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 2026
- Warson Woods
- Grantwood Village
- Weatherby Lake
- Rock Hill
- Fremont Hills
- Clarkson Valley
- Oakland
- Lake Waukomis
- Frontenac
- Wardsville
- Green Park
- Lake Winnebago
- Palmyra
- Ashland
- Pleasant Valley
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 2026
1. Warson Woods
/10
Population: 2,393
Median Income: $206,979 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $673,847 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%
2. Grantwood Village
Population: 1,058
Median Income: $153,947 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $585,039 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%
3. Weatherby Lake
/10
Population: 2,401
Median Income: $152,500 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $585,268 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
4. Rock Hill
/10
Population: 4,693
Median Income: $95,372 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $302,429 (43rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%
5. Fremont Hills
/10
Population: 1,574
Median Income: $171,250 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $538,149 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
6. Clarkson Valley
/10
Population: 2,584
Median Income: $247,000 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $913,371 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%
7. Oakland
/10
Population: 1,562
Median Income: $114,861 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $462,431 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.4%
8. Lake Waukomis
Population: 1,170
Median Income: $128,702 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $430,407 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.7%
9. Frontenac
/10
Population: 3,701
Median Income: $233,425 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,251,597 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.4%
10. Wardsville
/10
Population: 1,579
Median Income: $121,222 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $355,179 (22nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%
11. Green Park
/10
Population: 2,690
Median Income: $79,141 (35th Best)
Median Home Value: $256,230 (66th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%
12. Lake Winnebago
/10
Population: 1,773
Median Income: $178,565 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $837,782 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
13. Palmyra
/10
Population: 3,623
Median Income: $69,922 (53rd Best)
Median Home Value: $239,485 (78th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%
14. Ashland
/10
Population: 4,914
Median Income: $93,143 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $362,928 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%
15. Pleasant Valley
/10
Population: 2,736
Median Income: $75,682 (40th Best)
Median Home Value: $257,452 (65th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
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 2020-2024 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 – 223 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 223, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Missouri. Top of that list — Warson Woods.
This is our eleventh 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, Grantwood Village, Weatherby Lake, Rock Hill, Fremont Hills, Clarkson Valley, Oakland, Lake Waukomis, Frontenac, and Wardsville.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Missouri:
- Malden
- Senath
- Piedmont
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 | 2,393 | $206,979 | 1.8% | |
| 2 | Grantwood Village, MO | 1,058 | $153,947 | 2.2% | |
| 3 | Weatherby Lake, MO | 2,401 | $152,500 | 1.4% | |
| 4 | Rock Hill, MO | 4,693 | $95,372 | 2.6% | |
| 5 | Fremont Hills, MO | 1,574 | $171,250 | 1.9% | |
| 6 | Clarkson Valley, MO | 2,584 | $247,000 | 2.9% | |
| 7 | Oakland, MO | 1,562 | $114,861 | 5.4% | |
| 8 | Lake Waukomis, MO | 1,170 | $128,702 | 4.7% | |
| 9 | Frontenac, MO | 3,701 | $233,425 | 4.4% | |
| 10 | Wardsville, MO | 1,579 | $121,222 | 0.7% | |
| 11 | Green Park, MO | 2,690 | $79,141 | 1.5% | |
| 12 | Lake Winnebago, MO | 1,773 | $178,565 | 0.0% | |
| 13 | Palmyra, MO | 3,623 | $69,922 | 3.2% | |
| 14 | Ashland, MO | 4,914 | $93,143 | 1.8% | |
