Christian County

Missouri · MO

#90 in Missouri
67.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Christian County, Missouri

Christian ranks 42% above national median

Christian County's composite score of 71.0 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 42%, confirming solid livability above the U.S. baseline. However, it falls below Missouri's state average, indicating room for improvement.

Ranks modestly below Missouri average

With a score of 71.0 versus Missouri's state average of 74.8, Christian County lags most peer counties in the state. The gap is driven by higher housing and overall living costs.

Second-highest incomes in the group

Christian's income score of 36.4 reflects a median household income of $81,245, supporting robust household finances and purchasing power. This earning capacity enables residents to afford the county's higher housing costs.

Premium costs reflect suburban growth

A cost score of 72.0 and median home values of $249,700 with $979 monthly rent reflect the county's suburban character and higher price point. These costs are the primary drag on its composite livability score.

Suits affluent families near Springfield metro

Christian County is best for higher-income families and professionals seeking suburban amenities and growth without the cost of major metros. It's less suitable for those on fixed incomes or seeking rural affordability.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax81.1Cost72SafetyComing SoonHealth70SchoolsComing SoonIncome36.4Risk33.5WaterComing Soon
🏛81.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠72
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼36.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
70
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
33.5
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Christian County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Christian County

via TaxByCounty

Christian's rate sits below national median

Christian County's effective tax rate of 0.752% trails the national median of 0.93%, placing it in the lower third of U.S. counties. At $1,878 annually on a $249,700 median home, Christian homeowners pay about 70% of the national median tax bill.

Slightly above state average, lower-end homes

Christian County ranks in the middle-upper tier of Missouri's 114 counties with a 0.752% rate, just 0.019 percentage points above the state average. Despite having higher home values than most Missouri counties, its $1,878 median tax remains below the state median of $1,199—a reflection of better home affordability.

Competitive rate across the region

Christian County's 0.752% rate compares favorably to Carroll (0.844%) and Cass (0.879%), though it trails Cedar (0.587%) and Carter (0.443%). On mid-range homes worth $250,000, Christian offers moderate tax exposure versus surrounding counties.

Nearly $1,900 yearly for median home

A typical Christian County homeowner with a $249,700 home pays $1,878 in annual property tax, or about $157 per month. With a mortgage, escrow increases that to $1,890, bundling insurance and other levies.

Challenge high assessments on higher-value homes

Christian County homeowners with $250,000+ properties should carefully verify their assessments against recent comparable sales. On higher-value properties, even modest overassessment errors translate to substantial annual overpayments—and appeals are free.

Cost of Living in Christian County

via CostByCounty

Christian's wealth supports premium housing

Christian County residents earn a median of $81,245, about 9% above the national median of $74,755, and face a 14.5% rent-to-income ratio—below the national average near 16%. This combination positions Christian as an affluent county where premium housing costs remain comfortably affordable relative to household earnings.

Above-average income, below-average burden

Christian County's 14.5% rent-to-income ratio falls below Missouri's 15.6% state average, despite median rent of $979 exceeding the state's $768. Higher incomes here make above-average housing costs manageable, reflecting Christian's position as one of Missouri's more prosperous regions.

Springfield-area prosperity reflected in costs

Christian County renters face lower burden (14.5%) than Clay County (17.0%) but higher rents than rural peers like Carroll (15.3%) and Clark (13.7%). At $979 monthly, Christian's rent sits between Cass County's premium $1,147 and rural county averages, reflecting the county's suburban-affluent character.

Premium housing, premium incomes align

Christian County's median household income of $81,245 supports monthly housing costs of $979 for rent (14.5%) or $1,230 for mortgages. At these income levels, even above-average housing costs consume less than one-fifth of household income, leaving robust resources for other needs.

Christian suits Springfield-area professionals

If you earn $75,000 or more and seek Springfield-area living, Christian County offers attractive schools and suburban amenities with manageable affordability ratios. Compare Christian's $979 rent and $249,700 median home value against your household income—professional couples and established families typically thrive here.

