The Pros and Cons of Living in Missouri

Whether you are thinking about moving to Missouri or have already taken the plunge, let’s explore what makes Missouri so great. With every state, there are pros and cons, but most lifelong Missourians will tell you the pros outweigh the cons. 

Families, married couples, and singles will find the rich heritage and natural beauty of Missouri enchanting. When weighing the pros and cons of living in Missouri, you might find that Missouri is a sweet place to call home. 

1. Rural versus City

Missouri has several large cities, including St. Louis, Kansas City, Rolla, Cape Girardeau, and Springfield. But the state is also home to numerous small towns and family farms. If you are craving the fast pace of a big city or the slower, small-town vibe, Missouri has it for you.

Pro: Big cities are within driving distance no matter where you live in the state.

Pro: Small towns have a naturally friendly feel. When you live in a small Missouri town, you will meet some of the friendliest people. Even if you are just stopping in for a visit, small towns make you feel right at home.

Con: With more and more people migrating to Missouri, the cities are becoming crowded. 

Con: The crime rate in St. Louis has exploded within the past ten years. According to Neighborhood Scout, St. Louis has one of the highest crime rates in the United States at 87 per 1,000 residents. 

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2. Climate in St. Louis

The weather extremes in Missouri are not for the faint of heart. Missourians have become resilient to the weather and even joke about it, saying if you don’t like the weather, stick around for a day, and it is sure to change. 

Pro: You will never be bored when it comes to the weather. Missouri can have a snowstorm, tornado, and sunshine, all within a few days of each other. 

Pro: The bright colors of autumn throughout Missouri are breathtaking. Photographers travel throughout the state, taking pictures of the foliage as it changes during the fall months. Hiking through one of the numerous parks during the crisp fall days is a great activity that lets you see the wonderful colors unfolding. 

Con: High humidity during the summer is oppressive. Outdoor activities are greatly affected. Heat-related illnesses and deaths skyrocket during the humid summer months in Missouri.  

Con: The fluctuating climate in Missouri and the diverse landscape are not a great combination for allergy sufferers. Pollen counts are especially high during the spring and fall months. The air in certain areas becomes laden with a yellow haze, and pollen coats surfaces, including cars, patio furniture, and windows. During the humid summer months, mold spores become very high. 

Con: Located in Tornado Alley, Missouri has seen its fair share of natural disasters ranging from tornados, straight-line winds, floods, ice storms, and earthquakes. Tornadoes hitting the state can range from small EF0 to devastating EF5. 

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3. Cost of Living

Missouri’s cost of living is considerably lower compared to many states. Wages may be lower than in some states, but having a lower cost of living balances things out and makes Missouri an affordable place to live. According to MERIC, Missouri’s cost of living ranks sixth lowest in the United States. 

Pro: Affordable housing keeps a bigger chunk of money in your bank account. House prices are considerably lower than in most other states. Rentals are also generally lower than the national average. 

Pro: Taxes are slightly less than the national average. Real estate, income, and personal property taxes are all lower. Sales tax is also lower at about 4.22%, and when combined with local sales tax, averages about 8.39%.

Pro: There is no inheritance tax or estate tax in Missouri.

Con: Because the cost of living is lower in Missouri, average household incomes are also lower. As of 2022, the median household income was $64,811.

4. Public Transportation

Public transportation is important for those unable to drive or those who are environmentally conscience and want to decrease their carbon footprint. Some states offer excellent public transportation options. 

Pro: Big cities do offer some form of public transportation. Buses and MetroLink are two great options in St. Louis. Kansas City has two bus lines, the Metro and the Jo, whereas Springfield has the Springfield City Area Transit for its public transportation needs.

Con: Missouri’s rural counties do not have many options for public transportation. Jefferson County has OATS Transit, but it does not service the entire county every day. Other counties do not offer any public transportation. 

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5. Recreation

Every state has fun and exciting things to do and attracts tourists from across the country. Missouri, however, is one of those states with so many fun and exciting things to do that people do not just visit; they decide to move here. 

Mark Twain National Forest has over 3 million acres, but only 1.5 million are publicly owned and can be explored. There are fantastic hiking trails that wind through the forest, and you can visit the Taum Sauk Mountain Falls, which has the highest falls in Missouri. 

Katy Trail State Park is another recreation option where you can hike or bike along the Missouri River. You will not want to tackle the entire trail; it is a whopping 240 miles long. But you can hop on and off the trail in multiple places and enjoy breathtaking views. 

Float down the Current River at Johnson’s Shut-Ins. The clear waters are filled with fish; you will love floating down the river and checking out the aquatic species swimming alongside. Natural pools formed in Johnson’s Shut-Ins are the perfect spot for cliff jumping and swimming. 

Head to Lake of the Ozarks, a popular tourist destination with a surface area of over 54,000 acres, and its shoreline stretches 1,150 miles. The Osage Arm is where most tourists can be found, and its shoreline is 92 miles. 

