to-live/
