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
68.6
baseline 64.7
2Knox County
66.2
baseline 66
3Mercer County
65.6
baseline 62.8
4Putnam County
65.5
baseline 62.9
5Osage County
64.8
baseline 67.2

All 115 Family-Ranked Counties in Missouri

RankCountyCounty Fit Scorebaseline CountyScoreDelta
1Caldwell County, MO68.664.7+3.9
2Knox County, MO66.266+0.2
3Mercer County, MO65.662.8+2.8
4Putnam County, MO65.562.9+2.6
5Osage County, MO64.867.2-2.4
6Sullivan County, MO63.962.4+1.5
7Scotland County, MO62.660.6+2
8Ralls County, MO61.761.9-0.2
9Reynolds County, MO61.666.2-4.6
10Lewis County, MO61.462.1-0.7
11Shelby County, MO6160.1+0.9
12Chariton County, MO60.761.3-0.6
13Lafayette County, MO59.356.2+3.1
14Maries County, MO5964-5
15Atchison County, MO58.958.3+0.6
16Carroll County, MO58.958.2+0.7
17Moniteau County, MO58.759.1-0.4
18Linn County, MO58.661.9-3.3
19Gentry County, MO58.257.1+1.1
20Gasconade County, MO57.959.2-1.3
21Iron County, MO57.959.3-1.4
22Monroe County, MO57.858.6-0.8
23Wright County, MO56.364.2-7.9
24Oregon County, MO55.860-4.2
25Shannon County, MO55.461.3-5.9
26Holt County, MO54.957.5-2.6
27DeKalb County, MO54.555.9-1.4
28Ozark County, MO54.560.2-5.7
29Cooper County, MO54.356.7-2.4
30Greene County, MO54.154.4-0.3
31Andrew County, MO53.853.80
32St. Charles County, MO53.448.2+5.2
33Pike County, MO53.354.6-1.3
34Dallas County, MO5359-6
35Worth County, MO5359.2-6.2
36Scott County, MO52.954-1.1
37Schuyler County, MO52.755.5-2.8
38Ste. Genevieve County, MO52.554-1.5
39St. Clair County, MO52.159.1-7
40Clay County, MO51.545.5+6
41Morgan County, MO51.453.7-2.3
42Howard County, MO51.352.4-1.1
43Douglas County, MO51.260.8-9.6
44Miller County, MO51.254.3-3.1
45Montgomery County, MO51.253.4-2.2
46Daviess County, MO5153.6-2.6
47Clark County, MO50.755.1-4.4
48Hickory County, MO50.757.8-7.1
49Carter County, MO50.357.5-7.2
50Cole County, MO50.154.9-4.8
51Stone County, MO5052.2-2.2
52Dent County, MO49.755.5-5.8
53Livingston County, MO49.552.7-3.2
54Platte County, MO49.445.2+4.2
55Clinton County, MO4947.7+1.3
56Audrain County, MO48.651.2-2.6
57Grundy County, MO4851-3
58Bollinger County, MO47.954.3-6.4
59Nodaway County, MO47.650.3-2.7
60Lincoln County, MO47.345+2.3
61Pulaski County, MO47.249.8-2.6
62Randolph County, MO47.149.9-2.8
63Washington County, MO47.151.4-4.3
64Macon County, MO4752.6-5.6
65Benton County, MO4550.4-5.4
66Webster County, MO44.650-5.4
67Harrison County, MO44.350.3-6
68Camden County, MO44.248.5-4.3
69Howell County, MO4449.1-5.1
70Texas County, MO43.750.3-6.6
71Perry County, MO42.947.2-4.3
72Stoddard County, MO42.547-4.5
73Wayne County, MO42.450-7.6
74Franklin County, MO42.342.5-0.2
75Warren County, MO41.543.2-1.7
76Johnson County, MO41.444.9-3.5
77Henry County, MO41.144.5-3.4
78Bates County, MO4145.2-4.2
79Adair County, MO40.944.3-3.4
80Jefferson County, MO40.640.4+0.2
81Lawrence County, MO40.545.6-5.1
82Ripley County, MO40.349.8-9.5
83St. Louis County, MO40.236.6+3.6
84Ray County, MO39.342.2-2.9
85Pettis County, MO39.141.1-2
86Barry County, MO3945.9-6.9
87Cedar County, MO3945.4-6.4
88Cape Girardeau County, MO38.942.6-3.7
89Marion County, MO38.842.3-3.5
90Taney County, MO38.742.2-3.5
91Barton County, MO38.444.6-6.2
92Madison County, MO38.346-7.7
93Phelps County, MO38.243-4.8
94McDonald County, MO37.944.7-6.8
95Laclede County, MO37.843.7-5.9
96Saline County, MO37.542.8-5.3
97Boone County, MO37.439.5-2.1
98Polk County, MO36.944.3-7.4
99Newton County, MO36.742.6-5.9
100Christian County, MO36.438.5-2.1
101Callaway County, MO36.139.7-3.6
102Jackson County, MO3635.7+0.3
103Vernon County, MO35.442-6.6
104Dade County, MO35.244.1-8.9
105Crawford County, MO34.640.7-6.1
106Dunklin County, MO33.440.9-7.5
107St. Francois County, MO33.337.2-3.9
108New Madrid County, MO32.238.1-5.9
109Cass County, MO31.633.2-1.6
110Butler County, MO30.837.9-7.1
111Pemiscot County, MO30.634.6-4
112Mississippi County, MO30.435.4-5
113Jasper County, MO25.432-6.6
114Buchanan County, MO23.231.1-7.9
115St. Louis city, MO21.826.2-4.4

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 68.6. 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.