The 10 Best Small Towns In Missouri For 2022


We used science and data to determine which small towns in Missouri are the best of the best.

HomeSnacks is reader-supported. When you click through real estate links on our site, we earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

You've seen these lists before: Best places to live in Missouri, Most Beautiful Downtowns, etc., etc. But all of them 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 best 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 just want to know which places in Missouri ranked the based--you know, based on science.

Before we get to the top 15, here's a look at the 10 Best Small Towns To Live in Missouri for 2022.

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 2022

1. Warson Woods

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,387
Median Income: $166,042 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $460,800 (4th Best)
More on Warson Woods: Data | Homes For Sale

2. Rock Hill

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 4,634
Median Income: $75,895 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $193,700 (23rd Best)
More on Rock Hill: Data | Homes For Sale

3. Bel-Nor

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 1,516
Median Income: $82,891 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $158,900 (35th Best)
More on Bel-Nor: Data | Homes For Sale

4. Weatherby Lake

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,510
Median Income: $157,143 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $426,700 (6th Best)
More on Weatherby Lake: Data | Homes For Sale

5. Frontenac

Frontenac, MO

Source: Flickr User pasa47 | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 3,538
Median Income: $174,676 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $758,200 (1st Best)
More on Frontenac: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

6. Fremont Hills

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,058
Median Income: $106,964 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $367,100 (7th Best)
More on Fremont Hills: Data | Homes For Sale

7. Oakland

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,538
Median Income: $108,958 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $334,400 (9th Best)
More on Oakland: Data | Homes For Sale

8. Green Park

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,626
Median Income: $59,724 (41st Best)
Median Home Value: $163,600 (31st Best)
More on Green Park: Data | Homes For Sale

9. Wardsville

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,728
Median Income: $96,442 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $236,900 (16th Best)
More on Wardsville: Data | Homes For Sale

10. Clarkson Valley

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,619
Median Income: $208,000 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $665,700 (2nd Best)
More on Clarkson Valley: Data | Homes For Sale

11. Lakeshire

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 1,435
Median Income: $49,792 (72nd Best)
Median Home Value: $231,700 (18th Best)
More on Lakeshire: Data | Homes For Sale

12. Ashland

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,956
Median Income: $78,085 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $196,900 (22nd Best)
More on Ashland: Data | Homes For Sale

13. Lake Winnebago

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,174
Median Income: $123,542 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $455,200 (5th Best)
More on Lake Winnebago: Data | Homes For Sale

14. Taos

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,420
Median Income: $90,625 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $183,100 (26th Best)
More on Taos: Data | Homes For Sale

15. Platte City

Platte City, MO

Source: Wikipedia User | CC BY-SA 2.5
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 4,938
Median Income: $50,838 (65th Best)
Median Home Value: $162,100 (33rd Best)
More on Platte City: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Missouri

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the most recent data from the Census's 2016-2020 American Community Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 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)
Best States In America

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which, there were a lot - 230 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 230, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Missouri. Top of that list -- Warson Woods. You can download the data here.

Keep reading to find out more about our top 15 best small towns 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, we 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?

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

  1. Winona
  2. Clarkton
  3. Marble Hill

For more Missouri reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Best Small Towns In Missouri

