countyscore

Best Counties for Families in Missouri 2026

115 counties ranked with the Family lens of the County Fit Score.

Top 5 Family Counties in Missouri

1Caldwell County
68.7
baseline 64.5
2Putnam County
66.4
baseline 62.5
3Knox County
66.3
baseline 65.2
4Mercer County
65.6
baseline 62.6
5Osage County
65.6
baseline 68.2

All 115 Family-Ranked Counties in Missouri

RankCountyCounty Fit Scorebaseline CountyScoreDelta
1Caldwell County, MO68.764.5+4.2
2Putnam County, MO66.462.5+3.9
3Knox County, MO66.365.2+1.1
4Mercer County, MO65.662.6+3
5Osage County, MO65.668.2-2.6
6Sullivan County, MO64.263+1.2
7Ralls County, MO6363.2-0.2
8Lewis County, MO62.963-0.1
9Chariton County, MO62.863.5-0.7
10Scotland County, MO61.859.8+2
11Reynolds County, MO61.366.2-4.9
12Shelby County, MO60.359.7+0.6
13Moniteau County, MO59.760.8-1.1
14Lafayette County, MO58.655.4+3.2
15Linn County, MO58.362.1-3.8
16Carroll County, MO58.257.8+0.4
17Monroe County, MO58.157.7+0.4
18Gentry County, MO5857.9+0.1
19Atchison County, MO57.957.4+0.5
20Maries County, MO57.663.5-5.9
21Oregon County, MO56.860.8-4
22Iron County, MO56.657.7-1.1
23Holt County, MO56.159.1-3
24Wright County, MO5663.8-7.8
25Gasconade County, MO55.957.2-1.3
26Cooper County, MO54.757.1-2.4
27Ozark County, MO54.760.4-5.7
28Greene County, MO54.554.2+0.3
29Shannon County, MO54.160.6-6.5
30DeKalb County, MO5455.2-1.2
31Schuyler County, MO5456.7-2.7
32Dallas County, MO53.760.6-6.9
33Andrew County, MO53.553.50
34St. Charles County, MO53.448.2+5.2
35Ste. Genevieve County, MO53.154-0.9
36Scott County, MO5353.6-0.6
37St. Clair County, MO52.959.5-6.6
38Worth County, MO52.858.6-5.8
39Daviess County, MO52.455.1-2.7
40Pike County, MO52.454.9-2.5
41Howard County, MO52.153.6-1.5
42Hickory County, MO51.959.5-7.6
43Morgan County, MO51.954.3-2.4
44Clay County, MO51.645.6+6
45Montgomery County, MO51.452.8-1.4
46Carter County, MO51.158.1-7
47Miller County, MO50.754.1-3.4
48Clark County, MO50.555.5-5
49Stone County, MO50.452.6-2.2
50Livingston County, MO50.253.4-3.2
51Douglas County, MO5059.7-9.7
52Dent County, MO49.855.8-6
53Cole County, MO49.754.5-4.8
54Audrain County, MO49.552.3-2.8
55Macon County, MO49.355.7-6.4
56Platte County, MO49.144.8+4.3
57Clinton County, MO48.847.8+1
58Bollinger County, MO48.754.3-5.6
59Lincoln County, MO47.845.5+2.3
60Washington County, MO47.751.9-4.2
61Nodaway County, MO47.650.1-2.5
62Grundy County, MO47.150.5-3.4
63Randolph County, MO46.950.6-3.7
64Pulaski County, MO46.850-3.2
65Benton County, MO45.951.8-5.9
66Camden County, MO44.748.9-4.2
67Webster County, MO44.750.2-5.5
68Howell County, MO44.349.9-5.6
69Texas County, MO4450.8-6.8
70Harrison County, MO43.648.9-5.3
71Perry County, MO42.747-4.3
72Stoddard County, MO42.546.4-3.9
73Adair County, MO42.345.1-2.8
74Franklin County, MO42.342.7-0.4
75Wayne County, MO42.249.2-7
76Lawrence County, MO41.546-4.5
77Warren County, MO41.343-1.7
78Henry County, MO40.944.1-3.2
79Bates County, MO40.844.6-3.8
80Jefferson County, MO40.840.80
81Johnson County, MO40.844.5-3.7
82Ray County, MO40.243.2-3
83Ripley County, MO40.250.1-9.9
84St. Louis County, MO40.136.4+3.7
85Cedar County, MO39.445.4-6
86Barry County, MO39.246.5-7.3
87McDonald County, MO3946.2-7.2
88Cape Girardeau County, MO38.843-4.2
89Barton County, MO38.744.9-6.2
90Marion County, MO38.742.9-4.2
91Phelps County, MO38.743.3-4.6
92Pettis County, MO38.640.5-1.9
93Laclede County, MO38.344.5-6.2
94Taney County, MO38.142.3-4.2
95Madison County, MO3846.6-8.6
96Boone County, MO37.739.7-2
97Saline County, MO37.643-5.4
98Polk County, MO36.744-7.3
99Christian County, MO36.438.7-2.3
100Callaway County, MO36.239.9-3.7
101Newton County, MO36.242.3-6.1
102Jackson County, MO35.835.5+0.3
103Dade County, MO35.444.2-8.8
104Crawford County, MO35.342-6.7
105Vernon County, MO35.142.3-7.2
106St. Francois County, MO33.437.5-4.1
107Dunklin County, MO33.140.4-7.3
108New Madrid County, MO32.337.8-5.5
109Mississippi County, MO31.837.4-5.6
110Cass County, MO31.433-1.6
111Pemiscot County, MO31.235.5-4.3
112Butler County, MO30.537.6-7.1
113Jasper County, MO25.331.6-6.3
114Buchanan County, MO23.831.7-7.9
115St. Louis city, MO21.826.1-4.3

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for families in Missouri?

Based on the Family lens, Caldwell County ranks as the top family county in Missouri with a County Fit Score of 68.7. The baseline CountyScore remains visible for context.

How many counties in Missouri are ranked for families?

We rank 115 counties in Missouri with the Family lens, using independent importance values for schools, safety, affordability, health, income, taxes, and disaster risk.

Also Browse Missouri Counties For

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Family Rankings by State

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Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.