Best counties to raise a family in Missouri

Best counties to raise a family in Missouri

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Missouri using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.

#25. McDonald County

– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 23,492
– Median household income: $48,145
– Median home value: $134,100
– Top places to live: Goodman (B+), Lanagan (B+), Anderson (B)

#24. Andrew County

– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 18,086
– Median household income: $74,007
– Median home value: $196,200
– Top places to live: Savannah (B+), Country Club (B+), Platte Township (A-)

#23. Buchanan County

– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 83,855
– Median household income: $59,423
– Median home value: $156,600
– Top places to live: St. Joseph (B-), Platte Township (B+), Marion Township (B)

#22. Miller County

– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 25,081
– Median household income: $55,172
– Median home value: $169,800
– Top places to live: Lake Ozark (A-), Eldon (B), St. Elizabeth (B+)

#21. Cass County

– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 109,393
– Median household income: $87,413
– Median home value: $269,000
– Top places to live: Lake Winnebago (A-), Raymore (B+), Pleasant Hill (B+)

#20. Ste. Genevieve County

– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 18,551
– Median household income: $61,310
– Median home value: $215,600
– Top places to live: Ste. Genevieve (B), Bloomsdale (B+), St. Mary (B+)

#19. Callaway County

– Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 44,541
– Median household income: $72,645
– Median home value: $196,200
– Top places to live: Holts Summit (B+), Fulton (B), Summit Township (A-)

#18. Adair County

– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 25,224
– Median household income: $56,583
– Median home value: $159,500
– Top places to live: Kirksville (B+), Benton Township (A-), Polk Township (B+)

#17. Newton County

– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 59,490
– Median household income: $64,583
– Median home value: $175,300
– Top places to live: Neosho (B+), Leawood (A-), Fairview (A-)

#16. Jefferson County

– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 228,227
– Median household income: $80,522
– Median home value: $218,800
– Top places to live: Arnold (B+), Murphy (B), Festus (B)

#15. Marion County

– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 28,493
– Median household income: $63,908
– Median home value: $158,100
– Top places to live: Palmyra (A-), Hannibal (B+), Fabius Township (A-)

#14. Pulaski County

– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
– Population: 53,850
– Median household income: $66,435
– Median home value: $189,700
– Top places to live: Waynesville (A-), St. Robert (B+), Cullen Township (A-)

#13. Phelps County

– Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 44,948
– Median household income: $55,427
– Median home value: $194,900
– Top places to live: Rolla (B+), St. James (B-), Cold Spring Township (A-)

#12. Jasper County

– Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 123,532
– Median household income: $57,525
– Median home value: $158,500
– Top places to live: Carl Junction (A), Webb City (A-), Oronogo (B+)

#11. Greene County

– Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 301,121
– Median household income: $57,488
– Median home value: $203,500
– Top places to live: Battlefield (A), Republic (B+), Willard (B+)

#10. Taney County

– Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 56,382
– Median household income: $58,258
– Median home value: $203,800
– Top places to live: Hollister (B+), Branson (B+), Forsyth (B)

#9. Cape Girardeau County

– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 82,180
– Median household income: $68,912
– Median home value: $208,300
– Top places to live: Jackson (A-), Cape Girardeau (B+), Cape Girardeau Township (A-)

#8. Jackson County

– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 717,021
– Median household income: $67,178
– Median home value: $213,300
– Top places to live: Country Club / Waldo (A), Lee’s Summit (A), Midtown / Plaza (A)

#7. Cole County

– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 76,924
– Median household income: $73,273
– Median home value: $214,400
– Top places to live: Jefferson City (A-), St. Martins (B+), Jefferson Township (A)

#6. Christian County

– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 91,229
– Median household income: $81,245
– Median home value: $249,700
– Top places to live: Fremont Hills (A), Nixa (A), Ozark (A-)

#5. Clay County

– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 255,566
– Median household income: $86,150
– Median home value: $256,400
– Top places to live: Shoal Creek Valley (A), Liberty (A), Gladstone (A-)

#4. Boone County

– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 185,874
– Median household income: $69,913
– Median home value: $254,100
– Top places to live: Columbia (A), Ashland (A-), Centralia (B)

#3. Platte County

– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 108,751
– Median household income: $95,748
– Median home value: $317,600
– Top places to live: Parkville (A+), Lake Waukomis (A), Weatherby Lake (A)

#2. St. Charles County

– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 409,830
– Median household income: $102,912
– Median home value: $296,800
– Top places to live: Cottleville (A), Dardenne Prairie (A), O’Fallon (A)

#1. St. Louis County

– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 996,618
– Median household income: $81,340
– Median home value: $260,700
– Top places to live: Brentwood (A+), Chesterfield (A+), Ballwin (A+)