You’ve punched your last time card, and now you’re looking for us to show you the places in the Show-Me State that are the absolute best for retirement. You’re in the right place because we’ve looked at the data to come up with the best places to retire in Missouri.
Whether you’re a lifelong Missourian or are moving from far away, the state is a great place to spend your golden years. Missouri has one of the lowest rent of any state in America. You’ll have plenty extra to spend on all the fun things to do in Missouri. You can catch a Cardinals game with the family. Or going to the best Blues Festival of your life.
So just where are these magical retirement destinations? About half of Missouri’s best cities for retirement are suburbs of St. Louis and a few are around Kansas City.
Toss out your suits and ties, pack up your golf clubs, and relax because we’re visiting the best places to retire in Missouri.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Missouri For 2024
To find the best places to retire, we looked at 71 cities with at least 10,000 people. We then compared these 71 cities using data from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights.
What is the best place to retire in Missouri? According to the data, Poplar Bluff is the best place to retire in Missouri for 2024.
Did you have your heart set on another Missourian city for your retirement? See how it scored based on our metrics on the complete list below.
Why did Poplar Bluff take the top spot? And where are St. Louis and Springfield?
For more Missouri state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Missouri
- Cheapest Places To Live In Missouri
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Missouri
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Missouri For 2024
/10
Population: 16,313
Median Income: $37,448
Median Home Price: $154,670
Median Rent: $707
Distance to Closest Airport: 61 miles
More on Poplar Bluff: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,416
Median Income: $95,122
Median Home Price: $354,373
Median Rent: $719
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Smithville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,383
Median Income: $52,907
Median Home Price: $100,009
Median Rent: $598
Distance to Closest Airport: 19 miles
More on Kennett: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 14,769
Median Income: $75,127
Median Home Price: $276,502
Median Rent: $764
Distance to Closest Airport: 37 miles
More on Washington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,708
Median Income: $39,332
Median Home Price: $113,331
Median Rent: $730
Distance to Closest Airport: 120 miles
More on Moberly: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 57,692
Median Income: $88,708
Median Home Price: $289,759
Median Rent: $1,186
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on St. Peters: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 29,309
Median Income: $107,905
Median Home Price: $414,629
Median Rent: $1,217
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Kirkwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,502
Median Income: $47,585
Median Home Price: $144,899
Median Rent: $719
Distance to Closest Airport: 85 miles
More on Mexico: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,024
Median Income: $57,607
Median Home Price: $253,584
Median Rent: $850
Distance to Closest Airport: 48 miles
More on Harrisonville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 49,645
Median Income: $137,052
Median Home Price: $498,560
Median Rent: $1,405
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Chesterfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Show Me State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Missouri to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Show Me State — 1019 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 71 places from across the state.
For these 71, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 71, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Poplar Bluff, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Missouri.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Missouri Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Missouri goes to Poplar Bluff.
The best places to retire in Missouri are Poplar Bluff, Smithville, Kennett, Washington, Moberly, St. Peters, Kirkwood, Mexico, Harrisonville, and Chesterfield.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Springfield
- Columbia
- Belton
For more Missouri reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Missouri
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poplar Bluff | 16,313 | $37,448 | $154,670 | $707 |
| 2 | Smithville | 10,416 | $95,122 | $354,373 | $719 |
| 3 | Kennett | 10,383 | $52,907 | $100,009 | $598 |
| 4 | Washington | 14,769 | $75,127 | $276,502 | $764 |
| 5 | Moberly | 13,708 | $39,332 | $113,331 | $730 |
| 6 | St. Peters | 57,692 | $88,708 | $289,759 | $1,186 |
| 7 | Kirkwood | 29,309 | $107,905 | $414,629 | $1,217 |
| 8 | Mexico | 11,502 | $47,585 | $144,899 | $719 |
| 9 | Harrisonville | 10,024 | $57,607 | $253,584 | $850 |
| 10 | Chesterfield | 49,645 | $137,052 | $498,560 | $1,405 |