countyscore

Best Counties for Families in Missouri 2026

115 counties ranked by schools, safety, income, and affordability.

Top 5 Family Counties in Missouri

1Caldwell County
64.7
2Knox County
66
3Mercer County
62.8
4Scotland County
60.6
5Putnam County
62.9

All 115 Family-Ranked Counties in Missouri

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1Caldwell County, MO7164.7
2Knox County, MO6866
3Mercer County, MO6762.8
4Scotland County, MO6760.6
5Putnam County, MO6662.9
6Lafayette County, MO6556.2
7Sullivan County, MO6462.4
8Osage County, MO6467.2
9Moniteau County, MO6259.1
10Lewis County, MO6162.1
11Ralls County, MO6161.9
12Reynolds County, MO6166.2
13Atchison County, MO6158.3
14Carroll County, MO6058.1
15Gentry County, MO6057.1
16Shelby County, MO6060.1
17Chariton County, MO5961.3
18Gasconade County, MO5959.2
19Iron County, MO5959.3
20Linn County, MO5961.9
21Maries County, MO5864
22St. Charles County, MO5848.2
23Clay County, MO5745.5
24Shannon County, MO5661.3
25Scott County, MO5654
26Greene County, MO5554.4
27Oregon County, MO5560
28Monroe County, MO5458.6
29DeKalb County, MO5455.9
30Wright County, MO5464.2
31Andrew County, MO5353.8
32Pike County, MO5254.6
33Platte County, MO5245.2
34Cooper County, MO5256.7
35Morgan County, MO5153.7
36Clinton County, MO5147.7
37Montgomery County, MO5153.4
38Ozark County, MO5160.2
39Holt County, MO5157.5
40Dallas County, MO5159
41Ste. Genevieve County, MO5054
42Cole County, MO5054.8
43Lincoln County, MO5045
44Daviess County, MO5053.5
45Howard County, MO5052.4
46Audrain County, MO4951.2
47Schuyler County, MO4955.5
48Miller County, MO4954.3
49Stone County, MO4952.2
50Dent County, MO4855.5
51Pulaski County, MO4749.8
52Worth County, MO4759.2
53St. Clair County, MO4759.1
54Carter County, MO4757.5
55Clark County, MO4755.1
56Livingston County, MO4752.7
57Grundy County, MO4651
58Washington County, MO4651.4
59Bollinger County, MO4654.3
60Hickory County, MO4557.8
61Randolph County, MO4549.9
62Douglas County, MO4560.8
63St. Louis County, MO4436.6
64Franklin County, MO4442.5
65Jefferson County, MO4440.4
66Macon County, MO4352.6
67Webster County, MO4350
68Benton County, MO4350.4
69Nodaway County, MO4350.3
70Warren County, MO4343.2
71Camden County, MO4248.6
72Howell County, MO4149.1
73Stoddard County, MO4147.1
74Perry County, MO4047.2
75Ray County, MO4042.2
76Johnson County, MO4044.9
77Texas County, MO3950.3
78Jackson County, MO3935.7
79Cape Girardeau County, MO3842.6
80Harrison County, MO3850.3
81Henry County, MO3844.5
82Pettis County, MO3841.1
83Lawrence County, MO3845.6
84Wayne County, MO3750
85Taney County, MO3742.2
86Marion County, MO3742.3
87Ripley County, MO3649.8
88Christian County, MO3638.5
89Bates County, MO3645.2
90Barry County, MO3645.9
91Adair County, MO3644.3
92Boone County, MO3539.5
93Callaway County, MO3539.7
94Madison County, MO3546
95McDonald County, MO3544.7
96Newton County, MO3542.6
97Laclede County, MO3443.7
98Phelps County, MO3443
99Barton County, MO3444.6
100Polk County, MO3344.3
101Saline County, MO3342.8
102Cedar County, MO3345.4
103Crawford County, MO3240.7
104St. Francois County, MO3137.3
105Vernon County, MO3142
106Cass County, MO3033.2
107Dunklin County, MO3040.9
108Pemiscot County, MO2934.6
109New Madrid County, MO2938.1
110Dade County, MO2844.1
111Mississippi County, MO2835.4
112Butler County, MO2737.9
113Jasper County, MO2232
114St. Louis city, MO2026.2
115Buchanan County, MO1931.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for families in Missouri?

Based on our analysis of school quality, safety, income, and cost of living, Caldwell County ranks as the top family county in Missouri with a family score of 71.

How many counties in Missouri are ranked for families?

We rank 115 counties in Missouri for family suitability, scoring each on school quality (35%), safety (30%), income (20%), and cost of living (15%).

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.