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 2025
To find the best places to retire, we looked at 70 cities with at least 10,000 people. We then compared these 70 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 2025.
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 2025
/10
Population: 16,243
Median Income: $42,035
Median Home Price: $109,700
Median Rent: $760
Distance to Closest Airport: 61 miles
More on Poplar Bluff: Data
/10
Population: 10,236
Median Income: $53,164
Median Home Price: $103,600
Median Rent: $600
Distance to Closest Airport: 19 miles
More on Kennett: Data
/10
Population: 13,634
Median Income: $43,231
Median Home Price: $140,000
Median Rent: $749
Distance to Closest Airport: 120 miles
More on Moberly: Data
/10
Population: 14,948
Median Income: $78,510
Median Home Price: $217,500
Median Rent: $846
Distance to Closest Airport: 37 miles
More on Washington: Data
/10
Population: 10,002
Median Income: $60,727
Median Home Price: $190,300
Median Rent: $853
Distance to Closest Airport: 48 miles
More on Harrisonville: Data
/10
Population: 10,696
Median Income: $102,523
Median Home Price: $275,200
Median Rent: $1,000
Distance to Closest Airport: 19 miles
More on Kearney: Data
/10
Population: 58,200
Median Income: $89,827
Median Home Price: $252,800
Median Rent: $1,291
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on St. Peters: Data
/10
Population: 23,771
Median Income: $110,716
Median Home Price: $371,400
Median Rent: $1,628
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Webster Groves: Data
/10
Population: 16,825
Median Income: $54,071
Median Home Price: $126,300
Median Rent: $821
Distance to Closest Airport: 86 miles
More on Hannibal: Data
/10
Population: 29,302
Median Income: $117,439
Median Home Price: $421,500
Median Rent: $1,293
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Kirkwood: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Show Me State for 2025
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 70 places from across the state.
For these 70, 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 70, 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 2025. 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, Kennett, Moberly, Washington, Harrisonville, Kearney, St. Peters, Webster Groves, Hannibal, and Kirkwood.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Branson
- Republic
- Springfield
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 | 16,243 | $42,035 | $109,700 | $760 |
| 2 | Kennett | 10,236 | $53,164 | $103,600 | $600 |
| 3 | Moberly | 13,634 | $43,231 | $140,000 | $749 |
| 4 | Washington | 14,948 | $78,510 | $217,500 | $846 |
| 5 | Harrisonville | 10,002 | $60,727 | $190,300 | $853 |
| 6 | Kearney | 10,696 | $102,523 | $275,200 | $1,000 |
| 7 | St. Peters | 58,200 | $89,827 | $252,800 | $1,291 |
| 8 | Webster Groves | 23,771 | $110,716 | $371,400 | $1,628 |
| 9 | Hannibal | 16,825 | $54,071 | $126,300 | $821 |
| 10 | Kirkwood | 29,302 | $117,439 | $421,500 | $1,293 |