| 15 | Pleasant Valley, MO | 2,736 | $75,682 | 1.9% | |
| 16 | St. Martins, MO | 1,228 | $89,250 | 2.1% | |
| 17 | Platte City, MO | 4,824 | $71,498 | 2.9% | |
| 18 | Oronogo, MO | 2,804 | $91,563 | 1.0% | |
| 19 | Marthasville, MO | 2,328 | $112,083 | 1.1% | |
| 20 | Holts Summit, MO | 4,609 | $85,064 | 1.2% | |
| 21 | Lakeshire, MO | 1,396 | $62,115 | 1.5% | |
| 22 | Taos, MO | 1,242 | $98,854 | 2.1% | |
| 23 | St. Paul, MO | 3,456 | $159,022 | 0.5% | |
| 24 | Gower, MO | 1,799 | $83,750 | 2.1% | |
| 25 | Winchester, MO | 1,939 | $87,917 | 2.3% | |
| 26 | Hallsville, MO | 1,927 | $71,000 | 3.4% | |
| 27 | Sturgeon, MO | 1,035 | $76,250 | 1.3% | |
| 28 | Pasadena Hills, MO | 1,190 | $70,341 | 10.8% | |
| 29 | Marlborough, MO | 2,157 | $50,300 | 0.7% | |
| 30 | Bel-Nor, MO | 1,556 | $110,667 | 8.0% | |
| 31 | Archie, MO | 1,322 | $68,750 | 1.0% | |
| 32 | Whiteman Afb, MO | 3,517 | $54,641 | 3.6% | |
| 33 | Country Club, MO | 2,935 | $81,042 | 3.2% | |
| 34 | Labarque Creek, MO | 1,457 | $133,083 | 1.7% | |
| 35 | Centralia, MO | 4,690 | $66,438 | 7.0% | |
| 36 | High Ridge, MO | 3,714 | $70,917 | 0.0% | |
| 37 | Lake Lotawana, MO | 2,442 | $165,962 | 4.4% | |
| 38 | Concordia, MO | 2,332 | $59,068 | 1.0% | |
| 39 | Higginsville, MO | 4,781 | $81,033 | 4.4% | |
| 40 | Weston, MO | 1,922 | $88,750 | 2.2% | |
| 41 | Clever, MO | 3,030 | $78,366 | 2.1% | |
| 42 | Fenton, MO | 4,088 | $101,000 | 8.1% | |
| 43 | New Haven, MO | 3,302 | $71,306 | 4.7% | |
| 44 | Mound City, MO | 1,066 | $62,468 | 0.8% | |
| 45 | Loma Linda, MO | 1,239 | $92,292 | 4.4% | |
| 46 | Hamilton, MO | 1,755 | $65,213 | 2.8% | |
| 47 | Lone Jack, MO | 1,412 | $121,389 | 5.1% | |
| 48 | Fayette, MO | 2,801 | $57,679 | 2.5% | |
| 49 | Rogersville, MO | 4,908 | $70,485 | 2.6% | |
| 50 | Lawson, MO | 2,905 | $65,941 | 2.6% | |
| 51 | Paris, MO | 1,587 | $63,487 | 3.8% | |
| 52 | Foristell, MO | 1,096 | $116,581 | 4.2% | |
| 53 | Unionville, MO | 1,824 | $61,406 | 2.7% | |
| 54 | Winfield, MO | 1,745 | $75,766 | 2.0% | |
| 55 | Glasgow, MO | 1,118 | $50,446 | 3.1% | |
| 56 | Duquesne, MO | 2,257 | $54,135 | 1.0% | |
| 57 | Knob Noster, MO | 2,838 | $62,353 | 10.0% | |
| 58 | North Kansas City, MO | 4,983 | $49,682 | 9.5% | |
| 59 | Hermann, MO | 2,290 | $61,979 | 5.2% | |
| 60 | Lake Ozark, MO | 2,335 | $74,176 | 4.3% | |
| 61 | New London, MO | 1,130 | $63,021 | 1.3% | |
| 62 | Sparta, MO | 2,331 | $63,182 | 1.5% | |
| 63 | Osage Beach, MO | 4,905 | $55,994 | 2.7% | |
| 64 | Cole Camp, MO | 1,436 | $47,083 | 1.5% | |
| 65 | Memphis, MO | 1,782 | $55,125 | 0.6% | |
| 66 | Buckner, MO | 2,914 | $87,350 | 5.1% | |
| 67 | Forsyth, MO | 2,766 | $45,824 | 2.9% | |
| 68 | Desloge, MO | 4,863 | $60,820 | 3.5% | |
| 69 | Salisbury, MO | 1,540 | $65,329 | 4.5% | |
| 70 | Crystal City, MO | 4,718 | $72,598 | 2.2% | |
| 71 | Rock Port, MO | 1,221 | $45,815 | 1.0% | |
| 72 | Reeds Spring, MO | 1,112 | $56,364 | 0.0% | |
| 73 | La Grange, MO | 1,033 | $58,456 | 0.6% | |
| 74 | Scott City, MO | 4,371 | $62,599 | 2.0% | |
| 75 | Terre Du Lac, MO | 2,516 | $86,019 | 4.8% | |
| 76 | New Madrid, MO | 2,662 | $57,727 | 0.7% | |
| 77 | Linn, MO | 1,197 | $36,176 | 0.2% | |
| 78 | Kissee Mills, MO | 1,081 | $67,460 | 0.0% | |
| 79 | Monroe City, MO | 3,028 | $55,737 | 0.8% | |
| 80 | Milan, MO | 1,859 | $56,063 | 5.8% | |
| 81 | Appleton City, MO | 1,221 | $49,036 | 2.4% | |
| 82 | Advance, MO | 1,450 | $59,688 | 0.7% | |
| 83 | Lincoln, MO | 1,787 | $63,200 | 1.8% | |
| 84 | Brookfield, MO | 4,144 | $53,000 | 3.1% | |
| 85 | Dellwood, MO | 4,847 | $72,540 | 6.5% | |
| 86 | Hillsboro, MO | 3,500 | $77,500 | 4.2% | |
| 87 | Princeton, MO | 1,352 | $58,558 | 0.0% | |
| 88 | Salem, MO | 4,677 | $43,923 | 3.0% | |
| 89 | Gray Summit, MO | 2,991 | $65,667 | 2.2% | |
| 90 | Cuba, MO | 3,189 | $45,916 | 0.6% | |
| 91 | Fredericktown, MO | 4,507 | $49,375 | 5.9% | |
| 92 | Auxvasse, MO | 1,452 | $56,307 | 8.1% | |
| 93 | California, MO | 4,509 | $63,864 | 4.5% | |
| 94 | Mount Vernon, MO | 4,563 | $53,255 | 2.0% | |
| 95 | Hollister, MO | 4,643 | $53,507 | 2.4% | |
| 96 | Village Of Four Seasons, MO | 2,252 | $89,635 | 9.3% | |
| 97 | Fair Grove, MO | 1,717 | $74,514 | 4.9% | |
| 98 | Ash Grove, MO | 1,333 | $58,250 | 4.0% | |
| 99 | Chaffee, MO | 3,026 | $43,542 | 5.2% | |
| 100 | Mountain Grove, MO | 4,491 | $37,415 | 1.0% |