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Just outside of St. Louis sits Grant’s Farm, the historic farm that has been a part of the Busch family since 1903. Today, visitors can head to the farm and spend time visiting with the famous Anheuser Busch Clydesdales, ride some carnival rides, visit a petting zoo, spend time in the gift shop, and grab a drink in the beer garden. It is the perfect place for families to spend a sunny day in Missouri.  

Pro: Missouri is home to several college and professional sports teams. College football and hoops are alive and thriving in Missouri. The Kansas City Chiefs are currently dominating in the NFL, the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals are great fun to watch, and St. Louis is home to a professional soccer team and an arena football team. 

Pro: Outdoor recreation is endless in Missouri. From the Ozark Mountains to the Mark Twain National Forest, there are plenty of natural outdoor places to explore. Go rock climbing, explore caves, float down a river, hike through a forest, or enjoy bird watching. No matter what you enjoy outdoors, you will find it in Missouri. 

Pro: For people not into outdoor recreation, Missouri is home to many amazing indoor activities such as art museums, history museums, the Pony Express Museum, and the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

Con: Missouri is landlocked, so you will not be visiting the ocean while in Missouri. There are sandy or rocky beaches along some of Missouri’s biggest lakes, such as Table Rock Lake or Lake of the Ozarks. 

Con: Some of the main attractions in Missouri, such as Table Rock Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Mark Twain Forest, Mark Twain Lake, and the Katy Trail are popular tourist spots, and many locals prefer to head to lesser-known areas in Missouri.

6. Cuisine

The food scene in Missouri is a rather eclectic mix of farm-to-table, international, traditional barbecue, and local traditions. Imo’s Pizza started in Missouri and has expanded to Illinois and Kansas. Toasted ravioli was once the best-kept secret in St. Louis. Kansas City barbecue is famous for its mouthwatering, fall-off-the-bone goodness. 

The Ozark Mountains are best known for their trout. Pull up a chair and savor tasty trout dishes. You may also see some interesting wild game dishes on menus in the Ozarks. Smaller towns throughout Missouri have eateries offering farm-fresh ingredients that are grown locally. 

With its strong German heritage, several restaurants specialize in German fare or at least a more modern take on certain German dishes. Soulard, a historic community in St. Louis, offers Oktoberfest to celebrate their German roots. 

Pro: There are a lot of options for picky eaters in and around the bigger cities. Every cuisine imaginable can be found somewhere in Missouri.

Pro: Family-friendly restaurants are found everywhere in Missouri. Mom-and-pop diners, kid-centered eateries, and chain restaurants with awesome kids’ menus are abundant. 

Con: More rural communities are not as food-forward as the big cities and you may not have as big of a selection when it comes to types of cuisine. 

Con: Since Missouri is landlocked, the only great fish found is catfish or trout. Seafood is not always the freshest, and most restaurants cannot properly prepare and present high-end seafood dishes. 

7. Health Care

Unfortunately, Missouri’s citizens are not the healthiest in the nation. Personal health and well-being do not seem to be important to Missourians. Missouri does have higher than normal stroke and heart disease incidents. The number of smokers is also higher than the national average. 

Access to quality health care is a problem, especially in rural Missouri towns. This means preventative services, continuing care, and even emergency care are sometimes nonexistent in some communities.

Pro: Big cities have facilities for cancer care, cardiovascular care, pain management, and emergency services. These facilities are generally easy to access when you live near these cities.

Con: Very rural areas do not have adequate healthcare facilities. Emergency personnel can take a long time to reach someone in medical distress and transporting them to a medical facility or hospital equipped to handle an emergency can take longer. 

Con: Due to lower household incomes, many Missourians do not have health insurance. 

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8. Education

Parents have several options when it comes to educating their children in Missouri. From traditional brick-and-mortar public schools to virtual schools to home schools, the right choice for the child is up to the parents. 

Missouri does not require standardized testing for homeschooled or virtual-schooled children. Public schools request that children living in their district but pursuing alternative educational avenues register with the school to track progress, but this is not mandatory. 

Children do not all learn at the same pace or use the same style, so having an individualized learning plan for your child will ensure they are successful in their academic careers. 

Missouri has several colleges and universities to choose from when pursuing a higher education. Many community colleges also offer trade school training for those not seeking a two or four-year diploma. 

Pros: Parents can choose how to educate their children. It is no longer just an option for public or private schools. Now, parents can choose to home school, enroll in a public school, virtual school, private school, or a charter school.

Con: There are no standardized testing requirements for children being schooled in an alternative way. Therefore, the term “unschooled” is gaining traction in Missouri, and parents are opting for this method over traditional homeschooling. Unschooled means the child does not learn from textbooks, lectures, or other conventional learning devices but from life experiences.

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Conclusion: Weighing the Pros and Cons

Before leaping, packing your U-Haul, and moving to Missouri, take the time to weigh the pros and cons of such a move. For those who have lived in Missouri their entire lives, it is the best state in America and the only place they want to call home. 

But many transplants from other states now call Missouri home and find the change of scenery refreshing and exciting. Visit this great state before making your final decision; you just might fall in love with all Missouri has to offer.