CountyScore

Clinton County

Missouri · MO

#92 in Missouri
67.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Clinton County, Missouri

Clinton County Beats National Average

With a composite score of 69.5, Clinton County ranks well above the national median of 50, placing it in the 70th percentile nationwide. This means the county outperforms roughly seven out of ten counties across the United States on overall livability measures.

Slightly Below Missouri's Best

Clinton County scores 69.5 compared to Missouri's state average of 74.8, placing it in the middle tier of the state's counties. While not at the top, the county remains competitive within its regional peer group.

Tax Relief and Affordability Lead

Clinton County shines with a tax score of 78.1 and a cost score of 73.0, reflecting a low effective tax rate of 0.861% and median home values around $204,300. Residents benefit from reasonable housing costs paired with minimal tax burden, making it attractive for budget-conscious families.

Income Growth Lags Behind

The county's income score of 29.5 is notably lower than its tax and cost metrics, with a median household income of $70,625 that trails state benchmarks. Safety, health, schools, and environmental quality data are not yet available, limiting the full picture of livability.

Best for Budget-Conscious Families

Clinton County suits families prioritizing affordability and low taxes over higher wage opportunities. This county works well for retirees, remote workers, or those willing to trade modest incomes for a cost-effective lifestyle in a mid-tier livable community.

Score breakdown

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

Tax78.1Cost73SafetyComing SoonHealth69.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome29.5Risk43.8WaterComing Soon
🏛78.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠73
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼29.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤69.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡43.8
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Clinton County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

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Inyo County
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Cook County
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Toombs County
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Median income: $54,130

Deep Dives

Clinton County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Clinton County

via TaxByCounty

Clinton County Taxes Run High Nationally

With an effective tax rate of 0.861%, Clinton County residents pay substantially more than the U.S. median, where homeowners typically pay about $2,690 annually on a median home valued near $282,000. Clinton's rate puts it in the top tier nationally, meaning property taxes here are notably steeper than most American neighborhoods.

Above Average for Missouri

Clinton County's 0.861% effective rate exceeds Missouri's state average of 0.733%, ranking it among the higher-tax counties statewide. The median tax bill of $1,758 is 47% above the state median of $1,199, reflecting one of the steeper tax burdens in Missouri.

Higher Than Most Regional Peers

Clinton County's rate significantly outpaces neighboring Cooper County (0.676%) and Crawford County (0.609%), though it's comparable to Cole County (0.806%). Among the broader region, Clinton stands out as a higher-tax jurisdiction, particularly for families in the mid-range home value bracket.

What Your Annual Tax Bill Looks Like

On Clinton County's median home value of $204,300, homeowners pay roughly $1,758 annually in property taxes—about $147 per month. With mortgage, the effective bill rises slightly to $1,776, representing a meaningful ongoing cost for local property owners.

Your Property Might Be Overassessed

Many homeowners across Missouri discover their properties are valued higher than market reality, leading to inflated tax bills. If you believe your Clinton County home is overassessed, you have the right to appeal your valuation and potentially recover thousands in overpaid taxes.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Clinton County

via CostByCounty

Rent costs climb above national norm

Clinton County renters spend 16.7% of their income on housing, outpacing the national average by more than a full percentage point. While the county's median household income of $70,625 sits slightly below the nation's $74,755, monthly rent of $985 creates a tighter squeeze for renters here than in most U.S. counties.

Missouri's least affordable county

Clinton County has the highest rent-to-income ratio in Missouri at 16.7%, well above the state average of 15.6%. With median rent at $985 compared to Missouri's $768 statewide average, this county stands out as one of the state's most expensive places to rent.

Pricier than surrounding counties

Clinton County's median rent of $985 runs substantially higher than neighboring Cole County ($804), DeKalb County ($796), and Cooper County ($763). Only Crawford County comes close in overall affordability pressure, though Clinton's higher incomes make the rent burden relatively steeper here.

Housing eats 16.7% of income

The median household in Clinton County allocates $985 monthly to rent (or $1,155 for ownership), consuming 16.7% of the $70,625 annual income. Between rent, mortgage, and property costs, housing remains the largest fixed expense for most families here.