Income & Jobs in Christian County

via IncomeByCounty

Christian County surpasses national average

Christian County's median household income of $81,245 exceeds the national median of $74,755 by $6,490, placing it in the top income quartile nationwide. The county benefits from Springfield's economic pull and proximity to affluent exurban development.

Top-tier Missouri county

Christian County ranks among Missouri's wealthiest with median household income of $81,245, topping the state average by $21,742. Per capita income of $38,535 also exceeds Missouri's average by 24%, indicating broad prosperity across the county.

Strong performer near peers

Christian County ($81,245) trails only Cass County ($87,413) and Clay County ($86,150), while substantially outperforming all remaining comparison counties. The county represents Springfield's prosperous suburbs, reflecting the region's stable employment and growing professional class.

Housing comfortably affordable

Christian County households spend just 14.5% of income on rent—well below the 30% affordability threshold and among the lowest in the county set. With median home values at $249,700, higher-income households can build equity through homeownership.

Build wealth through diversification

Christian County's strong household incomes and low housing ratios create ideal conditions for wealth accumulation. Families should leverage retirement accounts, taxable investment accounts, and real estate equity to create multi-generational wealth beyond the county median.

Health in Christian County

via HealthByCounty

Christian County leads national health rankings

At 77.2 years, Christian County residents live 2.7 years longer than the U.S. average of 74.5 years—a substantial health advantage. The county's 17.5% poor or fair health rate significantly outperforms the national average of 21%, with residents enjoying excellent day-to-day health outcomes.

Among Missouri's healthiest counties

Christian County ranks in Missouri's top tier for health with a life expectancy of 77.2 years—nearly 3 years above the state average of 74.3. The county's 17.5% poor/fair health rate is well below the state median, making it a regional health leader.

Top regional health performer

Christian County's 77.2-year life expectancy ties Cass County for the region's longest, and its 17.5% poor/fair health rate is among the best. The county substantially outperforms neighbors like Cedar County (74.7 years) and Chariton County (75.6 years).

Strong coverage and healthcare access

Christian County's uninsured rate of 10.9% is notably below Missouri's 12.5%, meaning most residents have health coverage. The county provides 42 primary care providers and 112 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, supporting both preventive and behavioral health access.

Keep coverage continuous in Christian County

Christian County's strong health outcomes reflect good insurance coverage and provider access—if uninsured, visit healthcare.gov to explore options. Continuous coverage protects your health and finances.

Disaster Risk in Christian County

via RiskByCounty

Christian County faces elevated risk

Christian County's composite score of 66.48 exceeds Missouri's state average of 50.56, reflecting Relatively Low national risk but with meaningfully higher exposure. The county shows elevated risk across multiple hazard types, particularly tornadoes (80.76) and earthquakes (70.96).

High-risk county in Missouri

Christian County ranks among Missouri's higher-risk jurisdictions, driven by significant tornado and wildfire exposure. Residents face notably greater disaster threats than the state average.

Multi-hazard risk concentration

Christian County's 66.48 score substantially exceeds nearby Cedar County (26.05) and Chariton County (29.42), with particular vulnerability to tornadoes (80.76), wildfire (70.39), and earthquakes (70.96). Only Clay County (89.79) faces comparably severe exposure in the region.

Tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfire

Tornadoes represent the greatest threat at 80.76, followed closely by earthquakes (70.96) and wildfire (70.39)—an unusual concentration of high-impact hazards. Flooding (70.04) rounds out a diverse hazard profile requiring multifaceted preparation.

Comprehensive coverage essential

Christian County's multi-hazard exposure demands earthquake insurance, robust wind coverage, and wildfire mitigation (defensible space, fire-resistant materials). Ensure your homeowners policy includes guaranteed replacement cost and review coverage limits annually given the county's 66.48 risk score.

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.