The 10 Best Small Towns In Missouri For 2024


The best small towns in Missouri are Warson Woods and Rock Hill for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: January 12, 2024

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Missouri. Best sururbs in Missouri. Best counties in Missouri.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Show Me State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Missouri based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Missouri ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Missouri For 2024

  1. Warson Woods
  2. Rock Hill
  3. Weatherby Lake
  4. Fremont Hills
  5. Clarkson Valley
  6. Oakland
  7. Wardsville
  8. Frontenac
  9. Green Park
  10. Bel-Nor
  11. Lake Waukomis
  12. Ashland
  13. Lake Winnebago
  14. Palmyra
  15. Lakeshire

Best Small Towns To Live In Missouri Map

What’s the best small town in Missouri? Warson Woods is the best small town in Missouri based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Warson Woods, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Show Me State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Missouri For 2024

1. Warson Woods

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,107
Median Income: $190,972 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $600,071 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

2. Rock Hill

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 4,728
Median Income: $85,155 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $277,056 (38th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

3. Weatherby Lake

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,422
Median Income: $164,444 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $537,192 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%

4. Fremont Hills

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,272
Median Income: $128,333 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $515,391 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

5. Clarkson Valley

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,608
Median Income: $218,816 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $810,952 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

6. Oakland

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,633
Median Income: $107,813 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $424,127 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.9%

7. Wardsville

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,635
Median Income: $106,667 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $327,971 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%

8. Frontenac

Frontenac, MO

Source: Flickr User pasa47 | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 3,639
Median Income: $250,001 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,057,065 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

9. Green Park

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,688
Median Income: $71,765 (38th Best)
Median Home Value: $240,440 (59th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%

10. Bel-Nor

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 1,349
Median Income: $97,105 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $191,551 (92nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

11. Lake Waukomis

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,021
Median Income: $112,448 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $419,471 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.2%

12. Ashland

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 4,730
Median Income: $87,377 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $321,175 (24th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%

13. Lake Winnebago

Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 1,263
Median Income: $173,194 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $735,985 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

14. Palmyra

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,613
Median Income: $60,694 (59th Best)
Median Home Value: $201,577 (87th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

15. Lakeshire

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 1,422
Median Income: $59,595 (65th Best)
Median Home Value: $290,478 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Missouri

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Missouri possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 228 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 228, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Missouri. Top of that list — Warson Woods.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Missouri.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Missouri are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Missouri are Warson Woods, Rock Hill, Weatherby Lake, Fremont Hills, Clarkson Valley, Oakland, Wardsville, Frontenac, Green Park, and Bel-Nor.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Missouri:

  1. Marble Hill
  2. Greenfield
  3. Malden

For more Missouri reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Missouri