Consider the trade-offs carefully

If you're weighing a move to Clinton County, the higher rents demand higher income—the median here is competitive, but housing costs are above state norms. Compare your household budget against the $985 median rent and $1,155 median ownership costs to ensure affordability aligns with your situation.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Clinton County

via IncomeByCounty

Clinton County earns above the U.S. median

Clinton County's median household income of $70,625 sits just 5.5% below the national median of $74,755, placing it in the upper-middle tier nationally. This performance reflects a strong local economy relative to most American counties.

Thriving compared to Missouri peers

At $70,625, Clinton County's median household income exceeds Missouri's state average of $59,503 by 18.6%, ranking it among the state's more prosperous counties. This $11,122 advantage signals stronger earning potential and economic stability for local households.

Clinton leads nearby counties

Clinton County ($70,625) outearns most neighboring counties, including DeKalb County ($69,093) and Cole County ($73,273), though Cole remains slightly ahead regionally. This modest lead reflects Clinton's competitive position in the central Missouri economy.

Housing is affordable here

With a rent-to-income ratio of 16.7%, Clinton County residents spend a healthy amount on rental costs relative to earnings—near the ideal 15% threshold. The median home value of $204,300 aligns well with local incomes, making homeownership achievable for working families.

Build savings and invest locally

Clinton County's above-average incomes create opportunity for residents to allocate 15–20% of earnings toward retirement accounts, education savings, or investment portfolios. Starting early with automatic transfers to savings and exploring employer-sponsored retirement plans can help local households build generational wealth.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Clinton County

via HealthByCounty

Clinton County lives longer than average

At 75.5 years, Clinton County residents live 1.8 years longer than the U.S. average of 73.7 years. Just 18.0% of residents report being in poor or fair health, outpacing the national rate of 19.3%. These gains reflect stronger-than-average health outcomes across the county.

Top health performer in Missouri

Clinton County ranks among Missouri's healthiest with a life expectancy 1.2 years above the state average of 74.3 years. The county's uninsured rate of 9.8% beats the state average of 12.5%, giving more residents access to regular care.

Solid health standing in central region

Clinton County's 75.5-year life expectancy trails Cole County's 77.1 years but exceeds Daviess County's 75.9 years and DeKalb County's 75.7 years. Primary care access at 61 providers per 100K is robust compared to nearby Crawford County's critical shortage of just 4 providers per 100K.

Good access, room to grow

With 61 primary care providers per 100K population, Clinton County offers solid preventive care access, though mental health services at 37 providers per 100K lag behind state needs. The 9.8% uninsured rate means about 1 in 10 residents lack coverage, leaving them vulnerable to unexpected health expenses.

Check your coverage options today

Nearly 1 in 10 Clinton County residents remain uninsured despite strong local healthcare infrastructure. Visit Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace to compare plans and find subsidies you may qualify for.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Clinton County

via RiskByCounty

Clinton County's Risk Profile

Clinton County scores 56.23 on the national composite risk scale, earning a Relatively Low rating and sitting above Missouri's state average of 50.56. While this suggests elevated exposure compared to some peers, most hazards remain manageable with proper preparation.

Mid-Range Risk in Missouri

Clinton County ranks in the middle tier of Missouri's 114 counties for overall disaster risk. Its score reflects meaningful exposure to multiple hazard types, but the county avoids the highest-risk categories found in more seismic or flood-prone regions.

Compared to Neighboring Counties

Clinton County's risk score of 56.23 exceeds Daviess County's 30.06 and Dallas County's 41.70, but trails Cole County's elevated 73.44. This positioning reflects Clinton's moderate tornado and wildfire exposure relative to immediate neighbors.

Tornado and Wildfire Top Threats

Tornado risk registers at 72.36—the county's strongest hazard—followed closely by wildfire risk at 66.25. Flood risk of 65.55 rounds out Clinton's primary concerns, with earthquake and hurricane threats remaining minimal.

Coverage for Tornado Country

Standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover tornado or flood damage, making separate windstorm and flood policies essential for Clinton County residents. Consider a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant or safe room retrofit to strengthen protection against the area's tornado exposure.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

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