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value
1 Warson Woods, MO 2,387 $166,042.0 $460,800.0
2 Rock Hill, MO 4,634 $75,895.0 $193,700.0
3 Bel-Nor, MO 1,516 $82,891.0 $158,900.0
4 Weatherby Lake, MO 2,510 $157,143.0 $426,700.0
5 Frontenac, MO 3,538 $174,676.0 $758,200.0
6 Fremont Hills, MO 1,058 $106,964.0 $367,100.0
7 Oakland, MO 1,538 $108,958.0 $334,400.0
8 Green Park, MO 2,626 $59,724.0 $163,600.0
9 Wardsville, MO 1,728 $96,442.0 $236,900.0
10 Clarkson Valley, MO 2,619 $208,000.0 $665,700.0
11 Lakeshire, MO 1,435 $49,792.0 $231,700.0
12 Ashland, MO 3,956 $78,085.0 $196,900.0
13 Lake Winnebago, MO 1,174 $123,542.0 $455,200.0
14 Taos, MO 1,420 $90,625.0 $183,100.0
15 Platte City, MO 4,938 $50,838.0 $162,100.0
16 Pasadena Hills, MO 1,123 $85,446.0 $204,200.0
17 Country Club, MO 2,488 $78,438.0 $153,200.0
18 Hallsville, MO 1,686 $49,850.0 $129,800.0
19 Winchester, MO 1,751 $70,400.0 $155,800.0
20 St. Martins, MO 1,161 $63,819.0 $184,300.0
21 Palmyra, MO 3,606 $51,736.0 $116,800.0
22 Marthasville, MO 2,410 $96,528.0 $128,000.0
23 Lone Jack, MO 1,379 $99,423.0 $216,700.0
24 Lake Lotawana, MO 2,928 $133,864.0 $464,800.0
25 Gower, MO 1,661 $55,298.0 $120,200.0
26 St. Paul, MO 2,463 $131,196.0 $348,300.0
27 Hermann, MO 2,375 $49,167.0 $135,300.0
28 Labarque Creek, MO 1,165 $111,311.0 $310,900.0
29 Fayette, MO 2,677 $45,357.0 $102,900.0
30 Sturgeon, MO 1,102 $60,417.0 $108,000.0
31 Centralia, MO 4,260 $55,938.0 $129,000.0
32 Holts Summit, MO 4,790 $64,391.0 $134,200.0
33 Archie, MO 1,225 $53,750.0 $128,800.0
34 Pleasant Valley, MO 3,017 $56,189.0 $152,400.0
35 Oronogo, MO 2,631 $68,571.0 $151,100.0
36 Ste. Genevieve, MO 4,396 $52,250.0 $142,400.0
37 Rock Port, MO 1,335 $51,014.0 $99,400.0
38 Fenton, MO 4,033 $94,826.0 $292,600.0
39 Lake Ozark, MO 2,317 $75,694.0 $256,400.0
40 Village Of Four Seasons, MO 2,103 $68,021.0 $214,900.0
41 Weston, MO 1,759 $67,000.0 $190,200.0
42 New Haven, MO 2,819 $52,102.0 $158,100.0
43 Byrnes Mill, MO 2,983 $86,944.0 $241,100.0
44 Mound City, MO 1,150 $50,764.0 $85,800.0
45 Cole Camp, MO 1,334 $48,077.0 $112,700.0
46 Marlborough, MO 2,727 $44,375.0 $174,100.0
47 Lathrop, MO 2,218 $63,224.0 $122,900.0
48 Glasgow, MO 1,117 $44,821.0 $86,800.0
49 Lawson, MO 2,423 $65,272.0 $121,000.0
50 Higginsville, MO 4,627 $52,109.0 $110,900.0
51 Buckner, MO 3,049 $71,026.0 $131,500.0
52 Stanberry, MO 1,271 $50,000.0 $87,500.0
53 Knob Noster, MO 2,769 $49,375.0 $115,300.0
54 Chaffee, MO 2,917 $43,044.0 $97,600.0
55 Lexington, MO 4,540 $61,285.0 $123,300.0
56 Monroe City, MO 2,810 $46,133.0 $111,700.0
57 High Ridge, MO 4,257 $63,990.0 $136,000.0
58 North Kansas City, MO 4,606 $36,351.0 $157,900.0
59 Terre Du Lac, MO 2,382 $66,438.0 $163,100.0
60 California, MO 4,411 $49,875.0 $112,300.0
61 Concordia, MO 2,709 $49,554.0 $110,600.0
62 Tarkio, MO 1,481 $50,690.0 $77,400.0
63 Winfield, MO 1,954 $54,821.0 $129,800.0
64 Duquesne, MO 2,010 $43,844.0 $145,300.0
65 Woodson Terrace, MO 4,044 $58,548.0 $73,100.0
66 Normandy, MO 4,868 $39,509.0 $78,000.0
67 Desloge, MO 4,901 $50,930.0 $97,500.0
68 Crystal City, MO 4,733 $57,441.0 $143,100.0
69 Vinita Park, MO 1,422 $39,375.0 $79,800.0
70 Imperial, MO 4,947 $66,467.0 $171,100.0
71 Clever, MO 2,742 $46,350.0 $115,800.0
72 Wright City, MO 4,012 $70,379.0 $156,000.0
73 Paris, MO 1,595 $43,173.0 $80,000.0
74 Cedar Hill, MO 1,625 $69,741.0 $153,400.0
75 Maysville, MO 1,142 $53,571.0 $91,100.0
76 Eldon, MO 4,671 $38,430.0 $96,300.0
77 Memphis, MO 1,886 $38,173.0 $70,000.0
78 Owensville, MO 2,579 $40,730.0 $96,000.0
79 Hillsboro, MO 3,251 $56,789.0 $159,800.0
80 Kimberling City, MO 2,711 $55,278.0 $174,100.0
81 Riverside, MO 3,422 $36,012.0 $233,900.0
82 Auxvasse, MO 1,229 $45,765.0 $102,600.0
83 Cool Valley, MO 1,116 $54,833.0 $75,000.0
84 Belle, MO 1,254 $38,266.0 $97,000.0
85 Linn, MO 1,507 $37,500.0 $122,200.0
86 Rogersville, MO 4,096 $48,218.0 $135,800.0
87 Plattsburg, MO 2,335 $56,314.0 $129,300.0
88 Herculaneum, MO 4,081 $66,773.0 $172,900.0
89 St. James, MO 4,053 $42,578.0 $89,200.0
90 Fair Grove, MO 1,448 $63,214.0 $133,900.0
91 Hamilton, MO 1,988 $53,000.0 $92,300.0
92 Brookfield, MO 4,265 $42,109.0 $77,400.0
93 La Plata, MO 1,192 $40,000.0 $75,900.0
94 Puxico, MO 1,133 $48,690.0 $67,500.0
95 Strafford, MO 2,437 $46,964.0 $122,100.0
96 Osage Beach, MO 4,923 $46,335.0 $277,000.0
97 Forsyth, MO 2,560 $37,248.0 $147,500.0
98 Fredericktown, MO 4,006 $37,115.0 $83,500.0
99 Huntsville, MO 1,820 $47,604.0 $75,500.0
100 Slater, MO 2,103 $31,198.0 $65,800.0
Download The Entire Missouri Ranking Data

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. This is our ninth time ranking the best small places to live in Missouri.

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