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Warson Woods, MO 2,107 $190,972 0.9%
2 Rock Hill, MO 4,728 $85,155 1.8%
3 Weatherby Lake, MO 2,422 $164,444 1.9%
4 Fremont Hills, MO 1,272 $128,333 2.9%
5 Clarkson Valley, MO 2,608 $218,816 2.0%
6 Oakland, MO 1,633 $107,813 5.9%
7 Wardsville, MO 1,635 $106,667 1.0%
8 Frontenac, MO 3,639 $250,001 4.1%
9 Green Park, MO 2,688 $71,765 1.9%
10 Bel-Nor, MO 1,349 $97,105 2.6%
11 Lake Waukomis, MO 1,021 $112,448 7.2%
12 Ashland, MO 4,730 $87,377 0.7%
13 Lake Winnebago, MO 1,263 $173,194 1.3%
14 Palmyra, MO 3,613 $60,694 1.6%
15 Lakeshire, MO 1,422 $59,595 2.2%
16 Pasadena Hills, MO 1,272 $95,673 12.6%
17 Holts Summit, MO 4,499 $78,352 1.2%
18 Marthasville, MO 2,616 $103,750 0.7%
19 Gower, MO 1,718 $64,702 1.4%
20 St. Martins, MO 1,214 $75,655 3.3%
21 Higginsville, MO 4,776 $76,731 2.2%
22 Taos, MO 1,275 $101,354 1.3%
23 Oronogo, MO 2,597 $85,143 2.3%
24 Platte City, MO 4,781 $58,802 4.0%
25 Hallsville, MO 1,993 $63,839 2.9%
26 Clever, MO 2,926 $73,583 1.9%
27 Centralia, MO 4,570 $61,172 4.2%
28 Flint Hill, MO 1,041 $82,837 1.0%
29 Winchester, MO 1,977 $82,163 3.1%
30 Lake Lotawana, MO 3,017 $156,146 3.7%
31 Pleasant Valley, MO 2,748 $73,487 5.3%
32 St. Paul, MO 3,149 $142,946 0.5%
33 Weston, MO 1,743 $82,159 4.2%
34 Sturgeon, MO 1,078 $65,417 1.4%
35 Fayette, MO 2,790 $50,714 1.3%
36 New Haven, MO 3,363 $66,410 4.6%
37 Lone Jack, MO 1,328 $117,411 2.9%
38 Country Club, MO 3,191 $79,688 6.3%
39 Mound City, MO 1,143 $58,073 1.7%
40 Concordia, MO 2,390 $53,902 0.7%
41 Labarque Creek, MO 1,201 $161,250 2.5%
42 Fenton, MO 4,097 $97,500 9.5%
43 Archie, MO 1,292 $65,078 1.4%
44 Hermann, MO 2,374 $55,833 3.6%
45 Whiteman Afb, MO 4,119 $59,593 3.3%
46 Marlborough, MO 2,492 $50,000 8.0%
47 Glasgow, MO 1,143 $47,788 3.0%
48 Buckner, MO 2,941 $81,528 4.2%
49 Linn, MO 1,484 $51,250 0.3%
50 Rock Port, MO 1,274 $51,667 1.1%
51 Lake Ozark, MO 2,628 $71,528 4.0%
52 Lawson, MO 2,429 $61,929 3.1%
53 Rogersville, MO 4,326 $50,579 2.9%
54 Paris, MO 1,385 $58,173 1.7%
55 Forsyth, MO 2,731 $42,083 3.0%
56 Eldon, MO 4,435 $44,714 2.5%
57 Village Of Four Seasons, MO 1,732 $82,125 9.0%
58 Desloge, MO 4,875 $60,354 7.3%
59 North Kansas City, MO 4,553 $42,743 6.3%
60 High Ridge, MO 4,651 $70,333 3.7%
61 Herculaneum, MO 4,767 $79,824 5.7%
62 Wright City, MO 4,828 $74,904 6.6%
63 Duquesne, MO 2,297 $48,561 2.9%
64 Ash Grove, MO 1,617 $50,417 4.2%
65 Sparta, MO 2,442 $61,319 1.4%
66 Dellwood, MO 4,899 $67,845 3.4%
67 Monroe City, MO 3,176 $50,885 0.5%
68 Huntsville, MO 1,748 $55,000 1.0%
69 Auxvasse, MO 1,286 $51,600 9.3%
70 Carrollton, MO 3,454 $43,333 3.3%
71 Byrnes Mill, MO 3,155 $65,156 1.7%
72 Brookfield, MO 4,142 $53,653 2.7%
73 Cassville, MO 3,193 $46,136 0.0%
74 Winfield, MO 1,722 $59,598 4.5%
75 Fredericktown, MO 4,438 $48,155 7.1%
76 California, MO 4,520 $60,070 4.9%
77 Milan, MO 1,989 $51,842 4.4%
78 Belle, MO 1,249 $48,333 2.3%
79 Lathrop, MO 2,546 $72,804 6.0%
80 Cole Camp, MO 1,363 $40,192 0.5%
81 Plattsburg, MO 2,284 $59,844 4.8%
82 Chaffee, MO 3,037 $47,917 4.4%
83 La Monte, MO 1,029 $60,474 2.6%
84 Kimberling City, MO 2,625 $51,458 11.8%
85 Scott City, MO 4,364 $57,771 2.8%
86 Woodson Terrace, MO 3,943 $52,826 2.5%
87 Stanberry, MO 1,261 $66,447 3.6%
88 Gray Summit, MO 2,573 $68,272 2.5%
89 Ste. Genevieve, MO 4,965 $52,760 6.1%
90 Terre Du Lac, MO 2,443 $75,398 5.6%
91 Memphis, MO 1,862 $40,745 2.9%
92 Cedar Hill, MO 1,453 $77,774 3.8%
93 Slater, MO 1,987 $33,088 2.8%
94 Shelbina, MO 2,165 $52,050 0.9%
95 Fair Grove, MO 1,625 $71,000 4.8%
96 Crystal City, MO 4,721 $61,818 5.3%
97 Strafford, MO 2,570 $57,266 2.7%
98 Mountain Grove, MO 4,498 $38,103 0.8%
99 Bourbon, MO 1,759 $59,327 2.6%
100 Knob Noster, MO 2,793 $49,640 8.9%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings