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 2025
- Warson Woods
- Rock Hill
- Weatherby Lake
- Fremont Hills
- Clarkson Valley
- Oakland
- Wardsville
- Green Park
- Frontenac
- Lake Winnebago
- Ashland
- Lake Waukomis
- Pleasant Valley
- Palmyra
- Winchester
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:
- Best Places To Live In Missouri
- Cheapest Places To Live In Missouri
- Most Dangerous Cities in Missouri
The 15 Best Small Towns In Missouri For 2025
1. Warson Woods
/10
Population: 2,312
Median Income: $200,104 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $573,600 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%
2. Rock Hill
/10
Population: 4,708
Median Income: $91,477 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $256,400 (22nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%
3. Weatherby Lake
/10
Population: 2,465
Median Income: $168,125 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $486,000 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%
4. Fremont Hills
/10
Population: 1,326
Median Income: $144,250 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $444,800 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%
5. Clarkson Valley
/10
Population: 2,592
Median Income: $238,333 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $821,100 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%
6. Oakland
/10
Population: 1,619
Median Income: $118,438 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $381,900 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.0%
7. Wardsville
/10
Population: 1,505
Median Income: $117,500 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $309,900 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%
8. Green Park
/10
Population: 2,688
Median Income: $75,833 (40th Best)
Median Home Value: $215,100 (31st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%
9. Frontenac
/10
Population: 3,669
Median Income: $225,813 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,004,500 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.0%
10. Lake Winnebago
/10
Population: 1,401
Median Income: $179,038 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $646,200 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
11. Ashland
/10
Population: 4,811
Median Income: $90,628 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $231,700 (28th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%
12. Lake Waukomis
Population: 1,085
Median Income: $119,519 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $412,100 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.3%
13. Pleasant Valley
/10
Population: 2,744
Median Income: $78,750 (35th Best)
Median Home Value: $195,200 (38th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%
14. Palmyra
/10
Population: 3,620
Median Income: $69,211 (47th Best)
Median Home Value: $165,000 (70th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
15. Winchester
/10
Population: 1,914
Median Income: $87,344 (27th Best)
Median Home Value: $209,300 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%
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 2019-2023 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 – 222 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 222, 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, Green Park, Frontenac, and Lake Winnebago.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Missouri:
- Steelville
- Rich Hill
- Malden
For more Missouri reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Missouri
- Safest Places In Missouri
- Worst Places To Live In Missouri
Best Small Towns In Missouri
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warson Woods, MO | 2,312 | $200,104 | 1.2% | |
| 2 | Rock Hill, MO | 4,708 | $91,477 | 1.8% | |
| 3 | Weatherby Lake, MO | 2,465 | $168,125 | 1.0% | |
| 4 | Fremont Hills, MO | 1,326 | $144,250 | 2.4% | |
| 5 | Clarkson Valley, MO | 2,592 | $238,333 | 2.6% | |
| 6 | Oakland, MO | 1,619 | $118,438 | 7.0% | |
| 7 | Wardsville, MO | 1,505 | $117,500 | 1.0% | |
| 8 | Green Park, MO | 2,688 | $75,833 | 1.5% | |
| 9 | Frontenac, MO | 3,669 | $225,813 | 5.0% | |
| 10 | Lake Winnebago, MO | 1,401 | $179,038 | 0.0% | |
| 11 | Ashland, MO | 4,811 | $90,628 | 1.2% | |
| 12 | Lake Waukomis, MO | 1,085 | $119,519 | 6.3% | |
| 13 | Pleasant Valley, MO | 2,744 | $78,750 | 2.4% | |
| 14 | Palmyra, MO | 3,620 | $69,211 | 2.3% | |
| 15 | Winchester, MO | 1,914 | $87,344 | 1.3% | |
| 16 | Holts Summit, MO | 4,572 | $81,927 | 1.1% | |
| 17 | Bel-Nor, MO | 1,472 | $106,875 | 8.6% | |
| 18 | St. Martins, MO | 1,195 | $78,125 | 2.5% | |
| 19 | Taos, MO | 1,334 | $103,594 | 1.6% | |
| 20 | Lakeshire, MO | 1,478 | $61,346 | 2.5% | |
| 21 | Marthasville, MO | 2,587 | $114,950 | 0.6% | |
| 22 | Higginsville, MO | 4,775 | $76,409 | 2.4% | |
| 23 | Oronogo, MO | 2,685 | $81,111 | 2.2% | |
| 24 | Pasadena Hills, MO | 1,104 | $85,694 | 11.8% | |
| 25 | Marlborough, MO | 2,366 | $47,011 | 3.3% | |
| 26 | St. Paul, MO | 3,292 | $154,022 | 0.7% | |
| 27 | Platte City, MO | 4,793 | $65,132 | 4.7% | |
| 28 | Mound City, MO | 1,103 | $60,735 | 0.0% | |
| 29 | Gower, MO | 1,677 | $80,057 | 1.9% | |
| 30 | Fayette, MO | 2,800 | $58,750 | 1.7% | |
| 31 | Hallsville, MO | 2,049 | $66,518 | 2.8% | |
| 32 | Lake Lotawana, MO | 2,378 | $162,188 | 4.0% | |
| 33 | Clever, MO | 2,977 | $77,403 | 2.5% | |
| 34 | Weston, MO | 1,852 | $91,625 | 2.5% | |
| 35 | Concordia, MO | 2,184 | $56,192 | 0.7% | |
| 36 | Loma Linda, MO | 1,070 | $90,294 | 2.4% | |
| 37 | New Haven, MO | 3,389 | $69,701 | 4.9% | |
| 38 | Archie, MO | 1,340 | $68,125 | 1.0% | |
| 39 | Country Club, MO | 3,171 | $82,614 | 5.4% | |
| 40 | Centralia, MO | 4,615 | $51,868 | 6.9% | |
| 41 | Lone Jack, MO | 1,487 | $116,328 | 3.9% | |
| 42 | Fenton, MO | 4,087 | $97,991 | 9.8% | |
| 43 | Bloomsdale, MO | 1,123 | $98,807 | 3.2% | |
| 44 | Labarque Creek, MO | 1,292 | $121,961 | 2.3% | |
| 45 | Herculaneum, MO | 4,925 | $88,778 | 2.2% | |
| 46 | Sturgeon, MO | 1,143 | $66,500 | 0.9% | |
| 47 | Buckner, MO | 2,917 | $84,572 | 4.8% | |
| 48 | Forsyth, MO | 2,749 | $44,352 | 0.5% | |
| 49 | Lake Ozark, MO | 2,451 | $80,476 | 4.9% | |
| 50 | Glasgow, MO | 1,054 | $45,703 | 2.9% | |
| 51 | Monroe City, MO | 3,162 | $52,883 | 0.8% | |
| 52 | Hermann, MO | 2,550 | $57,578 | 5.3% | |
| 53 | Linn, MO | 1,302 | $43,750 | 0.4% | |
| 54 | Lawson, MO | 2,742 | $63,799 | 3.2% | |
| 55 | Cole Camp, MO | 1,327 | $35,547 | 2.2% | |
| 56 | North Kansas City, MO | 4,758 | $46,024 | 10.5% | |
| 57 | Bethany, MO | 3,164 | $46,016 | 1.6% | |
| 58 | Winfield, MO | 1,726 | $70,170 | 2.3% | |
| 59 | Duquesne, MO | 2,216 | $52,372 | 2.9% | |
| 60 | Paris, MO | 1,326 | $54,219 | 4.0% | |
| 61 | Desloge, MO | 4,870 | $63,018 | 6.2% | |
| 62 | Charlack, MO | 1,775 | $53,393 | 7.0% | |
| 63 | Sparta, MO | 2,378 | $61,630 | 2.0% | |
| 64 | Village Of Four Seasons, MO | 2,077 | $92,988 | 7.9% | |
| 65 | Plattsburg, MO | 2,437 | $64,856 | 2.4% | |
| 66 | Memphis, MO | 1,860 | $49,598 | 2.0% | |
| 67 | Rogersville, MO | 4,496 | $51,375 | 3.0% | |
| 68 | Unionville, MO | 1,725 | $51,771 | 3.1% | |
| 69 | Lincoln, MO | 1,795 | $60,272 | 1.7% | |
| 70 | Rock Port, MO | 1,207 | $45,208 | 1.2% | |
| 71 | Knob Noster, MO | 2,824 | $60,294 | 9.5% | |
| 72 | Hollister, MO | 4,608 | $57,778 | 1.9% | |
| 73 | Scott City, MO | 4,354 | $61,581 | 3.0% | |
| 74 | Advance, MO | 1,549 | $51,583 | 0.8% | |
| 75 | High Ridge, MO | 4,209 | $75,040 | 4.0% | |
| 76 | Crystal City, MO | 4,721 | $64,650 | 3.6% | |
| 77 | Terre Du Lac, MO | 2,460 | $93,115 | 6.2% | |
| 78 | New Madrid, MO | 2,720 | $51,250 | 1.4% | |
| 79 | Vandalia, MO | 3,260 | $58,649 | 1.9% | |
| 80 | Brookfield, MO | 4,128 | $55,543 | 2.8% | |
| 81 | Lathrop, MO | 2,646 | $76,468 | 4.2% | |
| 82 | Lexington, MO | 4,602 | $70,134 | 4.0% | |
| 83 | Ste. Genevieve, MO | 4,996 | $43,856 | 5.6% | |
| 84 | Milan, MO | 1,883 | $52,647 | 5.6% | |
| 85 | Holden, MO | 1,936 | $68,324 | 2.6% | |
| 86 | Hamilton, MO | 1,909 | $56,548 | 4.5% | |
| 87 | Belle, MO | 1,476 | $55,341 | 3.8% | |
| 88 | Fair Grove, MO | 1,551 | $71,447 | 4.8% | |
| 89 | Huntsville, MO | 1,806 | $52,266 | 0.5% | |
| 90 | Cuba, MO | 3,172 | $44,217 | 0.0% | |
| 91 | Mountain Grove, MO | 4,494 | $41,875 | 1.4% | |
| 92 | Woodson Terrace, MO | 3,935 | $49,650 | 3.7% | |
| 93 | Shell Knob, MO | 1,445 | $51,852 | 4.6% | |
| 94 | Velda City, MO | 1,231 | $43,125 | 2.6% | |
| 95 | California, MO | 4,523 | $60,506 | 4.2% | |
| 96 | Slater, MO | 2,144 | $40,313 | 2.2% | |
| 97 | Auxvasse, MO | 1,385 | $54,185 | 8.6% | |
| 98 | Dellwood, MO | 4,869 | $71,171 | 4.5% | |
| 99 | Cedar Hill, MO | 1,568 | $66,076 | 3.2% | |
| 100 | Osage Beach, MO | 4,715 | $52,067 | 8.0% |