So, you’re curious about living in Missouri? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Missouri.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Missouri matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Missouri is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Missouri
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Missouri is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Missouri:
- Affordable housing. Missouri has lower property taxes and home prices than most states, so you can afford a nice place to live without breaking the bank!
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Missouri:
- Limited public transportation. If you don’t drive, then finding ways around town might be more difficult for you than if you lived somewhere with an extensive train system like Chicago or New York City!
Read More: Is Missouri a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Missouri
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Missouri? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Missouri!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Missouri.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Missouri:
- Columbia
- Kansas City
- Ladue
- Richmond Heights
- Springfield
- St Louis
Read More: Best Places to Live in Missouri
Checklist for Moving to Missouri
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Missouri. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Missouri.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Missouri:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Missouri driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Missouri
- Getting Missouri car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Missouri and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Missouri.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Missouri and your previous home state.
Visit your Missouri Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Missouri Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Missouri.
Things to Know About Living in Missouri
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Missouri, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Missouri
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Missouri ranks 6th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 90.4, meaning it’s a relatively inexpensive place to live.
Here is how Missouri scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 95.4
- Housing: 78.3
- Utilities: 96.3
- Transportation: 90.4
- Health: 94.6
- Miscellaneous: 95.8
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Missouri
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Missouri from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Missouri’s state sales tax rate is lower than the national average at 4.23%, with an average local rate of 4.03% (the highest local sales tax rate is 5.76%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 8.25%.
Check with the Missouri tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Missouri
If you own or plan to own real estate in Missouri, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Missouri ranks 27th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of .97%
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Missouri tax office for the most current tax rates.
Missouri’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Missouri is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Missouri ranks 22nd for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Professional and business services
- Manufacturing
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Finance and insurance
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Information
- Construction
The top employer in Missouri is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Missouri
Our Missouri moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Missouri is the Gateway Arch..
National Parks that you can visit in Missouri include:
- Gateway Arch National Park
National Monuments that you can find in Missouri include:
- George Washington Carver National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Missouri
Missouri is the 24th state of the United States that lies in the midwest region. To its north is Iowa, to its south is Arkansas, to its east is Illinois, and to its west is Kansas.
What is the capital of Missouri?
The capital of Missouri is Jefferson City.
Jefferson City is located in Cole County with a population of 43,079.
What is the population of Missouri?
The population of Missouri based on 2020 US Census data is 6,154,913.
What is the largest city in Missouri?
The largest city in Missouri is Kansas City.
Kansas City has a population of 507,928, and it is located on the Kansas-Missouri state line. .
What is the size of Missouri?
Missouri is 69,706 square miles, making it the 21st largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Missouri?
The state motto of Missouri is: Salus populi suprema lex esto
What is the state bird of Missouri?
The state bird of Missouri is the Eastern bluebird.
What is the state flower of Missouri?
The state flower of Missouri is the Hawthorn.
What is the state tree of Missouri?
The state tree of Missouri is the Flowering Dogwood.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Missouri?
The minimum wage in Missouri is $10.30 per hour.
What is the median income in Missouri?
The median annual household salary in Missouri is $54,478.